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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $677 per month in Bender vs $1,054 in Cricova, rent included.

A couple spends around $989 per month in Bender vs $1,880 in Cricova, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,301 per month in Bender vs $2,706 in Cricova, rent included.

Bender is about 36% cheaper than Cricova, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Bender and Cricova are more affordable than the global median – Bender 49% lower, Cricova 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.32 MDL 112

$8.51 MDL 151

-25.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.10 MDL 321

$28.14 MDL 500

-35.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.64 MDL 100

$10.52 MDL 187

-46.39%

Cappuccino

$1.19 MDL 21.13

$1.04 MDL 18.48

14.42%

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

$1.04 MDL 18.41

$1.09 MDL 19.34

-4.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 MDL 8.66

$0.67 MDL 11.82

-26.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.88 MDL 15.71

$2.03 MDL 36.14

-56.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 MDL 29.86

$2.24 MDL 39.75

-25.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 MDL 16.66

$2.34 MDL 41.59

-59.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 MDL 8.87

$0.50 MDL 8.84

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 MDL 24.46

$1.10 MDL 19.55

25.45%

Eggs

$1.94 MDL 34.48

$1.25 MDL 22.27

55.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.06 MDL 72.1

$6.62 MDL 118

-38.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 MDL 76.5

$4.66 MDL 82.7

-7.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.30 MDL 94.1

$12.19 MDL 216

-56.52%

Apples (1kg)

$0.89 MDL 15.83

$1.08 MDL 19.26

-17.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 MDL 32.97

$0.81 MDL 14.43

129.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 MDL 32.23

$1.05 MDL 18.59

72.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 MDL 32.07

$1.10 MDL 19.46

64.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 MDL 12.77

$0.73 MDL 12.93

-1.37%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 MDL 9.38

$1.05 MDL 18.62

-49.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 MDL 9.75

$1.05 MDL 18.61

-47.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 MDL 14.66

$1.08 MDL 19.27

-23.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 MDL 49.95

$3.40 MDL 60.4

-17.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.57 MDL 45.69

$4.46 MDL 79.2

-42.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 MDL 10.59

$2.55 MDL 45.26

-76.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 MDL 33.70

$4.30 MDL 76.5

-55.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MDL 6.79

$0.56 MDL 9.92

-32.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.18 MDL 394

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 MDL 39.75

$1.10 MDL 19.49

103.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 MDL 5.19

$0.24 MDL 4.22

20.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.18 MDL 92.0

$6.94 MDL 123

-25.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 MDL 24.71

$1.37 MDL 24.41

1.46%

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

$28.8K MDL 510.8K

$29.8K MDL 528.9K

-3.43%

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

$30.7K MDL 545.5K

$24.0K MDL 426.5K

27.90%

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

$243 MDL 4,318

$239 MDL 4,239

1.85%

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

$9.27 MDL 165

$7.95 MDL 141

16.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.59 MDL 188

$11.17 MDL 198

-5.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.7 MDL 1,007

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.26 MDL 200

Cinema Ticket

$8.74 MDL 155

$7.79 MDL 138

12.20%

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

$427 MDL 7,585

$112 MDL 1,997

279.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,883 MDL 104.5K

$5,258 MDL 93.4K

11.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.2 MDL 1,371

$56.6 MDL 1,006

36.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.68 MDL 829

$28.69 MDL 510

62.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 MDL 2,088

$83.2 MDL 1,477

41.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 MDL 1,984

$113 MDL 2,014

-1.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$303 MDL 5,383

$918 MDL 16.3K

-66.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$223 MDL 3,957

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,407 MDL 25.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 MDL 19.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,798 MDL 49.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,976 MDL 35.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$312 MDL 5,541

$581 MDL 10.3K

-46.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.41

34.43%

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

Last update for Bender: October 4, 2026

Last update for Cricova: October 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $303 in Bender versus $918 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 86% higher in Cricova, 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 $18.00 in Bender versus $28.00 in Cricova. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $136 vs $189 – making Bender 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

Bender vs Cricova: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cricova is pricier by about 56%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,016 per month in Bender and $1,580 in Cricova. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Bender and $28.00 in Cricova. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 39% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bender, where all-in costs run around $677, than in Cricova at $1,054. In Bender it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cricova it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bender – 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 Bender. 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.