Cost of Living Comparison Between Changsha and Arad Cost of Living Comparison Between Changsha and Arad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $768 per month in Changsha vs $933 in Arad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,275 per month in Changsha vs $1,444 in Arad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,783 per month in Changsha vs $1,955 in Arad, rent included.

Changsha is about 18% cheaper than Arad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Changsha and Arad are more affordable than the global median – Changsha 44% lower, Arad 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 ¥20.25

$8.67 RON 39.26

-65.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.93 ¥147

$34.10 RON 154

-35.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 ¥32.50

$7.56 RON 34.26

-35.85%

Cappuccino

$3.35 ¥22.42

$2.77 RON 12.52

20.94%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ¥3.16

$1.56 RON 7.09

-69.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ¥1.82

$1.69 RON 7.63

-84.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.26 ¥8.43

$2.17 RON 9.81

-41.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ¥12.68

$2.69 RON 12.16

-29.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 ¥13.36

$1.20 RON 5.43

65.83%

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 ¥16.04

$1.23 RON 5.59

95.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ¥6.72

$1.85 RON 8.36

-45.95%

Eggs

$1.69 ¥11.29

$2.72 RON 12.33

-37.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.85 ¥86.0

$7.58 RON 34.31

69.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.95 ¥26.49

$5.23 RON 23.69

-24.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.79 ¥79.0

$10.74 RON 48.65

9.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 ¥19.86

$1.76 RON 7.97

68.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 ¥9.10

$1.88 RON 8.53

-27.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 ¥12.29

$1.72 RON 7.79

6.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 ¥13.06

$1.42 RON 6.43

37.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 ¥6.34

$0.83 RON 3.77

14.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 ¥10.47

$0.92 RON 4.18

69.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 ¥4.32

$1.24 RON 5.60

-47.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ¥3.50

$0.86 RON 3.87

-39.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.04 ¥20.36

$6.25 RON 28.28

-51.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.59 ¥84.3

$6.25 RON 28.33

101.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 ¥7.19

$1.29 RON 5.83

-17.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ¥10.48

$1.86 RON 8.40

-15.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ¥2.41

$0.97 RON 4.38

-62.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.12 ¥101

$31.53 RON 143

-52.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 ¥10.26

$0.84 RON 3.82

82.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ¥1.94

$1.08 RON 4.90

-73.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.49 ¥30.09

$11.17 RON 50.6

-59.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ¥8.14

$1.93 RON 8.74

-36.79%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.0K ¥127.2K

$28.5K RON 129.3K

-33.46%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$17.7K ¥118.3K

$26.0K RON 117.9K

-32.17%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$56.8 ¥380

$130 RON 590

-56.40%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.99 ¥60.2

$8.49 RON 38.44

5.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.62 ¥91.2

$7.55 RON 34.21

80.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.3 ¥364

$35.74 RON 162

51.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.93 ¥160

$32.94 RON 149

-27.35%

Cinema Ticket

$6.24 ¥41.76

$5.54 RON 25.09

12.64%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$322 ¥2,156

$165 RON 748

95.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.5K ¥110.5K

$4,069 RON 18.4K

305.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.2 ¥557

$43.61 RON 198

90.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.08 ¥235

$22.34 RON 101

57.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 ¥586

$73.3 RON 332

19.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.4 ¥391

$77.0 RON 349

-24.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$268 ¥1,797

$343 RON 1,555

-21.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$164 ¥1,101

$236 RON 1,070

-30.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$564 ¥3,777

$549 RON 2,486

2.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$381 ¥2,555

$432 RON 1,958

-11.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,560 ¥17.1K

$1,519 RON 6,879

68.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,409 ¥9,438

$1,104 RON 4,998

27.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,110 ¥7,437

$978 RON 4,429

13.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.46

7.35

-52.93%

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

Last update for Changsha: September 7, 2026

Last update for Arad: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $268 in Changsha versus $343 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 14% higher in Changsha, 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 $22.00 in Changsha versus $34.00 in Arad. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Changsha vs $200 in Arad – so Arad 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

Changsha vs Arad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arad costs about 22% more than Changsha, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,152 per month in Changsha and $1,400 in Arad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Changsha, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Changsha and $34.00 in Arad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $768 in Changsha and $933 in Arad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $768 in Changsha and $933 in Arad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Changsha – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Changsha. 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.