Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Arad, Romania

For one person, living is cheaper in Brasilia: $916 a month against $944 in Arad, rent and utilities included – about $340 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Arad outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Brasilia, Brazil
Arad, Romania
Brasilia
🇧🇷 Brazil
$916
/mo nomad
Arad
🇷🇴 Romania
$944
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Brasilia and in Arad

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Brasilia and in Arad actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $916 per month in Brasilia vs $944 in Arad, rent included.

  • Brasilia $916
  • Arad $944

A couple spends around $1,514 per month in Brasilia vs $1,403 in Arad, rent included.

  • Brasilia $1,514
  • Arad $1,403

A family of three spends $2,112 per month in Brasilia vs $1,862 in Arad, rent included.

  • Brasilia $2,112
  • Arad $1,862

Brasilia is about 3% cheaper than Arad.

Both Brasilia and Arad are more affordable than the global median – Brasilia 33% lower, Arad 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.44 R$45.41
$8.53 RON 40.83
-1.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.71 R$198
$32.88 RON 157
11.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.98 R$42.96
$7.33 RON 35.07
8.87%
Cappuccino
$2.53 R$13.59
$2.50 RON 11.98
1.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 R$7.64
$1.50 RON 7.18
-5.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 R$5.39
$1.53 RON 7.33
-34.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.20 R$11.83
$2.07 RON 9.90
6.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 R$20.21
$2.49 RON 11.91
51.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 R$5.49
$1.17 RON 5.61
-12.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.95 R$10.51
$1.23 RON 5.88
58.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.24 R$6.68
$1.74 RON 8.32
-28.74%
Eggs
$2.27 R$12.24
$2.68 RON 12.82
-15.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.17 R$60.1
$7.29 RON 34.87
53.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.86 R$20.79
$4.94 RON 23.63
-21.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.58 R$46.16
$10.10 RON 48.30
-15.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 R$12.41
$1.68 RON 8.06
37.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 R$7.42
$1.75 RON 8.37
-21.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.26 R$6.77
$1.72 RON 8.22
-26.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 R$8.18
$1.41 RON 6.74
7.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 R$5.98
$0.79 RON 3.76
40.51%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 R$5.25
$0.87 RON 4.15
12.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 R$4.07
$1.21 RON 5.79
-37.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 R$5.03
$0.81 RON 3.89
14.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.36 R$12.72
$5.91 RON 28.26
-60.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.67 R$41.27
$5.86 RON 28.03
30.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 R$6.67
$1.23 RON 5.89
0.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 R$12.68
$1.75 RON 8.39
34.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.73 R$3.92
$0.86 RON 4.10
-15.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.76 R$160
$21.94 RON 105
35.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.01 R$5.46
$0.78 RON 3.73
29.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.86 R$4.62
$1.03 RON 4.91
-16.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 R$31.06
$10.33 RON 49.43
-44.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 R$6.71
$1.86 RON 8.92
-32.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0K R$118.1K
$28.2K RON 135.1K
-22.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K R$171.4K
$25.4K RON 121.7K
25.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.1 R$496
$125 RON 596
-26.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.85 R$63.8
$8.33 RON 39.85
42.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.93 R$113
$7.13 RON 34.11
193.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.47 R$164
$35.51 RON 170
-14.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.29 R$141
$31.53 RON 151
-16.62%
Cinema Ticket
$7.46 R$40.17
$5.24 RON 25.09
42.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$764 R$4,114
$160 RON 765
378.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K R$84.6K
$3,827 RON 18.3K
310.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 R$283
$41.21 RON 197
27.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.10 R$227
$21.08 RON 101
99.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.4 R$427
$68.7 RON 329
15.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.6 R$450
$73.2 RON 350
14.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$517 R$2,783
$420 RON 2,008
23.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$242 R$1,300
$296 RON 1,416
-18.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,156 R$6,223
$512 RON 2,449
125.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$580 R$3,119
$417 RON 1,995
39.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,398 R$12.9K
$1,825 RON 8,732
31.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 R$9,030
$1,309 RON 6,263
28.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brasilia
Arad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$784 R$4,221
$923 RON 4,416
-15.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.12
7.35
64.90%

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

Last update for Brasilia: October 24, 2026

Last update for Arad: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Brasilia
$242
Arad
$296 22.5% $54
Groceries & Markets
Brasilia
$201
Arad
$191 4.5% $9.1
Eating Out
Brasilia
$150
Arad
$148 1.4% $2.2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brasilia
$125
Arad
$140 12.1% $15
Clothing & Footwear
Brasilia
$116
Arad
$92 20.7% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Brasilia
$45
Arad
$46 1.3% $0.6
Getting Around
Brasilia
$38
Arad
$31 17.7% $6.7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $517 in Brasilia versus $420 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 18% higher in Arad. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37 in Brasilia versus $33 in Arad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $201 vs $191 – making Arad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Brasilia
🇷🇴 Arad
🕒 Local time
22:47 10:47 PM
03:47 3:47 AM
5 h ahead of Brasilia
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,817,381 Capital
159,074
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RON, USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 5.38 BRL (1 BRL = 0.186 USD). 1 EUR = 6.01 BRL (1 BRL = 0.166 EUR).

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 4.78 RON (1 RON = 0.209 USD). 1 EUR = 5.34 RON (1 RON = 0.187 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Brasilia Arad 9,750 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Brasilia
  • Arad

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 3% more than Brasilia, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from leisure. 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 and in Arad?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,374 per month in Brasilia and $1,417 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $420 there versus $517 in Brasilia.
How do dining costs compare in Brasilia and in Arad?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $37 in Brasilia and $33 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 $916 in Brasilia and $944 in Arad. That makes Brasilia about 3% cheaper.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Brasilia or in Arad?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $916 in Brasilia and $944 in Arad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Brasilia or Arad?
It depends on your priorities. Brasilia has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $916 in Brasilia to $944 in Arad. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to Brasilia or to Arad?
If budget matters most, go with Brasilia. If higher salaries 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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