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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,231 per month in Chisinau vs $683 in Orhei, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,813 per month in Chisinau vs $1,091 in Orhei, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,394 per month in Chisinau vs $1,499 in Orhei, rent included.

Chisinau costs about 80% more than Orhei, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chisinau and Orhei are more affordable than the global median – Chisinau 8% lower, Orhei 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.53 MDL 147

$8.57 MDL 147

-0.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.11 MDL 638

$36.37 MDL 625

2.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.53 MDL 130

$7.38 MDL 127

2.03%

Cappuccino

$1.87 MDL 32.22

$1.87 MDL 32.15

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

$0.99 MDL 17.03

$0.92 MDL 15.87

7.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 MDL 12.01

$0.70 MDL 12.00

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 MDL 29.89

$1.79 MDL 30.82

-2.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 MDL 39.41

$2.36 MDL 40.54

-2.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 MDL 22.16

$1.27 MDL 21.88

1.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 MDL 8.98

$0.55 MDL 9.51

-5.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 MDL 25.03

$1.50 MDL 25.76

-2.67%

Eggs

$2.62 MDL 44.99

$2.58 MDL 44.40

1.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.22 MDL 176

$10.17 MDL 175

0.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 MDL 92.0

$5.46 MDL 93.9

-2.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.69 MDL 149

$8.60 MDL 148

1.05%

Apples (1kg)

$0.84 MDL 14.40

$0.88 MDL 15.21

-4.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 MDL 31.29

$1.84 MDL 31.66

-1.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 MDL 30.52

$1.79 MDL 30.72

-0.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MDL 37.27

$2.17 MDL 37.36

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 MDL 13.93

$0.82 MDL 14.18

-1.22%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 MDL 9.31

$0.56 MDL 9.60

-3.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 MDL 22.40

$1.30 MDL 22.34

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 MDL 15.47

$0.82 MDL 14.05

9.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 MDL 56.4

$3.31 MDL 56.9

-0.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.73 MDL 81.4

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MDL 20.84

$1.21 MDL 20.87

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 MDL 32.83

$1.93 MDL 33.17

-1.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 MDL 5.75

$0.18 MDL 3.17

83.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.47 MDL 232

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.07 MDL 35.61

$2.06 MDL 35.44

0.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 MDL 4.29

$0.27 MDL 4.67

-7.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.33 MDL 91.7

$5.41 MDL 93.1

-1.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 MDL 24.76

$1.43 MDL 24.57

0.70%

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

$32.7K MDL 561.9K

$32.0K MDL 549.6K

2.25%

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

$31.5K MDL 540.7K

$30.5K MDL 523.9K

3.21%

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

$174 MDL 2,991

$174 MDL 2,993

-0.05%

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

$7.38 MDL 127

$7.33 MDL 126

0.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.98 MDL 189

$10.85 MDL 187

1.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.14 MDL 742

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.18 MDL 381

Cinema Ticket

$7.63 MDL 131

$7.80 MDL 134

-2.18%

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

$388 MDL 6,663

$392 MDL 6,739

-1.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,708 MDL 132.5K

$7,545 MDL 129.7K

2.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.4 MDL 1,123

$66.0 MDL 1,134

-0.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.3 MDL 934

$54.0 MDL 929

0.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 MDL 1,911

$111 MDL 1,910

0.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 MDL 2,071

$123 MDL 2,116

-2.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$668 MDL 11.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MDL 8,048

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 MDL 21.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$798 MDL 13.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,649 MDL 45.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,901 MDL 32.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$864 MDL 14.9K

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Orhei: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Chisinau versus $36.00 in Orhei. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $180 – making Orhei 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 Orhei: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chisinau is pricier by about 80%, 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 $1,846 per month in Chisinau and $1,024 in Orhei. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,231 in Chisinau and $683 in Orhei. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $388 per month in Chisinau and $392 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 $683, than in Chisinau at $1,231. 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.