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Cost of Living in Chisinau
Summary about cost of living in Chisinau:
- Four-person family monthly costs: 1,481.63$ (25,532.34L) without rent (using our estimator).
- A single person monthly costs: 442.01$ (7,616.89L) without rent.
- Cost of living rank 386th out of 448 cities in the world.
- Chisinau has a cost of living index of 33.49.
| Restaurants | [ Edit ] | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | 100.00 L | |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | 400.00 L | |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | 77.50 L | |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) | 18.00 L | |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) | 25.46 L | |
| Cappuccino (regular) | 24.28 L | |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) | 12.19 L | |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) | 8.62 L | |
| Markets | [ Edit ] | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) | 44.72 L | |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) | 5.58 L | |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) | 8.49 L | |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | 21.63 L | |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 50.18 L | |
| Chicken Breasts (Boneless, Skinless), (1 lb) | 29.77 L | |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) | 41.03 L | |
| Apples (1 lb) | 6.09 L | |
| Banana (1 lb) | 11.37 L | |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 11.52 L | |
| Tomato (1 lb) | 10.89 L | |
| Potato (1 lb) | 4.38 L | |
| Onion (1 lb) | 4.42 L | |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 10.74 L | |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | 9.72 L | |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 70.00 L | |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | 13.83 L | |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) | 23.18 L | |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) | 25.00 L | |
| Transportation | [ Edit ] | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | 2.00 L | |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | 120.00 L | |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | 26.96 L | |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) | 4.83 L | |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | 60.00 L | |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) | 69.11 L | |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) | 300,000.00 L | |
| Toyota Corolla 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) | 305,585.78 L | |
| Utilities (Monthly) | [ Edit ] | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment | 2,305.12 L | |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) | 1.44 L | |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | 167.73 L | |
| Sports And Leisure | [ Edit ] | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | 461.16 L | |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | 178.62 L | |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | 100.00 L | |
| Childcare | [ Edit ] | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | 3,233.56 L | |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | 59,375.00 L | |
| Clothing And Shoes | [ Edit ] | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) | 1,055.71 L | |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) | 682.99 L | |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 1,623.53 L | |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes | 1,723.98 L | |
| Rent Per Month | [ Edit ] | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre | 4,610.18 L | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre | 3,377.06 L | |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre | 7,967.43 L | |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre | 6,145.62 L | |
| Buy Apartment Price | [ Edit ] | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 1,552.65 L | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 1,013.97 L | |
| Salaries And Financing | [ Edit ] | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 5,249.38 L | |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 11.45 |
Prices in Chisinau
These data are based on 1460 entries in the past 18 months from 127 different contributors.
Last update: March 2019
Last update: March 2019
Sources and References:
No sources and references provided yet.
No sources and references provided yet.
This page in other languages:
DeutschLebenshaltungskosten in Chisinau
ItalianoCosto della Vita a Chisinau
FrançaisCoût de la Vie à Chisinau
EspañolCosto de Vida en Chisináu
15 Comments so far
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).
Are you aware Moldova has villages without running water, permanent electricity or even half decent roads...
Maybe the comparison btw MD and ECUADOR is relevant below and MD looks better, but lets compare MD to any other country in Europe. Its a pitty to say that its the worst European country to live in probably, unless you are a millionaire and you dont care about expenses because your wallet is always overfilled, about the bad streets because you anyway use a helicopter for transportation or a Hummer, about the many rude people on the streets because you can always calm them down different ways. By the way, there is a reason why people are rude - they're full of problems and stress.
I was one from the lucky ones to be given the oportunity to leave MD 10years ago, being offered a 10 times more salary in an another European country. Initially i thought i will return back to MD in 1-2 years, but then i changed my view over the life and what it actually means. I believe many other people were exactly like me - some even after 1year bought a house in MD as to return some day back home and now cannot sell it because noone is returning back home with money and want to buy something.
I am very sad about the country, about our families which are broken down into pieces (mother works in one country, father working in some other country or stays home, brothers/sisters also abroad); i personally meet my full family consisting of 4people probably once every 5years only; we dont have Christmas together, Easter, birthday parties...
Shame on the corrupted gov and blind people voting for wrong candidates/parties. To be fair - nowadays i dont trust anyone from the gov whom i would vote fearless next time.
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.
Of course some how mathematically its dosent match for a middle class life style income and their experience, I can guess average salary is 8000Lie around €400 but still it's very low if you compare to other countries. Monthly expenses will be around €500 for middle class families if they don't have bank credit over their shoulders.