Cost of Living Comparison Between Chisinau and Cricova Cost of Living Comparison Between Chisinau and Cricova

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,225 per month in Chisinau vs $23.22 in Cricova, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,820 per month in Chisinau vs $29.00 in Cricova, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,416 per month in Chisinau vs $34.47 in Cricova, rent included.

Chisinau costs about 5177% more than Cricova, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chisinau and Cricova are more affordable than the global median – Chisinau 8% lower, Cricova 98% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.83 MDL 152

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.23 MDL 642

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.39 MDL 127

Cappuccino

$1.83 MDL 31.55

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

$0.94 MDL 16.18

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 MDL 12.03

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 MDL 29.97

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 MDL 41.56

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 MDL 22.33

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 MDL 9.06

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 MDL 25.92

Eggs

$2.49 MDL 42.91

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.29 MDL 178

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.55 MDL 95.8

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.69 MDL 150

Apples (1kg)

$0.91 MDL 15.71

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 MDL 30.47

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 MDL 29.35

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 MDL 36.20

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 MDL 13.11

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 MDL 9.55

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 MDL 23.45

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 MDL 14.52

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.17 MDL 54.6

Wine (Bottle)

$4.88 MDL 84.2

$11.44 MDL 197

-57.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 MDL 21.14

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 MDL 33.94

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MDL 5.85

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.53 MDL 233

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.01 MDL 34.65

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 MDL 4.67

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 MDL 88.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 MDL 23.90

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

$32.1K MDL 554.4K

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

$30.7K MDL 528.8K

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

$176 MDL 3,031

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

$7.68 MDL 133

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.98 MDL 189

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.02 MDL 742

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.11 MDL 381

Cinema Ticket

$7.55 MDL 130

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

$390 MDL 6,730

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,672 MDL 132.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 MDL 1,143

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.9 MDL 913

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 MDL 1,909

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 MDL 2,084

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$677 MDL 11.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$460 MDL 7,943

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,252 MDL 21.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$801 MDL 13.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,645 MDL 45.6K

$2,836 MDL 48.9K

-6.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,885 MDL 32.5K

$2,033 MDL 35.1K

-7.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$831 MDL 14.3K

$579 MDL 9,981

43.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.24

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

Last update for Chisinau: April 27, 2026

Last update for Cricova: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 44% higher in Chisinau, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Cricova: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chisinau is pricier by about 5177%, 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 $1,838 per month in Chisinau and $34.83 in Cricova. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,225 in Chisinau and $23.22 in Cricova. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 731% more in Chisinau, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Cricova, where all-in costs run around $23.22, than in Chisinau at $1,225. In Cricova it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chisinau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cricova – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Cricova. 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.