Cost of Living in Chisinau

@roberto , I agree with you in part. However, even I am Romanian I cannot get these prices for rent or services. There is a premium for anyone , subjective and not based on law or market prices , who is a foreigner, expat, emigrated Romanian or Moldovan. While in Theory prices are cheap for the local who has been there all their life it is definitely not these prices for others. Consider that Italy may be 200 euro to fix a car part but it's 200 for everyone, foreigner or local. In Romania, Russia , Belarus , ukraine , Moldova , etc. it's 2 prices. And its a huge difference. Still even with the markup it's still probably cheaper than the 200 euro in italy. However my observation is short term rents are not much less than Spain or Italy and it's moldova! As exotic as it is , if I had to pay the same rent in Spain of course I choose Spain 100 percent of the time. Romanians rip off their own as well as foreigners so unless you can pretend to pass for a local for 30 years there good luck getting so called local prices. I went to a wine bar in chisinau and spoke Romanian with an accent. He switched to English and charged me 4x the local rate. So you know there is much price scamming going on. That's why few decide to stay unless they can somehow get anywhere near the local prices. Even 30 percent above local would be an achievement but often it's more like 50 to 200 percent above local price for expat, repat, foreigner or even local who looks like he has some money.

To Alex# Deep socialism as you call it? Over 36 years since the Soviet Union ruled.Chisinau once had beautiful fountains falling apart the main hotel in shambles everything actually throughout Moldova is.After a 36 plus year separation from the Soviet Union Moldova has shown absolutely no progress whatsoever.

# Hans Moldova will need to sell something more substantial than just potatoes to stimulate the severely lacking economy over the last 30 plus years.

I passed through Chisinau briefly changing trains.The capital is a joke.Broken down buildings and streets drunks and hookers everywhere and filth.As I crossed Moldova by train I could see why it's the least visited place for tourists.

Very, Very interesting information. I plan to visit Moldova next year 2019, and probably Romania too. I live in UK, NOT Boston USA - I don't know why the Internet insists that I'm from Boston USA. I'm English!
I've spent much time in Russia, Ukraine...and many other countries of the world. My languages: English, French, Russian...but I'm losing the Russian..."If You Don't Use It You Lose It"!
I'm looking forward to seeing Moldova - and Romania too (where I have some family relatives).

Mrs. Tatiana, I do not understand your speech very much. I live in Moldova for 20 years and I am Italian. The statistics say that life in Chisinau costs 59% less than in Italy, but you say that life costs more in Moldova than in Europe. It's not true. There are expenses that are NOT mentioned in the statistics that make a big difference. For example the cost of repairing a car: to change the brake pads to a car in Italy, you spend about 200 euros. In Moldova about 15 times less. In Italy to repair the engine of a car is spent 7000 euros, in Moldova you can also spend 200 euros. In Moldova you all go to the restaurant, in Italy many people do not go there anymore because they can not do it. You Moldovans can spend thousands of euros for baptisms, marriages and birthdays, the Italians spend those thousands of euros to pay taxes. Between taxes and insurance for a car, Italians can spend up to 1800 euros a year, in Moldova only 50. Moldovans can afford massages and therapies of all kinds for the back: the Italians have to spend 100 euros for massages from physiotherapists, while in Moldova it costs 8 euros maximum. In Moldova you pay ridiculous taxes on the house and on many other things, and it is still possible to avoid them almost completely. Do not be without objectivity. Mathematics is not a political idea, it is an indisputable fact. Even the minimum prices indicated are often exaggerated because in Moldova the buyer has resources that in Italy there are not. In Moldova in the night market you can buy vegetables, for example, at a third of the prices you buy during the day.

I currently live in Cuenca, Ecuador and have for five years. I just returned from a three week trip to Chisinau, Moldova. Here are the differences I noted.

Ed O'Connor
Cuenca, Ecuador

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CUENCA, ECUADOR & CHISINAU, MOLDOVA
As I found differences between the two cities / countries I noted them, good, bad or indifferent – there is no particular order.

