😐A single person spends $1,217 per month in Chisinau vs $970 in Manisa, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,808 per month in Chisinau vs $1,456 in Manisa, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,399 per month in Chisinau vs $1,943 in Manisa, rent included.
😐Chisinau costs about 26% more than Manisa, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Chisinau and Manisa are more affordable than the global median – Chisinau9% lower, Manisa27% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chisinau
Manisa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.89MDL 155
$7.52₺355
18.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.83MDL 641
$19.07₺899
93.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.38MDL 129
$7.47₺352
-1.20%
Cappuccino
$1.89MDL 32.91
$3.12₺147
-39.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MDL 16.08
$1.83₺86.1
-49.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70MDL 12.14
$0.49₺23.06
42.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.79MDL 31.13
$3.10₺146
-42.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33MDL 40.48
$3.91₺184
-40.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chisinau
Manisa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28MDL 22.21
$0.90₺42.35
42.22%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56MDL 9.79
$0.65₺30.46
-13.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.49MDL 26.00
$1.80₺85.0
-17.22%
Eggs
$2.61MDL 45.51
$1.91₺90.2
36.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.51MDL 183
$9.02₺425
16.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.36MDL 93.3
$6.05₺285
-11.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89MDL 155
$20.64₺973
-56.93%
Apples(1kg)
$0.85MDL 14.79
$1.29₺61.0
-34.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MDL 31.57
$1.86₺87.9
-2.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77MDL 30.81
$1.00₺47.15
77.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.15MDL 37.42
$1.17₺55.0
83.76%
Potato(1kg)
$0.78MDL 13.56
$0.75₺35.41
4.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.59MDL 10.31
$0.60₺28.44
-1.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34MDL 23.34
$0.78₺36.61
71.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90MDL 15.63
$0.20₺9.34
350.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28MDL 57.0
$2.27₺107
44.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.59MDL 80.0
$11.09₺523
-58.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MDL 21.12
$2.08₺97.8
-41.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99MDL 34.57
$2.68₺126
-25.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Chisinau
Manisa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36MDL 6.29
$0.67₺31.51
-46.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.82MDL 241
$31.05₺1,464
-55.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MDL 36.50
$1.09₺51.4
92.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27MDL 4.70
$0.65₺30.77
-58.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.17MDL 90.0
$7.64₺360
-32.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38MDL 24.06
$1.26₺59.2
9.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9KMDL 555.7K
$48.7K₺2.3M
-34.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5KMDL 548.8K
$44.0K₺2.1M
-28.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chisinau
Manisa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170MDL 2,954
$48.37₺2,280
250.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.34MDL 128
$5.75₺271
27.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.78MDL 188
$9.18₺433
17.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chisinau
Manisa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.85MDL 763
$43.57₺2,054
0.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.97MDL 383
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.45MDL 130
$4.42₺208
68.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chisinau
Manisa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$391MDL 6,800
$604₺28.5K
-35.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,516MDL 130.9K
$8,727₺411.4K
-13.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chisinau
Manisa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.0MDL 1,166
$37.36₺1,761
79.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.2MDL 943
$39.96₺1,883
35.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110MDL 1,923
$86.3₺4,067
28.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MDL 2,132
$44.31₺2,088
176.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chisinau
Manisa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$673MDL 11.7K
$469₺22.1K
43.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MDL 8,146
$355₺16.7K
31.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MDL 21.6K
$700₺33.0K
77.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$822MDL 14.3K
$579₺27.3K
41.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,599MDL 45.2K
$1,931₺91.0K
34.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,879MDL 32.7K
$1,292₺60.9K
45.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chisinau
Manisa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$867MDL 15.1K
$1,099₺51.8K
-21.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.24
43.79
-78.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chisinau: July 12, 2026
Last update for Manisa: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $673 in Chisinau versus $469 in Manisa. 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 27% higher in Manisa, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Chisinau versus $19.00 in Manisa. Groceries tell a different story – $192 in Chisinau vs $224 in Manisa – so Chisinau wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Manisa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Manisa cheaper than Chisinau?
Yes – Chisinau is pricier by about 26%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,826 per month in Chisinau and $1,455 in Manisa. 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 Manisa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Chisinau and in Manisa?
Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Chisinau – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Chisinau or in Manisa?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Chisinau and $19.00 in Manisa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Chisinau or in Manisa?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Manisa, where all-in costs run around $970, than in Chisinau at $1,217. In Manisa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chisinau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Chisinau or Manisa more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Manisa – 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 Manisa?
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 Manisa. 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.