😐A single person spends $1,200 per month in Chisinau vs $854 in Cimislia, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,843 per month in Chisinau vs $1,271 in Cimislia, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,485 per month in Chisinau vs $1,687 in Cimislia, rent included.
😐Chisinau costs about 40% more than Cimislia, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Chisinau and Cimislia are more affordable than the global median – Chisinau11% lower, Cimislia36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.87MDL 153
$6.81MDL 118
30.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.12MDL 641
$23.43MDL 405
58.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.54MDL 130
$7.55MDL 130
-0.13%
Cappuccino
$1.80MDL 31.07
$1.77MDL 30.54
1.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98MDL 16.89
$0.91MDL 15.71
7.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70MDL 12.02
$0.68MDL 11.79
2.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.73MDL 29.87
$1.16MDL 19.99
49.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29MDL 39.52
$2.37MDL 40.88
-3.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28MDL 22.06
$1.07MDL 18.46
19.63%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56MDL 9.69
$0.42MDL 7.33
33.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50MDL 25.83
$1.51MDL 25.99
-0.66%
Eggs
$2.53MDL 43.65
$2.16MDL 37.26
17.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.22MDL 177
$8.60MDL 149
18.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.51MDL 95.2
$4.14MDL 71.5
33.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.74MDL 151
$8.72MDL 151
0.23%
Apples(1kg)
$0.89MDL 15.31
$0.56MDL 9.67
58.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.76MDL 30.35
$1.81MDL 31.24
-2.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.76MDL 30.44
$1.47MDL 25.44
19.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MDL 35.98
$2.01MDL 34.68
3.48%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84MDL 14.50
$0.61MDL 10.45
37.70%
Onion(1kg)
$0.56MDL 9.65
$0.55MDL 9.53
1.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31MDL 22.57
$1.35MDL 23.35
-2.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83MDL 14.37
$0.85MDL 14.63
-2.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.30MDL 57.0
$3.17MDL 54.7
4.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.75MDL 82.0
$4.71MDL 81.4
0.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22MDL 21.08
$1.19MDL 20.62
2.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92MDL 33.23
$2.00MDL 34.49
-4.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36MDL 6.27
$0.28MDL 4.81
28.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.74MDL 237
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.00MDL 34.48
$2.04MDL 35.15
-1.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25MDL 4.28
$0.27MDL 4.67
-7.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.31MDL 91.8
$5.41MDL 93.4
-1.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42MDL 24.55
$1.44MDL 24.87
-1.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4KMDL 560.3K
$32.5KMDL 561.3K
-0.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9KMDL 533.5K
$31.5KMDL 543.8K
-1.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173MDL 2,986
$169MDL 2,919
2.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.57MDL 131
$7.50MDL 130
0.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.65MDL 184
$11.01MDL 190
-3.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.21MDL 746
$17.35MDL 300
149.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.02MDL 380
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.65MDL 132
$7.66MDL 132
-0.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$397MDL 6,854
$383MDL 6,621
3.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,753MDL 133.9K
$7,740MDL 133.7K
0.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.3MDL 1,127
$64.8MDL 1,119
0.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.8MDL 912
$53.6MDL 925
-1.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111MDL 1,923
$113MDL 1,959
-1.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124MDL 2,147
$124MDL 2,137
0.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$654MDL 11.3K
$228MDL 3,940
186.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462MDL 7,970
$172MDL 2,965
168.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,252MDL 21.6K
$342MDL 5,912
265.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$819MDL 14.1K
$287MDL 4,950
185.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,583MDL 44.6K
$757MDL 13.1K
241.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,942MDL 33.5K
$701MDL 12.1K
177.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chisinau
Cimislia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$856MDL 14.8K
$429MDL 7,410
99.58%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Cimislia: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $654 in Chisinau versus $228 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 100% 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 $23.00 in Cimislia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 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 40%, 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 $1,800 per month in Chisinau and $1,282 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 $1,200 in Chisinau and $854 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 $397 per month in Chisinau and $383 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 $854, than in Chisinau at $1,200. 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.