1. There Are Four Seasons In Moldova – The Weather Is Similar To Central Pennsylvania
2. Gasoline Is about $.95/Liter In Chisinau and comes in 92, 95 and 98 octane. Diesel Fuel Is $.10 less. ( 1 Gallon Is 3.8 Liters)
3. Prices Are Lower In Chisinau Except Utilities
4. We Could Sleep - Noise Levels In Chisinau Are MUCH Lower
a. No Dogs Barking All Day & Night
b. No Bars In Residential Areas
c. No Motorcycles Seeing Who Can Be The Loudest
d. No Partying On The Streets After The Bars Close
e. No Fireworks
5. In Chisinau, No Polluting Buses – Electric Trolley Buses Are Used
a. The Drivers Aren’t Lunatics
b. Drivers are Separated From Passengers
c. Buses Are Curb Height
d. A Person On The Bus Collects The Fare And Gives Change
e. One Can Use The Front, Center Or Rear Doors To Enter/Exit
f. Entrances/Exits Are Very Wide
g. Cost To Ride: $.11 For All
h. There Are Electronic Signs Above The Bus Windshields And On The Side Indicating Bus Number And Destination
i. Not Knocked Around By Back Packs On Buses
j. No Line Jumping
k. Buses Are Cleaner Inside And Out
l. No Rap Or Other Annoying Music On Bus
6. Very Little Graffiti Defacing Buildings In Chisinau
7. Even though Chisinau Was Founded In 1436, Sidewalks Are 20-30 Feet Wide, But Then There Was Much Destruction During WWII And Rebuilding Was Necessary.
8. Sidewalks Are Not Obstacle Courses In Chisinau.
9. Don’t Have To Worry About Avoiding Dog Poop On The Sidewalks In Chisinau.
10. In Chisinau Pedestrians Don’t Try To Walk Over You, Through You Or Try To Push You Into The Street As Though They Owned The Sidewalk.
11. In Chisinau - Many Trash Receptacles Along Sidewalks And In Parks – Not Much Litter On The Ground And No Street Sweepers.
12. VERY Few Car Alarms Blaring In Chisinau – Heard Three In Three Weeks.
13. Cars Do Not Use Horns As Soon As The Light Changes In Chisinau
14. Cars Use Turn Signals In Chisinau
15. Cars Stop For People In Crosswalks In Chisinau
16. In Chisinau At Crosswalks Both “Walk” And “Don’t Walk” Signs Show The Seconds Remaining
17. Waiters / Waitresses Remember What One Orders At Chisinau Restaurants
18. IVA 8% To 20% In Chisinau
19. IVA Is Not Returned To Seniors In Chisinau
20. There Were No “Senior Only” Lines In Chisinau
21. No Problems With The Airport In Chisinau
22. Streets Are Three-Lane And Most Are One Way In Chisinau
23. Even Though Moldova Is The Poorest Country In Europe, I Have Never Seen So Many Volvo’s, Land Rovers, Range Rovers, Porsche’s, Mercedes, Audi’s And BMW’s Anywhere.
24. Groceries In Chisinau Are Less Expensive – Example: Chicken Breasts Are Around $3.00 Per Kilo.
25. In Chisinau It Is Very Difficult To Flag Down A Taxi – They Must Be Called On The Phone Most Of The Time.
26. In Chisinau The Main Street Is Six Lanes – Three Lanes Both Ways With Pedestrian Walkways Underneath The Main Intersection – In The Underground Walkways There Are Store And Shops
27. People Are Less Friendly In Chisinau – Sometimes Quite Rude
28. In Chisinau Restaurants There Are Napkins, Salt, Pepper And Toothpicks On The Tables. Many Restaurants Have Pink Sea Salt, Oil And Vinegar On Tables, Also.
29. Chisinau Public Restrooms Have Toilet Paper, Soap, Paper Towels And Are Clean.
30. In Chisinau Toilet Paper Can Be Flushed
31. In Chisinau The Refrigerators Are Taller But Narrower And The Freezer Is On The Bottom.
32. In Chisinau The Washing Machines Are Front Load And The Capacity Is About One-Third That Of A Standard Washer
33. Very Few Drying Machines In Chisinau – Clothes Drying Is Done On A Drying Rack, Outside Or On The Balcony.
34. Streets In Chisinau Are Tree Lined, Main Four Lane Routes Are Tree Lined, Back Roads Are Tree Lined With Walnut Trees So People Can Collect The Walnuts.
35. Apartment Bathrooms Are Two Rooms – One With A Toilette And Sink, The Other With Bathtub And Sink
36. People In Chisinau Are Very Punctual
37. In Chisinau People Do Not Come In Late, Eat, Bring Infants/Toddlers Or Talk During A Symphony / Opera Performance – But Then Concerts Aren’t Free.
38. In Chisinau There Are No Loud-Mouthed Gringos Trying To Win The Gringo Yelling Contest In Restaurants.
