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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $693 per month in Bender vs $1,053 in Cricova, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,000 per month in Bender vs $1,939 in Cricova, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,307 per month in Bender vs $2,825 in Cricova, rent included.

Bender is about 34% cheaper than Cricova, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bender and Cricova are more affordable than the global median – Bender 49% lower, Cricova 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.72 MDL 114

$8.56 MDL 145

-21.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.08 MDL 324

$29.10 MDL 494

-34.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.72 MDL 97.1

$10.89 MDL 185

-47.47%

Cappuccino

$1.22 MDL 20.68

$1.08 MDL 18.32

12.96%

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

$1.03 MDL 17.57

$1.09 MDL 18.47

-5.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 MDL 9.08

$0.73 MDL 12.35

-26.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 MDL 16.51

$2.02 MDL 34.27

-51.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 MDL 30.31

$2.28 MDL 38.68

-21.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 MDL 16.36

$2.51 MDL 42.60

-61.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 MDL 8.73

$0.52 MDL 8.89

-1.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 MDL 24.13

$1.09 MDL 18.49

30.28%

Eggs

$2.00 MDL 33.94

$1.30 MDL 22.06

53.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.05 MDL 68.7

$6.95 MDL 118

-41.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.41 MDL 74.9

$4.71 MDL 80.0

-6.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.54 MDL 94.1

$12.59 MDL 214

-56.00%

Apples (1kg)

$0.90 MDL 15.34

$1.14 MDL 19.31

-21.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 MDL 33.01

$0.83 MDL 14.15

133.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 MDL 33.02

$1.12 MDL 19.09

73.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 MDL 32.55

$1.14 MDL 19.36

68.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 MDL 11.42

$0.76 MDL 12.84

-11.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 MDL 9.32

$1.14 MDL 19.36

-51.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 MDL 10.06

$1.09 MDL 18.57

-45.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 MDL 13.38

$1.08 MDL 18.42

-26.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 MDL 50.5

$3.38 MDL 57.4

-12.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.55 MDL 43.23

$4.73 MDL 80.2

-46.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MDL 10.06

$2.66 MDL 45.17

-77.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 MDL 31.83

$4.49 MDL 76.2

-58.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 MDL 6.18

$0.60 MDL 10.27

-40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.42 MDL 398

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 MDL 40.63

$1.13 MDL 19.21

111.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MDL 4.75

$0.27 MDL 4.63

3.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.29 MDL 89.9

$6.90 MDL 117

-23.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 MDL 24.19

$1.37 MDL 23.20

3.65%

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

$30.1K MDL 511.0K

$30.3K MDL 514.0K

-0.58%

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

$30.8K MDL 523.4K

$25.2K MDL 427.1K

22.56%

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

$252 MDL 4,274

$249 MDL 4,235

0.93%

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

$9.69 MDL 164

$8.20 MDL 139

18.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.51 MDL 179

$11.79 MDL 200

-10.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.8 MDL 998

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 MDL 199

Cinema Ticket

$9.00 MDL 153

$7.96 MDL 135

13.07%

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

$442 MDL 7,500

$119 MDL 2,015

272.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,966 MDL 101.3K

$5,386 MDL 91.5K

10.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.7 MDL 1,337

$57.4 MDL 974

37.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.33 MDL 838

$28.86 MDL 490

70.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 MDL 2,065

$86.7 MDL 1,472

40.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 MDL 1,954

$115 MDL 1,949

0.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$306 MDL 5,195

$936 MDL 15.9K

-67.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$229 MDL 3,881

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,446 MDL 24.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,168 MDL 19.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,942 MDL 50.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,013 MDL 34.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$327 MDL 5,547

$584 MDL 9,924

-44.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.3

32.86%

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

Last update for Bender: August 16, 2026

Last update for Cricova: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $306 in Bender 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 79% 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 $19.00 in Bender versus $29.00 in Cricova. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $140 vs $197 – 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 52%, 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 $1,039 per month in Bender 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 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 $19.00 in Bender and $29.00 in Cricova. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 41% 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 $693, than in Cricova at $1,053. 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.