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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $863 per month in Brasilia vs $862 in Arad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,429 per month in Brasilia vs $1,394 in Arad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,995 per month in Brasilia vs $1,927 in Arad, rent included.

Brasilia and Arad have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.42 R$37.67
$9.48 RON 43.12
-21.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.98 R$198
$34.42 RON 156
13.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.14 R$31.14
$6.81 RON 30.97
-9.84%
Cappuccino
$1.92 R$9.75
$2.28 RON 10.38
-15.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 R$5.97
$1.58 RON 7.18
-25.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 R$4.20
$1.71 RON 7.75
-51.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 R$9.04
$2.03 RON 9.21
-12.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 R$16.91
$2.82 RON 12.82
18.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.95 R$4.83
$1.45 RON 6.61
-34.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 R$8.27
$1.25 RON 5.70
30.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.46 R$7.41
$1.60 RON 7.29
-8.75%
Eggs
$2.08 R$10.56
$2.96 RON 13.47
-29.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.40 R$47.71
$8.09 RON 36.80
16.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.39 R$17.20
$4.40 RON 20.01
-22.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.71 R$34.05
$8.99 RON 40.86
-25.36%
Apples (1kg)
$1.93 R$9.77
$1.17 RON 5.34
64.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 R$6.93
$1.52 RON 6.93
-10.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.16 R$5.88
$1.67 RON 7.61
-30.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.67 R$8.49
$1.72 RON 7.80
-2.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 R$6.31
$0.82 RON 3.72
51.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.31 R$6.62
$0.92 RON 4.20
42.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 R$3.73
$1.01 RON 4.61
-27.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 R$3.40
$0.93 RON 4.23
-27.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17 R$11.03
$5.92 RON 26.91
-63.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.06 R$40.91
$5.35 RON 24.32
50.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 R$5.60
$1.00 RON 4.53
10.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 R$11.59
$1.64 RON 7.47
39.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.97 R$4.93
$0.89 RON 4.03
8.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.32 R$220
$23.83 RON 108
81.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.95 R$4.82
$0.88 RON 4.00
7.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 R$4.03
$0.81 RON 3.66
-2.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.83 R$29.59
$9.39 RON 42.71
-37.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 R$5.78
$1.60 RON 7.29
-28.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2K R$127.9K
$28.4K RON 129.1K
-11.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2K R$148.0K
$25.9K RON 117.6K
12.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.8 R$364
$110 RON 501
-34.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.11 R$66.5
$8.68 RON 39.47
51.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.49 R$104
$8.07 RON 36.68
153.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.96 R$127
$39.52 RON 180
-36.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.52 R$109
$22.72 RON 103
-5.28%
Cinema Ticket
$7.34 R$37.27
$5.81 RON 26.42
26.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$485 R$2,462
$229 RON 1,040
112.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.2K R$77.1K
$6,851 RON 31.1K
121.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 R$295
$40.78 RON 185
42.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.02 R$213
$37.89 RON 172
10.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.7 R$344
$80.9 RON 368
-16.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.3 R$326
$69.7 RON 317
-7.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$400 R$2,031
$326 RON 1,484
22.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$262 R$1,330
$217 RON 988
20.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$944 R$4,788
$558 RON 2,538
69.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$557 R$2,825
$427 RON 1,940
30.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,466 R$12.5K
$1,443 RON 6,561
70.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,727 R$8,762
$1,066 RON 4,847
61.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$919 R$4,665
$835 RON 3,797
10.09%
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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Arad: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $400 in Brasilia versus $326 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 10% higher in Brasilia. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Brasilia versus $34.00 in Arad. Groceries tell a different story – $180 in Brasilia vs $187 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
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Brasilia and in Arad?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,295 per month in Brasilia and $1,293 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 Arad, 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 and in Arad?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Brasilia and $34.00 in Arad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How expensive is transport in Brasilia compared to Arad?
Public transport costs about 82% less in Arad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $800/month in Brasilia or in Arad?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $863 in Brasilia and $862 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. Arad costs $862 versus $863 in Brasilia. 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 to Arad?
If budget matters most, go with Arad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brasilia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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