😐A single person spends $1,231 per month in Chisinau vs $853 in Cimislia, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,853 per month in Chisinau vs $1,262 in Cimislia, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,475 per month in Chisinau vs $1,671 in Cimislia, rent included.
😐Chisinau costs about 44% more than Cimislia, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Chisinau and Cimislia are more affordable than the global median – Chisinau8% lower, Cimislia36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.63MDL 150
$6.94MDL 121
24.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.05MDL 644
$23.86MDL 415
55.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.65MDL 133
$7.62MDL 132
0.39%
Cappuccino
$1.88MDL 32.61
$1.73MDL 30.13
8.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MDL 15.96
$0.92MDL 15.92
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65MDL 11.22
$0.66MDL 11.46
-1.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.73MDL 30.04
$1.14MDL 19.79
51.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37MDL 41.13
$2.37MDL 41.20
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29MDL 22.34
$1.03MDL 17.85
25.24%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56MDL 9.67
$0.42MDL 7.31
33.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.45MDL 25.25
$1.47MDL 25.48
-1.36%
Eggs
$2.49MDL 43.34
$2.06MDL 35.81
20.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.52MDL 183
$8.96MDL 156
17.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.34MDL 92.8
$4.06MDL 70.6
31.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61MDL 150
$8.83MDL 153
-2.49%
Apples(1kg)
$0.91MDL 15.84
$0.60MDL 10.45
51.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83MDL 31.75
$1.82MDL 31.55
0.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72MDL 29.94
$1.50MDL 26.13
14.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.10MDL 36.46
$2.07MDL 36.03
1.45%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79MDL 13.71
$0.55MDL 9.62
43.64%
Onion(1kg)
$0.60MDL 10.34
$0.59MDL 10.23
1.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36MDL 23.58
$1.34MDL 23.37
1.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83MDL 14.40
$0.89MDL 15.44
-6.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13MDL 54.4
$3.14MDL 54.6
-0.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.59MDL 79.8
$4.67MDL 81.1
-1.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23MDL 21.36
$1.15MDL 19.93
6.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91MDL 33.27
$2.00MDL 34.82
-4.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MDL 5.90
$0.28MDL 4.83
21.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.44MDL 234
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.00MDL 34.73
$2.04MDL 35.42
-1.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25MDL 4.32
$0.27MDL 4.70
-7.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.28MDL 91.7
$5.37MDL 93.3
-1.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43MDL 24.85
$1.38MDL 24.02
3.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5KMDL 548.3K
$31.9KMDL 555.2K
-1.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5KMDL 547.3K
$30.6KMDL 531.7K
2.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170MDL 2,961
$169MDL 2,937
0.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.57MDL 132
$7.56MDL 131
0.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.68MDL 186
$10.93MDL 190
-2.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.05MDL 748
$17.23MDL 299
149.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.19MDL 386
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.56MDL 131
$7.82MDL 136
-3.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$389MDL 6,757
$398MDL 6,911
-2.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,746MDL 134.6K
$7,682MDL 133.5K
0.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.3MDL 1,153
$66.3MDL 1,151
0.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.0MDL 921
$53.7MDL 934
-1.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MDL 1,942
$114MDL 1,973
-1.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MDL 2,115
$121MDL 2,106
0.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$678MDL 11.8K
$235MDL 4,078
188.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$467MDL 8,112
$170MDL 2,949
175.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,244MDL 21.6K
$346MDL 6,014
259.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$808MDL 14.1K
$289MDL 5,022
179.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,669MDL 46.4K
$743MDL 12.9K
259.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,901MDL 33.0K
$675MDL 11.7K
181.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$843MDL 14.7K
$430MDL 7,476
95.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.24
9.24
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chisinau: July 28, 2026
Last update for Cimislia: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $678 in Chisinau versus $235 in Cimislia. 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 96% 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 $24.00 in Cimislia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $170 – making Cimislia 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 Cimislia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cimislia cheaper than Chisinau?
Yes – Chisinau is pricier by about 44%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,846 per month in Chisinau and $1,280 in Cimislia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cimislia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Chisinau and in Cimislia?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,231 in Chisinau and $853 in Cimislia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $389 per month in Chisinau and $398 in Cimislia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Chisinau or in Cimislia?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cimislia, where all-in costs run around $853, than in Chisinau at $1,231. In Cimislia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chisinau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Chisinau or Cimislia more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cimislia – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Chisinau or Cimislia?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Cimislia. 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.