Cost of Living Comparison Between Chisinau and Dubasari Cost of Living Comparison Between Chisinau and Dubasari

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,217 per month in Chisinau vs $682 in Dubasari, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,808 per month in Chisinau vs $1,077 in Dubasari, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,399 per month in Chisinau vs $1,471 in Dubasari, rent included.

Chisinau costs about 79% more than Dubasari, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chisinau and Dubasari are more affordable than the global median – Chisinau 9% lower, Dubasari 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.89 MDL 155

$8.91 MDL 155

-0.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.83 MDL 641

$36.19 MDL 630

1.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.38 MDL 129

$7.39 MDL 129

-0.14%

Cappuccino

$1.89 MDL 32.91

$1.81 MDL 31.54

4.42%

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

$0.92 MDL 16.08

$0.99 MDL 17.29

-7.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 MDL 12.14

$0.69 MDL 11.94

1.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 MDL 31.13

$1.77 MDL 30.77

1.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 MDL 40.48

$2.30 MDL 40.05

1.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 MDL 22.21

$1.28 MDL 22.37

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 MDL 9.79

$0.53 MDL 9.16

5.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 MDL 26.00

$1.44 MDL 25.13

3.47%

Eggs

$2.61 MDL 45.51

$2.61 MDL 45.36

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.51 MDL 183

$10.48 MDL 183

0.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.36 MDL 93.3

$5.50 MDL 95.7

-2.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 MDL 155

$8.83 MDL 154

0.68%

Apples (1kg)

$0.85 MDL 14.79

$0.85 MDL 14.84

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MDL 31.57

$1.83 MDL 31.90

-1.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 MDL 30.81

$1.71 MDL 29.70

3.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 MDL 37.42

$2.16 MDL 37.60

-0.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 MDL 13.56

$0.76 MDL 13.30

2.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.59 MDL 10.31

$0.55 MDL 9.66

7.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 MDL 23.34

$1.36 MDL 23.68

-1.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 MDL 15.63

$0.90 MDL 15.70

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 MDL 57.0

$3.23 MDL 56.2

1.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.59 MDL 80.0

$4.59 MDL 79.9

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MDL 21.12

$1.21 MDL 21.05

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 MDL 34.57

$2.00 MDL 34.89

-0.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 MDL 6.29

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.82 MDL 241

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MDL 36.50

$2.06 MDL 35.93

1.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 MDL 4.70

$0.27 MDL 4.72

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.17 MDL 90.0

$5.13 MDL 89.4

0.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 MDL 24.06

$1.41 MDL 24.60

-2.13%

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

$31.9K MDL 555.7K

$32.6K MDL 568.3K

-2.22%

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

$31.5K MDL 548.8K

$30.5K MDL 531.6K

3.23%

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

$170 MDL 2,954

$171 MDL 2,971

-0.56%

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

$7.34 MDL 128

$7.57 MDL 132

-3.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.78 MDL 188

$10.73 MDL 187

0.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.85 MDL 763

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.97 MDL 383

Cinema Ticket

$7.45 MDL 130

$7.73 MDL 135

-3.62%

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

$391 MDL 6,800

$383 MDL 6,668

1.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,516 MDL 130.9K

$7,756 MDL 135.0K

-3.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 MDL 1,166

$67.0 MDL 1,167

-0.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.2 MDL 943

$53.5 MDL 931

1.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 MDL 1,923

$111 MDL 1,936

-0.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MDL 2,132

$122 MDL 2,129

0.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$673 MDL 11.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MDL 8,146

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 MDL 21.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$822 MDL 14.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,599 MDL 45.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,879 MDL 32.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$867 MDL 15.1K

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Dubasari: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Chisinau versus $36.00 in Dubasari. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $191 – making Dubasari 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 Dubasari: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chisinau is pricier by about 79%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,826 per month in Chisinau and $1,023 in Dubasari. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,217 in Chisinau and $682 in Dubasari. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $391 per month in Chisinau and $383 in Dubasari. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dubasari, where all-in costs run around $682, than in Chisinau at $1,217. In Dubasari it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chisinau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dubasari – 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 Dubasari. 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.