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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,346 per month in Chisinau vs $1,143 in Cheras, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,052 per month in Chisinau vs $1,558 in Cheras, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,758 per month in Chisinau vs $1,973 in Cheras, rent included.

Chisinau costs about 18% more than Cheras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chisinau and Cheras are more affordable than the global median – Chisinau 2% lower, Cheras 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.69 MDL 201

$3.67 MYR 14.94

218.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 MDL 885

$24.62 MYR 100

109.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.58 MDL 147

$4.81 MYR 19.58

78.38%

Cappuccino

$2.23 MDL 38.26

$3.11 MYR 12.66

-28.30%

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

$1.25 MDL 21.51

$0.86 MYR 3.50

45.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 MDL 15.21

$0.51 MYR 2.08

74.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 MDL 39.22

$4.43 MYR 18.02

-48.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 MDL 33.83

$6.35 MYR 25.83

-68.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 MDL 22.25

$1.91 MYR 7.75

-31.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 MDL 12.35

$1.04 MYR 4.22

-30.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 MDL 25.63

$1.44 MYR 5.85

3.47%

Eggs

$2.97 MDL 50.9

$1.85 MYR 7.52

60.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.16 MDL 174

$18.02 MYR 73.3

-43.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.28 MDL 90.6

$4.52 MYR 18.40

16.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.78 MDL 151

$10.99 MYR 44.69

-20.11%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 MDL 16.69

$3.56 MYR 14.47

-72.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 MDL 32.68

$1.87 MYR 7.61

1.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MDL 35.22

$2.66 MYR 10.82

-22.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 MDL 38.00

$1.68 MYR 6.81

31.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 MDL 11.71

$2.11 MYR 8.60

-67.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 MDL 9.70

$1.70 MYR 6.91

-66.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 MDL 24.97

$1.34 MYR 5.46

8.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 MDL 16.03

$0.51 MYR 2.08

82.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.57 MDL 61.2

$4.33 MYR 17.60

-17.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.03 MDL 86.4

$14.05 MYR 57.1

-64.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 MDL 21.74

$2.80 MYR 11.38

-54.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 MDL 33.36

$3.12 MYR 12.69

-37.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MDL 6.74

$0.73 MYR 2.96

-46.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.83 MDL 237

$12.42 MYR 50.5

11.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 MDL 40.54

$1.27 MYR 5.17

85.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 MDL 6.31

$0.35 MYR 1.44

5.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.07 MDL 87.1

$9.50 MYR 38.63

-46.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.71 MDL 29.27

$0.79 MYR 3.21

116.46%

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

$29.9K MDL 513.3K

$42.9K MYR 174.7K

-30.35%

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

$30.5K MDL 523.0K

$34.8K MYR 141.7K

-12.50%

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

$254 MDL 4,365

$49.55 MYR 202

413.34%

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

$9.44 MDL 162

$11.27 MYR 45.83

-16.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.75 MDL 185

$27.69 MYR 113

-61.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.83 MDL 735

$51.2 MYR 208

-16.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.23 MDL 364

Cinema Ticket

$8.60 MDL 148

$4.89 MYR 19.88

75.87%

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

$445 MDL 7,633

$163 MYR 662

173.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,089 MDL 104.5K

$4,548 MYR 18.5K

33.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.4 MDL 1,345

$65.2 MYR 265

20.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.80 MDL 820

$30.08 MYR 122

58.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 MDL 2,050

$81.5 MYR 331

46.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 MDL 1,945

$85.1 MYR 346

33.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$711 MDL 12.2K

$956 MYR 3,888

-25.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 MDL 7,815

$473 MYR 1,925

-3.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 MDL 21.6K

$747 MYR 3,040

68.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$821 MDL 14.1K

$487 MYR 1,980

68.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,781 MDL 47.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,997 MDL 34.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$922 MDL 15.8K

$1,174 MYR 4,776

-21.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.41

4.06

131.77%

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

Last update for Chisinau: September 5, 2026

Last update for Cheras: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $711 in Chisinau versus $956 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 27% 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 $52.0 in Chisinau versus $25.00 in Cheras. Groceries tell a different story – $197 in Chisinau vs $270 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 18%, 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 $2,019 per month in Chisinau and $1,715 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 37% 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 $52.0 in Chisinau and $25.00 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 $1,143, than in Chisinau at $1,346. 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.