Cost of Living Comparison Between Bender and Cricova Cost of Living Comparison Between Bender and Cricova

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $705 per month in Bender vs $9.17 in Cricova, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,060 per month in Bender vs $12.00 in Cricova, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,415 per month in Bender vs $13.90 in Cricova, rent included.

Bender costs about 7587% more than Cricova, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bender and Cricova are more affordable than the global median – Bender 48% lower, Cricova 99% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.85 MDL 153

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.26 MDL 298

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.75 MDL 99.3

Cappuccino

$1.08 MDL 18.57

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

$0.91 MDL 15.69

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 MDL 9.07

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 MDL 16.88

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 MDL 36.25

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 MDL 15.97

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 MDL 8.68

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 MDL 25.07

Eggs

$1.96 MDL 33.88

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.07 MDL 70.2

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.27 MDL 73.7

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.06 MDL 87.4

Apples (1kg)

$0.71 MDL 12.31

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 MDL 31.76

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 MDL 29.43

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 MDL 28.02

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 MDL 14.19

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 MDL 9.46

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 MDL 21.65

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 MDL 12.55

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 MDL 49.22

Wine (Bottle)

$2.66 MDL 45.97

$4.58 MDL 79.1

-41.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 MDL 12.16

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 MDL 27.52

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 MDL 6.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.01 MDL 69.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 MDL 19.65

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 MDL 4.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 MDL 19.70

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 MDL 24.73

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

$17.4K MDL 300.8K

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

$17.9K MDL 309.9K

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

$174 MDL 3,011

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

$7.60 MDL 131

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.06 MDL 139

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.59 MDL 407

Cinema Ticket

$2.33 MDL 40.16

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

$388 MDL 6,694

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,614 MDL 131.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.51 MDL 199

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.23 MDL 453

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 MDL 1,980

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 MDL 2,090

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$219 MDL 3,781

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$96.3 MDL 1,663

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$308 MDL 5,325

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$218 MDL 3,768

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,877 MDL 49.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,054 MDL 35.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$325 MDL 5,609

$595 MDL 10.3K

-45.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.24

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

Last update for Bender: June 6, 2026

Last update for Cricova: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 83% higher in Cricova, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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

Bender vs Cricova: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bender is pricier by about 7587%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,057 per month in Bender and $13.75 in Cricova. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $705 in Bender and $9.17 in Cricova. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 1379% more in Bender, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $705 in Bender and $9.17 in Cricova, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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