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 $1,217 per month in Chisinau vs $991 in Batumi, Ajara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,808 per month in Chisinau vs $1,525 in Batumi, Ajara, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,399 per month in Chisinau vs $2,059 in Batumi, Ajara, rent included.

Chisinau costs about 23% more than Batumi, Ajara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chisinau and Batumi, Ajara are more affordable than the global median – Chisinau 9% lower, Batumi, Ajara 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.89 MDL 155

$9.03 ₾23.69

-1.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.83 MDL 641

$29.05 ₾76.2

26.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.38 MDL 129

$7.40 ₾19.42

-0.27%

Cappuccino

$1.89 MDL 32.92

$2.69 ₾7.05

-29.74%

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

$0.92 MDL 16.09

$0.85 ₾2.22

8.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 MDL 12.14

$0.44 ₾1.16

59.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 MDL 31.13

$1.44 ₾3.78

24.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 MDL 40.49

$2.18 ₾5.71

6.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 MDL 22.21

$1.79 ₾4.70

-28.49%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 MDL 9.80

$0.52 ₾1.36

7.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 MDL 26.01

$1.60 ₾4.21

-6.88%

Eggs

$2.61 MDL 45.52

$2.37 ₾6.23

10.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.51 MDL 183

$6.80 ₾17.84

54.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.36 MDL 93.3

$5.19 ₾13.61

3.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 MDL 155

$9.19 ₾24.09

-3.26%

Apples (1kg)

$0.85 MDL 14.79

$1.12 ₾2.93

-24.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MDL 31.58

$1.48 ₾3.88

22.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 MDL 30.81

$1.29 ₾3.38

37.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 MDL 37.43

$1.67 ₾4.39

28.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 MDL 13.56

$0.56 ₾1.46

39.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.59 MDL 10.31

$0.52 ₾1.37

13.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 MDL 23.35

$1.35 ₾3.53

-0.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 MDL 15.63

$0.59 ₾1.55

52.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 MDL 57.0

$3.01 ₾7.90

8.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.59 MDL 80.0

$5.71 ₾14.97

-19.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MDL 21.12

$1.29 ₾3.39

-6.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 MDL 34.57

$1.99 ₾5.21

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 MDL 6.29

$0.11 ₾0.29

227.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.82 MDL 241

$7.26 ₾19.05

90.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MDL 36.50

$1.09 ₾2.86

92.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 MDL 4.70

$0.69 ₾1.81

-60.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.17 MDL 90.0

$2.89 ₾7.59

78.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 MDL 24.06

$1.15 ₾3.03

20.00%

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

$31.9K MDL 555.8K

$14.4K ₾37.7K

122.18%

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

$31.5K MDL 548.8K

$18.7K ₾49.0K

68.88%

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

$170 MDL 2,954

$75.0 ₾197

126.30%

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

$7.34 MDL 128

$10.62 ₾27.85

-30.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.78 MDL 188

$17.36 ₾45.54

-37.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.85 MDL 764

$48.59 ₾127

-9.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.97 MDL 383

$12.36 ₾32.42

77.75%

Cinema Ticket

$7.45 MDL 130

$5.42 ₾14.22

37.45%

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

$391 MDL 6,802

$244 ₾640

60.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,516 MDL 130.9K

$2,908 ₾7,626

158.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 MDL 1,166

$85.4 ₾224

-21.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.2 MDL 943

$41.68 ₾109

29.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 MDL 1,923

$118 ₾310

-6.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MDL 2,133

$102 ₾269

19.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$673 MDL 11.7K

$504 ₾1,322

33.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MDL 8,148

$349 ₾915

34.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 MDL 21.7K

$933 ₾2,448

33.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$822 MDL 14.3K

$630 ₾1,653

30.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,599 MDL 45.3K

$1,539 ₾4,037

68.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,879 MDL 32.7K

$1,096 ₾2,873

71.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$867 MDL 15.1K

$576 ₾1,511

50.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.24

12.17

-24.08%

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

Last update for Chisinau: July 12, 2026

Last update for Batumi, Ajara: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $673 in Chisinau versus $504 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 50% 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 $37.00 in Chisinau versus $29.00 in Batumi, Ajara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $178 – making Batumi, Ajara 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,217 in Chisinau, $991 in Batumi, Ajara – roughly 23% apart. Chisinau costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,826 per month in Chisinau and $1,486 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 $1,217 in Chisinau and $991 in Batumi, Ajara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 90% 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 $991, than in Chisinau at $1,217. 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 $991 in Batumi, Ajara to $1,217 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.