😐A single person spends $1,244 per month in Chisinau vs $835 in Cimislia, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,834 per month in Chisinau vs $1,264 in Cimislia, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,424 per month in Chisinau vs $1,692 in Cimislia, rent included.
😐Chisinau costs about 49% more than Cimislia, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Chisinau and Cimislia are more affordable than the global median – Chisinau7% lower, Cimislia38% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.95MDL 154
$6.88MDL 118
30.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.07MDL 639
$23.29MDL 401
59.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82MDL 135
$7.64MDL 132
2.36%
Cappuccino
$1.89MDL 32.64
$1.71MDL 29.44
10.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98MDL 16.83
$0.92MDL 15.84
6.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69MDL 11.89
$0.70MDL 11.99
-1.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.79MDL 30.92
$1.16MDL 19.91
54.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29MDL 39.52
$2.38MDL 40.99
-3.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28MDL 22.12
$1.03MDL 17.80
24.27%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55MDL 9.48
$0.42MDL 7.27
30.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52MDL 26.14
$1.50MDL 25.87
1.33%
Eggs
$2.52MDL 43.50
$2.13MDL 36.70
18.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.27MDL 177
$9.01MDL 155
13.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.61MDL 96.6
$4.15MDL 71.6
35.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.11MDL 157
$8.67MDL 149
5.07%
Apples(1kg)
$0.84MDL 14.46
$0.60MDL 10.40
40.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83MDL 31.58
$1.80MDL 31.05
1.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69MDL 29.11
$1.50MDL 25.84
12.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MDL 35.45
$2.06MDL 35.58
-
Potato(1kg)
$0.79MDL 13.58
$0.61MDL 10.48
29.51%
Onion(1kg)
$0.54MDL 9.34
$0.55MDL 9.51
-1.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30MDL 22.33
$1.32MDL 22.73
-1.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83MDL 14.38
$0.82MDL 14.11
1.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19MDL 55.0
$3.30MDL 56.9
-3.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.85MDL 83.6
$4.52MDL 78.0
7.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MDL 20.88
$1.15MDL 19.89
5.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91MDL 32.91
$1.99MDL 34.28
-4.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37MDL 6.30
$0.30MDL 5.22
23.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.52MDL 233
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.02MDL 34.73
$2.01MDL 34.60
0.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25MDL 4.30
$0.25MDL 4.27
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.23MDL 90.1
$5.13MDL 88.4
1.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38MDL 23.73
$1.44MDL 24.80
-4.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7KMDL 546.2K
$32.7KMDL 563.1K
-2.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4KMDL 540.4K
$31.0KMDL 534.8K
1.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$175MDL 3,012
$169MDL 2,920
3.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.64MDL 132
$7.62MDL 131
0.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.99MDL 189
$10.94MDL 188
0.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.74MDL 754
$17.20MDL 296
154.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.22MDL 383
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.77MDL 134
$7.74MDL 133
0.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$387MDL 6,676
$390MDL 6,721
-0.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,477MDL 128.8K
$7,514MDL 129.5K
-0.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.4MDL 1,144
$64.7MDL 1,115
2.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.0MDL 931
$54.8MDL 944
-1.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115MDL 1,979
$112MDL 1,936
2.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MDL 2,104
$120MDL 2,075
1.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$667MDL 11.5K
$235MDL 4,042
184.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$464MDL 7,994
$172MDL 2,962
169.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,227MDL 21.1K
$347MDL 5,981
253.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$806MDL 13.9K
$293MDL 5,048
175.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,714MDL 46.8K
$773MDL 13.3K
251.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,848MDL 31.8K
$702MDL 12.1K
163.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$857MDL 14.8K
$437MDL 7,526
96.30%
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: April 21, 2026
Last update for Cimislia: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $667 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 in Chisinau versus $23 in Cimislia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 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 49%, 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 $1,866 per month in Chisinau and $1,253 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 vs Cimislia?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,244 in Chisinau and $835 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 $387 per month in Chisinau and $390 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 Chisinau or Cimislia?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cimislia, where all-in costs run around $835, than in Chisinau at $1,244. 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.