Cost of Living Comparison Between Chisinau and Cheras Cost of Living Comparison Between Chisinau and Cheras

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,217 per month in Chisinau vs $841 in Cheras, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,808 per month in Chisinau vs $1,279 in Cheras, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,399 per month in Chisinau vs $1,716 in Cheras, rent included.

Chisinau costs about 45% more than Cheras, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chisinau and Cheras are more affordable than the global median – Chisinau 9% lower, Cheras 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.89 MDL 155

$3.63 MYR 14.84

144.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.83 MDL 641

$18.90 MYR 77.3

94.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.38 MDL 129

$4.78 MYR 19.55

54.39%

Cappuccino

$1.89 MDL 32.91

$2.97 MYR 12.13

-36.36%

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

$0.92 MDL 16.08

$0.83 MYR 3.40

10.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 MDL 12.14

$0.49 MYR 2.01

42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 MDL 31.13

$4.61 MYR 18.85

-61.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 MDL 40.48

$6.71 MYR 27.45

-65.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 MDL 22.21

$1.89 MYR 7.72

-32.28%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 MDL 9.79

$0.95 MYR 3.90

-41.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 MDL 26.00

$1.29 MYR 5.27

15.50%

Eggs

$2.61 MDL 45.51

$2.07 MYR 8.46

26.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.51 MDL 183

$15.55 MYR 63.6

-32.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.36 MDL 93.3

$3.61 MYR 14.78

48.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 MDL 155

$7.44 MYR 30.44

19.49%

Apples (1kg)

$0.85 MDL 14.79

$2.64 MYR 10.80

-67.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MDL 31.57

$1.76 MYR 7.19

2.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 MDL 30.81

$2.48 MYR 10.14

-28.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 MDL 37.42

$1.21 MYR 4.96

77.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 MDL 13.56

$1.46 MYR 5.98

-46.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.59 MDL 10.31

$1.33 MYR 5.46

-55.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 MDL 23.34

$0.94 MYR 3.84

42.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 MDL 15.63

$0.51 MYR 2.10

76.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 MDL 57.0

$4.12 MYR 16.85

-20.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.59 MDL 80.0

$14.31 MYR 58.5

-67.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MDL 21.12

$2.88 MYR 11.76

-57.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 MDL 34.57

$4.00 MYR 16.35

-50.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 MDL 6.29

$0.46 MYR 1.87

-21.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.82 MDL 241

$11.89 MYR 48.62

16.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MDL 36.50

$0.97 MYR 3.97

116.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 MDL 4.70

$1.02 MYR 4.18

-73.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.17 MDL 90.0

$9.26 MYR 37.89

-44.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 MDL 24.06

$0.47 MYR 1.91

193.62%

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

$31.9K MDL 555.7K

$49.5K MYR 202.4K

-35.52%

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

$31.5K MDL 548.8K

$30.9K MYR 126.5K

1.87%

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

$170 MDL 2,954

$41.01 MYR 168

313.70%

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

$7.34 MDL 128

$9.40 MYR 38.45

-21.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.78 MDL 188

$31.02 MYR 127

-65.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.85 MDL 763

$41.52 MYR 170

5.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.97 MDL 383

$5.97 MYR 24.43

268.01%

Cinema Ticket

$7.45 MDL 130

$4.88 MYR 19.97

52.66%

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

$391 MDL 6,800

$186 MYR 762

109.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,516 MDL 130.9K

$6,780 MYR 27.7K

10.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 MDL 1,166

$64.2 MYR 263

4.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.2 MDL 943

$34.06 MYR 139

58.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 MDL 1,923

$72.3 MYR 296

52.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MDL 2,132

$47.91 MYR 196

155.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$673 MDL 11.7K

$376 MYR 1,539

78.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MDL 8,146

$236 MYR 965

98.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 MDL 21.6K

$652 MYR 2,665

90.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$822 MDL 14.3K

$430 MYR 1,759

91.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,599 MDL 45.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,879 MDL 32.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$867 MDL 15.1K

$1,164 MYR 4,760

-25.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.24

4.07

127.03%

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

Last update for Chisinau: July 12, 2026

Last update for Cheras: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $673 in Chisinau versus $376 in Cheras. 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 34% higher in Cheras, 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 $37.00 in Chisinau versus $19.00 in Cheras. Groceries tell a different story – $192 in Chisinau vs $237 in Cheras – 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 Cheras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chisinau is pricier by about 45%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,826 per month in Chisinau and $1,262 in Cheras. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 23% cheaper in Chisinau – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Chisinau and $19.00 in Cheras. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cheras, where all-in costs run around $841, than in Chisinau at $1,217. In Cheras it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chisinau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cheras – 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 Cheras. 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.