39. In Chisinau The Financial Institutions Pay Less Interest.
40. In Chisinau There Is No Problem Getting Change After A Purchase.
41. In Chisinau Money Must Be Exchanged – The Currency Is The Moldovan Leu……Averages About 17.25 Leu Per US Dollar (A Leu Is A Little Less Than $.06). I Had 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 Leu Notes. There are also 500 and 1000 Leu Notes – I Did Not See Any. The Coins Are Called Bani. A Bani is 1/100 Of A Leu.
42. One Does Not Get “Gringo’ed” In Chisinau. The Prices Are Marked And We All Paid The Same.
43. There Is No “Gringolandia” In Chisinau.
44. Did Not See A Person Peeing On The Sidewalks In Chisinau.
45. Saw Very Few Babies Or Pregnant Women In Chisinau.
46. Didn’t Have Rice At Restaurants – It Does Not Get Served With Meals In Chisinau Unless Ordered.
47. My Allergy/Sinus Problem Disappeared In Chisinau – I Didn’t Have To Take An Allergy Pill, (Cleaner Air?).
48. Many More People Smoke Cigarettes In Chisinau – Local Cigs Are $.10 Per Pack.
49. In Chisinau Health Insurance Only Costs $230 Per YEAR. If One Pays The Premium Before April 1st, It Is Half Price. It Is An 80/20 Plan. My Wife’s, Cousin’s Husband Had An 8 Hour Heart Operation – They Paid $2012.
50. Electricity Is 220-240 Volts In Chisinau And Moldova.
51. For Some Reason My Eye Glasses Only Had To Be Cleaned Once Every Three Days. In Cuenca I Clean Them Three Or Four Times Daily. (Cleaner Air?)
52. In Chisinau Most Menus Are In Three Languages - Russian, Romanian And English
53. In Chisinau Most Museums Have The Exhibits In Three Languages.
54. In Moldova The Political Situation Is Iffy – Moldova, Although The Size Of Maryland, Is Divided Into 3 Separate Geopolitical Regions
55. Heard Both Good And Bad About The Health Care System In Chisinau – Bribery Helps
56. In Chisinau The Bread Is So Much Better. It Doesn’t Taste Like It Was Made With Sawdust.
57. In Chisinau The Ice Cream Is Really Ice Cream And Is Much More Flavorful And Cheaper.
58. Meats Are MUCH Better In Chisinau.
59. Average Monthly Wage In Moldova - $267
60. I Definitely Had A Language Problem In Chisinau. Olga Did Not – She Speaks Russian, Romanian And English.
61. When Entering An Apartment In Chisinau, Shoes Are Removed And “House Shoes” Are Provided For One To Wear
62. Wines Are Better And Less Expensive In Chisinau.
63. In Chisinau One Can Bring Any Size Container And Have It Filled With Wine From A Barrel At The Super Market.
64. Liquor And Beer Are Less Expensive In Chisinau.
65. The Price In Chisinau for My Wife, Olga, To Have Her Hair Done Was $9.00
66. In Chisinau People Do Not Wear Cargo Pants, North Face Gear And Backpacks Looking Like They Are Going On Safari Or Getting Ready To Climb Mount Everest
67. I did Not See One Back Pack At The Symphony, Opera Or Concert Performances.
68. Heard And Saw Many More Ambulances In Chisinau
69. Some Prices In Restaurants:
· Bailey’s - $2.60
· Amaretto - $2.05
· Finlandia - $1.50
· House Vodka - $.90
· Bottle Of Wine - $5.20
· Glass Of Wine - $1.10
· Martini - $1.15
· Bacardi - $2.05
· Local Beer - $.95
· Burger / Fries - $3.20
· Cappuccino - $1.30
· Two Eggs, Bacon, Toast - $1.80
· Pasta Dishes - $2.60
70. No Meters In Cabs In Chisinau – Had To Ask For A Price
71. Maxi Taxis Are 12 Passenger Mercedes Sprinter Vans That Charge $.15 And Are Marked As To Where They Go in Chisinau.
72. Did Not See Any Pick-Up Trucks In Chisinau.
73. On Chisinau Restaurant Menus, The Weight Of The Item Is Listed.
74. In Chisinau There were No Electric Wires, Internet Cables, etc. Hanging Low And The Wires Didn’t Look Like A Mass Of Spaghetti At The Electric Poles.
75. Construction Projects Are Completed On Time In Chisinau.
76. Didn’t See Any Broken Bottles / Glass On Chisinau Sidewalks / Streets.
77. I Saw Women On The Sidewalks Wearing Dresses And Skirt Outfits – But Not As Many As When I Was There 12 Years Ago.
78. Saw More Street Cats Than Street Dogs In Chisinau.
79. Didn’t See Many Street Vendors In Chisinau.
80. Didn’t See Any Street Performers In Chisinau.
81. In Chisinau Receipts Are Not Nearly As Long & Wide.
82. In Chisinau Streets Names Are Posted At Every Corner.