Cost of Living Comparison Between Bender and Soroca Cost of Living Comparison Between Bender and Soroca

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $703 per month in Bender vs $400 in Soroca, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,011 per month in Bender vs $653 in Soroca, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,319 per month in Bender vs $905 in Soroca, rent included.

Bender costs about 76% more than Soroca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bender and Soroca are more affordable than the global median – Bender 49% lower, Soroca 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.67 MDL 114

$11.40 MDL 196

-41.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.25 MDL 330

$23.28 MDL 399

-17.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.74 MDL 98.4

$4.76 MDL 81.7

20.59%

Cappuccino

$1.24 MDL 21.26

$1.49 MDL 25.57

-16.78%

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

$1.08 MDL 18.48

$0.72 MDL 12.31

50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 MDL 8.68

$0.48 MDL 8.17

6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.91 MDL 15.64

$1.14 MDL 19.60

-20.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 MDL 30.55

$1.47 MDL 25.14

21.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 MDL 16.41

$1.06 MDL 18.18

-9.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 MDL 8.94

$0.37 MDL 6.29

40.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 MDL 24.33

$1.19 MDL 20.43

19.33%

Eggs

$2.00 MDL 34.35

$2.03 MDL 34.76

-1.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.15 MDL 71.2

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.39 MDL 75.3

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.50 MDL 94.4

Apples (1kg)

$0.86 MDL 14.76

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 MDL 33.08

$2.05 MDL 35.13

-5.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 MDL 31.78

Tomato (1kg)

$1.84 MDL 31.64

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 MDL 12.45

$0.64 MDL 10.98

14.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 MDL 9.21

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 MDL 9.59

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 MDL 13.56

$0.54 MDL 9.19

46.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 MDL 50.6

Wine (Bottle)

$2.60 MDL 44.56

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 MDL 10.25

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 MDL 32.23

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 MDL 6.23

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.38 MDL 40.76

$1.18 MDL 20.28

101.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MDL 4.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 MDL 87.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 MDL 24.36

$1.63 MDL 28.00

-12.88%

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

$30.3K MDL 519.2K

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

$31.6K MDL 542.1K

$20.8K MDL 357.8K

51.51%

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

$254 MDL 4,356

$62.0 MDL 1,063

309.67%

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

$10.03 MDL 172

$8.68 MDL 149

15.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.87 MDL 187

$13.53 MDL 232

-19.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.71 MDL 493

Cinema Ticket

$8.72 MDL 150

$3.40 MDL 58.3

156.47%

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

$446 MDL 7,655

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,176 MDL 106.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.4 MDL 1,379

$34.45 MDL 591

133.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.39 MDL 848

$34.57 MDL 593

42.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 MDL 2,064

$109 MDL 1,863

10.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 MDL 1,967

$34.91 MDL 599

228.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$304 MDL 5,217

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$322 MDL 5,530

$514 MDL 8,825

-37.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.41

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

Last update for Bender: September 7, 2026

Last update for Soroca: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 60% higher in Soroca, 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 $19.00 in Bender versus $23.00 in Soroca. Groceries tell a different story – $139 in Bender vs $48.00 in Soroca – so Soroca wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Soroca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bender is pricier by about 76%, 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 $1,054 per month in Bender and $600 in Soroca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 190% more in Bender, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Bender and $23.00 in Soroca. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $703 in Bender and $400 in Soroca, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Soroca – 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 Soroca. 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.