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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $767 per month in Changsha vs $862 in Arad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,219 per month in Changsha vs $1,394 in Arad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,671 per month in Changsha vs $1,927 in Arad, rent included.

Changsha is about 11% cheaper than Arad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Changsha and Arad are more affordable than the global median – Changsha 42% lower, Arad 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.81 ¥18.98

$9.48 RON 43.31

-70.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.61 ¥139

$34.42 RON 157

-40.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 ¥33.82

$6.81 RON 31.11

-26.43%

Cappuccino

$3.05 ¥20.58

$2.28 RON 10.43

33.77%

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

$0.42 ¥2.83

$1.58 RON 7.22

-73.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ¥1.83

$1.71 RON 7.79

-84.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.10 ¥7.40

$2.03 RON 9.25

-45.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ¥12.43

$2.82 RON 12.88

-34.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ¥13.08

$1.45 RON 6.64

33.79%

White Bread (500g)

$2.34 ¥15.80

$1.25 RON 5.73

87.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 ¥6.20

$1.60 RON 7.32

-42.50%

Eggs

$1.60 ¥10.82

$2.96 RON 13.53

-45.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.68 ¥106

$8.09 RON 36.96

93.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ¥21.04

$4.40 RON 20.10

-29.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.28 ¥62.7

$8.99 RON 41.04

3.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 ¥12.84

$1.17 RON 5.36

62.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 ¥9.11

$1.52 RON 6.96

-11.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ¥12.14

$1.67 RON 7.65

7.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.79 ¥12.12

$1.72 RON 7.84

4.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 ¥6.02

$0.82 RON 3.74

8.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ¥10.00

$0.92 RON 4.21

60.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 ¥3.42

$1.01 RON 4.63

-49.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 ¥2.86

$0.93 RON 4.25

-54.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.75 ¥18.56

$5.92 RON 27.03

-53.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.32 ¥83.2

$5.35 RON 24.42

130.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ¥6.54

$1.00 RON 4.55

-3.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ¥9.69

$1.64 RON 7.50

-12.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ¥2.44

$0.89 RON 4.05

-59.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.88 ¥93.7

$23.83 RON 109

-41.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ¥8.21

$0.88 RON 4.02

38.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 ¥1.90

$0.81 RON 3.68

-65.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.26 ¥55.8

$9.39 RON 42.90

-12.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ¥7.87

$1.60 RON 7.32

-27.50%

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

$20.3K ¥137.2K

$28.4K RON 129.7K

-28.49%

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

$21.9K ¥147.7K

$25.9K RON 118.1K

-15.47%

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

$42.63 ¥288

$110 RON 503

-61.29%

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

$12.25 ¥82.7

$8.68 RON 39.64

41.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.78 ¥99.9

$8.07 RON 36.85

83.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.8 ¥397

$39.52 RON 180

48.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.75 ¥154

$22.72 RON 104

0.13%

Cinema Ticket

$5.76 ¥38.88

$5.81 RON 26.54

-0.86%

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

$315 ¥2,130

$229 RON 1,044

37.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,268 ¥49.1K

$6,851 RON 31.3K

6.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.4 ¥564

$40.78 RON 186

104.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.97 ¥209

$37.89 RON 173

-18.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.3 ¥549

$80.9 RON 369

0.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.4 ¥475

$69.7 RON 318

0.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$204 ¥1,380

$326 RON 1,491

-37.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$167 ¥1,126

$217 RON 992

-23.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$511 ¥3,453

$558 RON 2,550

-8.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$353 ¥2,386

$427 RON 1,948

-17.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,585 ¥17.5K

$1,443 RON 6,590

79.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,377 ¥9,300

$1,066 RON 4,868

29.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,111 ¥7,502

$835 RON 3,814

32.99%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Arad: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $204 in Changsha 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 33% 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 $34.00 in Arad. Groceries tell a different story – $222 in Changsha vs $187 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 12% 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 $1,150 per month in Changsha and $1,293 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 $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 $767 in Changsha and $862 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 $767 in Changsha and $862 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.