Cost of Living Comparison Between Arad and Brasilia Cost of Living Comparison Between Arad and Brasilia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $880 per month in Arad vs $860 in Brasilia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,375 per month in Arad vs $1,410 in Brasilia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,869 per month in Arad vs $1,961 in Brasilia, rent included.

Arad costs about 2% more than Brasilia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Arad and Brasilia are more affordable than the global median – Arad 35% lower, Brasilia 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arad
Brasilia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.12 RON 41.26
$7.02 R$35.53
29.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.03 RON 158
$38.85 R$197
-9.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.03 RON 31.79
$6.40 R$32.41
9.84%
Cappuccino
$2.22 RON 10.04
$1.94 R$9.80
14.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 RON 7.14
$1.15 R$5.85
37.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 RON 7.88
$0.86 R$4.36
102.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.05 RON 9.30
$1.78 R$9.01
15.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 RON 12.59
$3.19 R$16.14
-12.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arad
Brasilia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 RON 6.78
$0.99 R$5.00
51.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 RON 5.53
$1.66 R$8.39
-26.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 RON 6.95
$1.49 R$7.52
3.36%
Eggs
$2.93 RON 13.24
$2.01 R$10.19
45.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.19 RON 37.03
$8.99 R$45.53
-8.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.48 RON 20.28
$3.30 R$16.68
35.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.04 RON 40.90
$6.64 R$33.61
36.14%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 RON 5.50
$2.02 R$10.23
-39.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 RON 6.87
$1.40 R$7.09
8.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 RON 7.81
$1.20 R$6.09
44.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.71 RON 7.75
$1.62 R$8.19
5.56%
Potato (1kg)
$0.80 RON 3.63
$1.29 R$6.54
-37.98%
Onion (1kg)
$0.87 RON 3.94
$1.31 R$6.61
-33.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 RON 4.83
$0.81 R$4.09
32.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 RON 4.24
$0.62 R$3.16
51.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.93 RON 26.83
$2.17 R$10.99
173.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.22 RON 28.12
$8.67 R$43.91
-28.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 RON 4.70
$1.06 R$5.37
-1.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 RON 7.09
$2.25 R$11.41
-30.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Arad
Brasilia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 RON 4.29
$1.01 R$5.12
-5.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.62 RON 107
$44.27 R$224
-46.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 RON 3.78
$1.00 R$5.08
-16.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 RON 3.85
$0.81 R$4.08
4.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.47 RON 42.85
$5.71 R$28.91
65.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.56 RON 7.05
$1.14 R$5.78
36.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K RON 129.2K
$24.8K R$125.7K
15.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K RON 119.5K
$28.6K R$144.7K
-7.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arad
Brasilia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$109 RON 492
$69.8 R$353
55.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.78 RON 39.74
$13.07 R$66.2
-32.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.85 RON 35.50
$20.51 R$104
-61.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arad
Brasilia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.43 RON 178
$24.95 R$126
58.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.27 RON 105
$22.00 R$111
5.77%
Cinema Ticket
$5.75 RON 26.00
$7.28 R$36.86
-21.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arad
Brasilia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$230 RON 1,042
$491 R$2,485
-53.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,002 RON 31.7K
$15.5K R$78.5K
-54.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arad
Brasilia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.22 RON 182
$59.0 R$299
-31.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.93 RON 172
$41.13 R$208
-7.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.8 RON 365
$67.9 R$344
19.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.3 RON 318
$63.8 R$323
10.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arad
Brasilia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$321 RON 1,454
$414 R$2,093
-22.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$216 RON 976
$259 R$1,311
-16.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$568 RON 2,570
$954 R$4,831
-40.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$425 RON 1,920
$552 R$2,794
-23.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,494 RON 6,757
$2,480 R$12.6K
-39.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,093 RON 4,946
$1,683 R$8,520
-35.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arad
Brasilia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$854 RON 3,862
$929 R$4,705
-8.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
11.87
-45.24%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Arad: June 6, 2026

Last update for Brasilia: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $321 in Arad versus $414 in Brasilia. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 9% higher in Brasilia, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Arad versus $39.00 in Brasilia. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Arad vs $180 in Brasilia – so Brasilia wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Arad vs Brasilia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Arad or Brasilia?
Arad costs about 2% more than Brasilia, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Arad vs Brasilia?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,320 per month in Arad and $1,290 in Brasilia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Arad or Brasilia?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Brasilia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Arad vs Brasilia?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Arad and $39.00 in Brasilia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Arad compared to Brasilia?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $880 in Arad and $860 in Brasilia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Arad or Brasilia?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $880 in Arad and $860 in Brasilia, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Arad or Brasilia?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Brasilia costs $860 versus $880 in Arad. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Arad compared to Brasilia?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Arad or Brasilia?
If budget matters most, go with Brasilia. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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