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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $880 per month in Brasilia vs $888 in Arad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,446 per month in Brasilia vs $1,381 in Arad, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,011 per month in Brasilia vs $1,875 in Arad, rent included.

Brasilia is about 1% cheaper than Arad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Brasilia and Arad are more affordable than the global median – Brasilia 34% lower, Arad 34% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.19 R$35.88
$9.06 RON 39.51
-20.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.72 R$198
$34.55 RON 151
14.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.24 R$31.13
$6.83 RON 29.78
-8.64%
Cappuccino
$1.88 R$9.37
$2.28 RON 9.92
-17.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 R$5.81
$1.59 RON 6.92
-27.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 R$4.37
$1.69 RON 7.38
-48.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.82 R$9.10
$2.02 RON 8.80
-9.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 R$16.38
$2.78 RON 12.14
17.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 R$4.64
$1.45 RON 6.33
-35.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 R$8.09
$1.23 RON 5.34
31.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.41 R$7.02
$1.60 RON 7.00
-11.88%
Eggs
$2.10 R$10.47
$2.94 RON 12.84
-28.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.29 R$46.36
$8.08 RON 35.23
14.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.31 R$16.51
$4.47 RON 19.50
-25.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.85 R$34.19
$8.60 RON 37.48
-20.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.00 R$9.98
$1.18 RON 5.13
69.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 R$6.70
$1.58 RON 6.89
-15.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.22 R$6.06
$1.66 RON 7.25
-26.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.67 R$8.34
$1.71 RON 7.47
-2.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.23 R$6.12
$0.80 RON 3.51
53.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.30 R$6.49
$0.88 RON 3.84
47.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 R$3.71
$1.01 RON 4.41
-26.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 R$3.07
$0.92 RON 4.03
-33.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18 R$10.88
$5.91 RON 25.75
-63.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.10 R$50.4
$6.95 RON 30.32
45.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 R$5.55
$0.98 RON 4.28
13.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 R$11.74
$1.65 RON 7.21
42.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 R$5.12
$0.95 RON 4.13
8.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.64 R$218
$23.31 RON 102
87.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.94 R$4.71
$0.90 RON 3.94
4.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 R$3.94
$0.82 RON 3.58
-3.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.82 R$29.03
$9.34 RON 40.72
-37.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 R$5.67
$1.55 RON 6.74
-26.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K R$126.6K
$28.6K RON 124.6K
-11.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K R$140.9K
$26.2K RON 114.2K
7.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.9 R$349
$108 RON 473
-35.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.04 R$65.1
$8.43 RON 36.75
54.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.00 R$99.8
$7.95 RON 34.65
151.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.95 R$124
$39.05 RON 170
-36.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.77 R$109
$23.39 RON 102
-6.93%
Cinema Ticket
$7.00 R$34.91
$5.74 RON 25.01
21.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$488 R$2,435
$230 RON 1,003
112.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K R$74.6K
$6,929 RON 30.2K
115.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 R$290
$41.05 RON 179
41.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.98 R$209
$37.57 RON 164
11.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.1 R$345
$80.1 RON 349
-13.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.0 R$320
$68.7 RON 300
-6.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$402 R$2,007
$322 RON 1,406
24.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$263 R$1,312
$215 RON 938
22.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 R$4,881
$578 RON 2,521
69.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$564 R$2,813
$428 RON 1,868
31.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,751 R$13.7K
$1,549 RON 6,754
77.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,816 R$9,060
$1,174 RON 5,119
54.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$762 R$3,801
$842 RON 3,673
-9.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.87
6.5
82.62%

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

Last update for Brasilia: April 26, 2026

Last update for Arad: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $402 in Brasilia versus $322 in Arad. 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 11% higher in Arad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Brasilia versus $35.00 in Arad. Groceries tell a different story – $183 in Brasilia vs $189 in Arad – 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
Brasilia vs Arad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Brasilia or Arad?
Arad costs about 1% 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 Brasilia vs Arad?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,320 per month in Brasilia and $1,332 in Arad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Brasilia or Arad?
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 Brasilia vs Arad?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Brasilia and $35.00 in Arad. 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 Brasilia compared to Arad?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $880 in Brasilia and $888 in Arad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Brasilia or Arad?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $880 in Brasilia and $888 in Arad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Brasilia or Arad?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Brasilia costs $880 versus $888 in Arad. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Brasilia compared to Arad?
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 Brasilia or Arad?
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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