Cost of Living Comparison Between Chisinau and Orhei Cost of Living Comparison Between Chisinau and Orhei

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,217 per month in Chisinau vs $692 in Orhei, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,808 per month in Chisinau vs $1,087 in Orhei, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,399 per month in Chisinau vs $1,483 in Orhei, rent included.

Chisinau costs about 76% more than Orhei, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chisinau and Orhei are more affordable than the global median – Chisinau 9% lower, Orhei 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.89 MDL 155

$8.59 MDL 150

3.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.83 MDL 641

$36.89 MDL 642

-0.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.38 MDL 129

$7.62 MDL 133

-3.15%

Cappuccino

$1.89 MDL 32.91

$1.83 MDL 31.81

3.28%

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

$0.92 MDL 16.08

$0.91 MDL 15.88

1.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 MDL 12.14

$0.69 MDL 11.95

1.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 MDL 31.13

$1.73 MDL 30.08

3.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 MDL 40.48

$2.30 MDL 39.98

1.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 MDL 22.21

$1.29 MDL 22.49

-0.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 MDL 9.79

$0.53 MDL 9.22

5.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 MDL 26.00

$1.50 MDL 26.15

-0.67%

Eggs

$2.61 MDL 45.51

$2.49 MDL 43.42

4.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.51 MDL 183

$10.34 MDL 180

1.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.36 MDL 93.3

$5.56 MDL 96.8

-3.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 MDL 155

$8.79 MDL 153

1.14%

Apples (1kg)

$0.85 MDL 14.79

$0.90 MDL 15.63

-5.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MDL 31.57

$1.84 MDL 31.95

-1.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 MDL 30.81

$1.70 MDL 29.52

4.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 MDL 37.42

$2.16 MDL 37.63

-0.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 MDL 13.56

$0.76 MDL 13.27

2.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.59 MDL 10.31

$0.56 MDL 9.72

5.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 MDL 23.34

$1.35 MDL 23.44

-0.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 MDL 15.63

$0.84 MDL 14.71

7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 MDL 57.0

$3.31 MDL 57.6

-0.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.59 MDL 80.0

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MDL 21.12

$1.21 MDL 21.13

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 MDL 34.57

$1.90 MDL 33.06

4.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 MDL 6.29

$0.17 MDL 2.92

111.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.82 MDL 241

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MDL 36.50

$2.06 MDL 35.89

1.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 MDL 4.70

$0.25 MDL 4.34

8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.17 MDL 90.0

$5.11 MDL 89.0

1.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 MDL 24.06

$1.36 MDL 23.75

1.47%

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

$31.9K MDL 555.7K

$31.8K MDL 553.9K

0.32%

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

$31.5K MDL 548.8K

$31.6K MDL 550.9K

-0.38%

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

$170 MDL 2,954

$173 MDL 3,003

-1.65%

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

$7.34 MDL 128

$7.44 MDL 130

-1.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.78 MDL 188

$10.64 MDL 185

1.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.85 MDL 763

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.97 MDL 383

Cinema Ticket

$7.45 MDL 130

$7.43 MDL 129

0.27%

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

$391 MDL 6,800

$387 MDL 6,744

0.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,516 MDL 130.9K

$7,675 MDL 133.6K

-2.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 MDL 1,166

$65.2 MDL 1,135

2.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.2 MDL 943

$54.5 MDL 948

-0.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 MDL 1,923

$114 MDL 1,984

-3.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MDL 2,132

$124 MDL 2,167

-1.59%

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 Orhei: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Chisinau versus $37.00 in Orhei. Groceries tell a different story – $192 in Chisinau vs $181 in Orhei – so Orhei 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 Orhei: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chisinau is pricier by about 76%, 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 $1,038 in Orhei. 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 $692 in Orhei. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $391 per month in Chisinau and $387 in Orhei. 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 Orhei, where all-in costs run around $692, than in Chisinau at $1,217. In Orhei it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chisinau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Orhei – 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 Orhei. 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.