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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $770 per month in Changsha vs $888 in Arad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,221 per month in Changsha vs $1,381 in Arad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,673 per month in Changsha vs $1,875 in Arad, rent included.

Changsha is about 13% cheaper than Arad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Changsha and Arad are more affordable than the global median – Changsha 43% lower, Arad 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.87 ¥19.63

$9.06 RON 39.51

-68.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.69 ¥142

$34.55 RON 151

-40.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.91 ¥33.62

$6.83 RON 29.78

-28.11%

Cappuccino

$2.96 ¥20.26

$2.28 RON 9.92

29.82%

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

$0.46 ¥3.16

$1.59 RON 6.92

-71.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ¥1.71

$1.69 RON 7.38

-85.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.09 ¥7.45

$2.02 RON 8.80

-46.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 ¥12.74

$2.78 RON 12.14

-33.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ¥13.25

$1.45 RON 6.33

33.10%

White Bread (500g)

$2.24 ¥15.35

$1.23 RON 5.34

82.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 ¥6.25

$1.60 RON 7.00

-43.13%

Eggs

$1.61 ¥11.06

$2.94 RON 12.84

-45.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.92 ¥109

$8.08 RON 35.23

97.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 ¥21.94

$4.47 RON 19.50

-28.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 ¥60.9

$8.60 RON 37.48

3.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.84 ¥12.61

$1.18 RON 5.13

55.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 ¥9.16

$1.58 RON 6.89

-15.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 ¥12.19

$1.66 RON 7.25

7.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.43

$1.71 RON 7.47

6.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 ¥6.07

$0.80 RON 3.51

11.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.98

$0.88 RON 3.84

65.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 ¥3.26

$1.01 RON 4.41

-52.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 ¥2.73

$0.92 RON 4.03

-56.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.83 ¥19.38

$5.91 RON 25.75

-52.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 ¥84.8

$6.95 RON 30.32

77.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 ¥6.09

$0.98 RON 4.28

-9.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ¥9.83

$1.65 RON 7.21

-13.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 ¥2.50

$0.95 RON 4.13

-61.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.21 ¥97.3

$23.31 RON 102

-39.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 ¥8.49

$0.90 RON 3.94

37.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.26 ¥1.78

$0.82 RON 3.58

-68.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.13 ¥55.7

$9.34 RON 40.72

-12.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥8.10

$1.55 RON 6.74

-23.87%

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

$20.7K ¥142.1K

$28.6K RON 124.6K

-27.39%

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

$21.9K ¥149.9K

$26.2K RON 114.2K

-16.47%

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

$42.83 ¥293

$108 RON 473

-60.51%

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

$12.61 ¥86.4

$8.43 RON 36.75

49.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.52 ¥99.5

$7.95 RON 34.65

82.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.1 ¥391

$39.05 RON 170

46.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.08 ¥158

$23.39 RON 102

-1.33%

Cinema Ticket

$5.95 ¥40.75

$5.74 RON 25.01

3.66%

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

$313 ¥2,144

$230 RON 1,003

36.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,239 ¥49.6K

$6,929 RON 30.2K

4.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.7 ¥580

$41.05 RON 179

106.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.31 ¥214

$37.57 RON 164

-16.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.1 ¥563

$80.1 RON 349

2.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.3 ¥475

$68.7 RON 300

0.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$208 ¥1,424

$322 RON 1,406

-35.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 ¥1,170

$215 RON 938

-20.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 ¥3,463

$578 RON 2,521

-12.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 ¥2,504

$428 RON 1,868

-14.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,503 ¥17.1K

$1,549 RON 6,754

61.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,325 ¥9,073

$1,174 RON 5,119

12.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,094 ¥7,496

$842 RON 3,673

29.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.89

6.5

-40.15%

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

Last update for Changsha: April 25, 2026

Last update for Arad: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $208 in Changsha 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 30% 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 $21.00 in Changsha versus $35.00 in Arad. Groceries tell a different story – $220 in Changsha vs $189 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 15% 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 $1,154 per month in Changsha and $1,332 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 $21.00 in Changsha and $35.00 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 $770 in Changsha and $888 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 $770 in Changsha and $888 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.