Cost of Living Comparison Between Balti and Cricova Cost of Living Comparison Between Balti and Cricova

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,022 per month in Balti vs $1,053 in Cricova, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Balti vs $1,939 in Cricova, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,911 per month in Balti vs $2,825 in Cricova, rent included.

Balti is about 3% cheaper than Cricova, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Balti and Cricova are more affordable than the global median – Balti 25% lower, Cricova 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.41 MDL 143

$8.56 MDL 145

-1.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.95 MDL 390

$29.10 MDL 494

-21.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.79 MDL 183

$10.89 MDL 185

-0.92%

Cappuccino

$1.78 MDL 30.17

$1.08 MDL 18.32

64.81%

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

$1.15 MDL 19.50

$1.09 MDL 18.47

5.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 MDL 11.67

$0.73 MDL 12.35

-5.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 MDL 19.52

$2.02 MDL 34.27

-43.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 MDL 25.45

$2.28 MDL 38.68

-34.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 MDL 22.36

$2.51 MDL 42.60

-47.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 MDL 8.73

$0.52 MDL 8.89

-1.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 MDL 28.21

$1.09 MDL 18.49

52.29%

Eggs

$2.28 MDL 38.72

$1.30 MDL 22.06

75.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.01 MDL 119

$6.95 MDL 118

0.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.90 MDL 83.2

$4.71 MDL 80.0

4.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.29 MDL 107

$12.59 MDL 214

-50.04%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 MDL 17.44

$1.14 MDL 19.31

-9.65%

Banana (1kg)

$2.26 MDL 38.39

$0.83 MDL 14.15

172.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MDL 32.29

$1.12 MDL 19.09

69.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 MDL 40.21

$1.14 MDL 19.36

107.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 MDL 12.50

$0.76 MDL 12.84

-2.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 MDL 9.05

$1.14 MDL 19.36

-53.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 MDL 7.80

$1.09 MDL 18.57

-57.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MDL 9.59

$1.08 MDL 18.42

-48.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.30 MDL 56.0

$3.38 MDL 57.4

-2.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.79 MDL 81.3

$4.73 MDL 80.2

1.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 MDL 24.26

$2.66 MDL 45.17

-46.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 MDL 34.31

$4.49 MDL 76.2

-55.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 MDL 5.68

$0.60 MDL 10.27

-45.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.25 MDL 293

$23.42 MDL 398

-26.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.89 MDL 48.99

$1.13 MDL 19.21

155.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 MDL 4.61

$0.27 MDL 4.63

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.73 MDL 97.4

$6.90 MDL 117

-16.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 MDL 26.78

$1.37 MDL 23.20

15.33%

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

$35.0K MDL 593.9K

$30.3K MDL 514.0K

15.55%

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

$24.9K MDL 422.6K

$25.2K MDL 427.1K

-1.04%

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

$236 MDL 4,007

$249 MDL 4,235

-5.37%

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

$8.27 MDL 140

$8.20 MDL 139

0.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.74 MDL 199

$11.79 MDL 200

-0.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.38 MDL 635

$58.8 MDL 998

-36.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.74 MDL 267

$11.72 MDL 199

34.30%

Cinema Ticket

$7.68 MDL 130

$7.96 MDL 135

-3.52%

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

$116 MDL 1,975

$119 MDL 2,015

-2.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,484 MDL 93.1K

$5,386 MDL 91.5K

1.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.21 MDL 802

$57.4 MDL 974

-17.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.35 MDL 583

$28.86 MDL 490

19.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.3 MDL 1,006

$86.7 MDL 1,472

-31.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.6 MDL 876

$115 MDL 1,949

-55.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$409 MDL 6,942

$936 MDL 15.9K

-56.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 MDL 4,847

$229 MDL 3,881

24.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$699 MDL 11.9K

$1,446 MDL 24.6K

-51.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 MDL 8,840

$1,168 MDL 19.8K

-55.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,428 MDL 24.3K

$2,942 MDL 50.0K

-51.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,024 MDL 17.4K

$2,013 MDL 34.2K

-49.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 MDL 10.8K

$584 MDL 9,924

8.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.29%

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

Last update for Balti: August 17, 2026

Last update for Cricova: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $409 in Balti versus $936 in Cricova. 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 9% higher in Balti, 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 $23.00 in Balti versus $29.00 in Cricova. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $169 vs $197 – making Balti the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Balti vs Cricova: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,022 in Balti, $1,053 in Cricova – roughly 3% apart. Cricova costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,534 per month in Balti and $1,579 in Cricova. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $116 per month in Balti and $119 in Cricova. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Cricova, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Balti, where all-in costs run around $1,022, than in Cricova at $1,053. In Balti it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cricova it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Balti – 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 Balti. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cricova makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.