Cost of Living Comparison Between Batumi, Ajara and Chisinau Cost of Living Comparison Between Batumi, Ajara and Chisinau

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,014 per month in Batumi, Ajara vs $1,231 in Chisinau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,536 per month in Batumi, Ajara vs $1,813 in Chisinau, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,058 per month in Batumi, Ajara vs $2,394 in Chisinau, rent included.

Batumi, Ajara is about 18% cheaper than Chisinau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Batumi, Ajara and Chisinau are more affordable than the global median – Batumi, Ajara 24% lower, Chisinau 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.01 ₾23.93

$8.53 MDL 147

5.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.81 ₾79.2

$37.11 MDL 637

-19.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.36 ₾19.55

$7.53 MDL 129

-2.26%

Cappuccino

$2.81 ₾7.47

$1.87 MDL 32.20

50.27%

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

$0.79 ₾2.11

$0.99 MDL 17.02

-20.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₾1.09

$0.70 MDL 12.00

-41.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 ₾3.96

$1.74 MDL 29.87

-14.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₾5.78

$2.29 MDL 39.39

-4.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 ₾4.81

$1.29 MDL 22.15

40.31%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 ₾1.35

$0.52 MDL 8.97

-1.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ₾4.19

$1.46 MDL 25.01

8.22%

Eggs

$2.25 ₾5.97

$2.62 MDL 44.96

-14.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.72 ₾17.84

$10.22 MDL 176

-34.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.02 ₾13.33

$5.35 MDL 91.9

-6.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.09 ₾24.14

$8.69 MDL 149

4.60%

Apples (1kg)

$1.10 ₾2.93

$0.84 MDL 14.39

30.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ₾3.97

$1.82 MDL 31.27

-18.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.34 ₾3.56

$1.78 MDL 30.51

-24.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.76 ₾4.66

$2.17 MDL 37.25

-18.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 ₾1.49

$0.81 MDL 13.92

-30.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 ₾1.37

$0.54 MDL 9.31

-5.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 ₾3.47

$1.30 MDL 22.38

0.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₾1.68

$0.90 MDL 15.47

-30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 ₾7.96

$3.28 MDL 56.4

-8.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.67 ₾15.04

$4.73 MDL 81.3

19.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ₾3.33

$1.21 MDL 20.82

3.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 ₾5.24

$1.91 MDL 32.81

3.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.12 ₾0.32

$0.33 MDL 5.75

-63.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.42 ₾19.70

$13.47 MDL 231

-44.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 ₾2.85

$2.07 MDL 35.59

-48.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.83

$0.25 MDL 4.29

176.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 ₾7.84

$5.33 MDL 91.7

-44.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₾3.07

$1.44 MDL 24.75

-19.44%

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

$14.6K ₾38.9K

$32.7K MDL 561.6K

-55.19%

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

$18.6K ₾49.3K

$31.5K MDL 540.4K

-41.03%

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

$74.2 ₾197

$174 MDL 2,989

-57.36%

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

$10.23 ₾27.17

$7.38 MDL 127

38.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.25 ₾45.81

$10.98 MDL 189

57.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.93 ₾127

$43.14 MDL 741

11.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.33 ₾32.74

$22.18 MDL 381

-44.41%

Cinema Ticket

$5.35 ₾14.21

$7.63 MDL 131

-29.88%

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

$244 ₾647

$388 MDL 6,659

-37.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,920 ₾7,753

$7,708 MDL 132.4K

-62.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.0 ₾228

$65.4 MDL 1,123

31.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.68 ₾108

$54.3 MDL 933

-25.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 ₾320

$111 MDL 1,910

8.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₾282

$120 MDL 2,070

-11.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₾1,299

$668 MDL 11.5K

-26.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$355 ₾942

$468 MDL 8,044

-24.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$942 ₾2,502

$1,243 MDL 21.4K

-24.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$622 ₾1,651

$798 MDL 13.7K

-22.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,481 ₾3,932

$2,649 MDL 45.5K

-44.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,056 ₾2,803

$1,901 MDL 32.7K

-44.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ₾1,537

$864 MDL 14.8K

-33.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.17

9.24

31.71%

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

Last update for Batumi, Ajara: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chisinau: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Batumi, Ajara versus $668 in Chisinau. 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 49% higher in Chisinau, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Batumi, Ajara versus $37.00 in Chisinau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $190 – making Batumi, Ajara 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

Batumi, Ajara vs Chisinau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,014 in Batumi, Ajara, $1,231 in Chisinau – roughly 21% apart. Chisinau costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,521 per month in Batumi, Ajara and $1,846 in Chisinau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,014 in Batumi, Ajara and $1,231 in Chisinau. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 82% less in Batumi, Ajara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Batumi, Ajara, where all-in costs run around $1,014, than in Chisinau at $1,231. In Batumi, Ajara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chisinau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Batumi, Ajara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,014 in Batumi, Ajara to $1,231 in Chisinau. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Batumi, Ajara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chisinau makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.