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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,340 per month in Chisinau vs $1,097 in Batumi, Ajara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,023 per month in Chisinau vs $1,708 in Batumi, Ajara, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,705 per month in Chisinau vs $2,320 in Batumi, Ajara, rent included.

Chisinau costs about 22% more than Batumi, Ajara, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chisinau and Batumi, Ajara are more affordable than the global median – Chisinau 2% lower, Batumi, Ajara 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.65 MDL 199

$9.80 ₾25.59

18.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.2 MDL 859

$30.45 ₾79.5

64.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.85 MDL 151

$9.91 ₾25.86

-10.70%

Cappuccino

$2.19 MDL 37.42

$3.47 ₾9.06

-36.89%

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

$1.30 MDL 22.22

$1.02 ₾2.66

27.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 MDL 15.29

$0.57 ₾1.49

56.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 MDL 39.44

$1.71 ₾4.46

35.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 MDL 35.69

$2.27 ₾5.93

-7.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 MDL 21.51

$2.06 ₾5.38

-38.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 MDL 11.90

$0.70 ₾1.83

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 MDL 24.82

$1.65 ₾4.31

-12.12%

Eggs

$2.83 MDL 48.36

$2.59 ₾6.76

9.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.38 MDL 177

$9.40 ₾24.54

10.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.44 MDL 93.0

$6.01 ₾15.70

-9.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.23 MDL 158

$9.80 ₾25.57

-5.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 MDL 17.85

$1.44 ₾3.77

-27.78%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MDL 34.39

$1.95 ₾5.09

3.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 MDL 37.36

$1.29 ₾3.36

68.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.35 MDL 40.16

$2.19 ₾5.71

7.31%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 MDL 11.64

$0.85 ₾2.21

-20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 MDL 9.75

$0.62 ₾1.63

-8.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 MDL 25.42

$1.52 ₾3.97

-1.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 MDL 15.16

$0.72 ₾1.87

23.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 MDL 58.2

$3.04 ₾7.92

11.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.71 MDL 80.5

$5.81 ₾15.18

-18.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 MDL 22.53

$1.44 ₾3.75

-8.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 MDL 33.48

$2.11 ₾5.51

-7.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 MDL 7.22

$0.28 ₾0.74

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.75 MDL 235

$11.58 ₾30.23

18.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 MDL 39.65

$1.18 ₾3.07

96.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 MDL 5.76

$0.67 ₾1.75

-49.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.35 MDL 91.5

$11.85 ₾30.94

-54.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.64 MDL 28.11

$1.38 ₾3.60

18.84%

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

$30.5K MDL 521.5K

$16.0K ₾41.7K

90.86%

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

$31.2K MDL 534.1K

$20.5K ₾53.6K

52.04%

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

$256 MDL 4,381

$78.1 ₾204

228.10%

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

$9.82 MDL 168

$8.95 ₾23.37

9.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.05 MDL 189

$15.70 ₾40.98

-29.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.19 MDL 756

$58.1 ₾152

-23.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.05 MDL 360

$15.65 ₾40.86

34.50%

Cinema Ticket

$8.72 MDL 149

$6.73 ₾17.58

29.57%

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

$437 MDL 7,469

$291 ₾758

50.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,037 MDL 103.2K

$3,270 ₾8,536

84.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.1 MDL 1,387

$96.5 ₾252

-15.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.11 MDL 840

$40.06 ₾105

22.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 MDL 2,101

$134 ₾349

-8.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 MDL 1,995

$113 ₾296

2.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$706 MDL 12.1K

$479 ₾1,250

47.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$443 MDL 7,582

$352 ₾919

25.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,297 MDL 22.2K

$924 ₾2,412

40.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$862 MDL 14.7K

$697 ₾1,821

23.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,775 MDL 47.5K

$1,711 ₾4,466

62.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,007 MDL 34.3K

$1,217 ₾3,178

64.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$919 MDL 15.7K

$572 ₾1,493

60.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.41

12.55

-25.02%

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

Last update for Chisinau: August 29, 2026

Last update for Batumi, Ajara: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $706 in Chisinau versus $479 in Batumi, Ajara. 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 61% 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 $50.0 in Chisinau versus $30.00 in Batumi, Ajara. Groceries tell a different story – $200 in Chisinau vs $209 in Batumi, Ajara – so Chisinau 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,340 in Chisinau, $1,097 in Batumi, Ajara – roughly 22% apart. Chisinau costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,010 per month in Chisinau and $1,646 in Batumi, Ajara. 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 $1,340 in Chisinau and $1,097 in Batumi, Ajara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 19% 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 $1,097, than in Chisinau at $1,340. 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 $1,097 in Batumi, Ajara to $1,340 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.