Cost of Living Comparison Between Chisinau and Selangor Cost of Living Comparison Between Chisinau and Selangor

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,217 per month in Chisinau vs $999 in Selangor, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,808 per month in Chisinau vs $1,432 in Selangor, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,399 per month in Chisinau vs $1,865 in Selangor, rent included.

Chisinau costs about 22% more than Selangor, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chisinau and Selangor are more affordable than the global median – Chisinau 9% lower, Selangor 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.89 MDL 155

$2.55 MYR 10.42

248.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.83 MDL 641

$23.88 MYR 97.7

54.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.38 MDL 129

$3.73 MYR 15.26

97.86%

Cappuccino

$1.89 MDL 32.91

$2.30 MYR 9.40

-17.83%

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

$0.92 MDL 16.08

$0.77 MYR 3.17

19.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 MDL 12.14

$0.36 MYR 1.48

94.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 MDL 31.13

$4.22 MYR 17.27

-57.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 MDL 40.48

$5.38 MYR 22.00

-56.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 MDL 22.21

$1.81 MYR 7.39

-29.28%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 MDL 9.79

$1.01 MYR 4.15

-44.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 MDL 26.00

$1.50 MYR 6.12

-0.67%

Eggs

$2.61 MDL 45.51

$1.88 MYR 7.70

38.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.51 MDL 183

$14.38 MYR 58.8

-26.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.36 MDL 93.3

$4.68 MYR 19.14

14.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 MDL 155

$9.88 MYR 40.41

-10.02%

Apples (1kg)

$0.85 MDL 14.79

$3.00 MYR 12.27

-71.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MDL 31.57

$1.56 MYR 6.40

16.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 MDL 30.81

$2.73 MYR 11.18

-35.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 MDL 37.42

$1.45 MYR 5.94

48.28%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 MDL 13.56

$1.28 MYR 5.22

-39.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.59 MDL 10.31

$1.01 MYR 4.11

-41.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 MDL 23.34

$1.13 MYR 4.63

18.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 MDL 15.63

$0.51 MYR 2.10

76.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 MDL 57.0

$4.33 MYR 17.71

-24.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.59 MDL 80.0

$19.24 MYR 78.7

-76.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MDL 21.12

$3.35 MYR 13.68

-63.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 MDL 34.57

$4.26 MYR 17.41

-53.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 MDL 6.29

$0.68 MYR 2.80

-47.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.82 MDL 241

$11.85 MYR 48.46

16.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MDL 36.50

$1.16 MYR 4.75

81.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 MDL 4.70

$1.10 MYR 4.51

-75.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.17 MDL 90.0

$4.35 MYR 17.77

18.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 MDL 24.06

$0.50 MYR 2.05

176.00%

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

$31.9K MDL 555.7K

$40.5K MYR 165.5K

-21.10%

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

$31.5K MDL 548.8K

$30.8K MYR 125.9K

2.40%

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

$170 MDL 2,954

$64.9 MYR 265

161.50%

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

$7.34 MDL 128

$9.99 MYR 40.88

-26.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.78 MDL 188

$25.88 MYR 106

-58.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.85 MDL 763

$38.38 MYR 157

14.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.97 MDL 383

$7.27 MYR 29.74

202.20%

Cinema Ticket

$7.45 MDL 130

$5.17 MYR 21.13

44.10%

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

$391 MDL 6,800

$116 MYR 476

235.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,516 MDL 130.9K

$4,342 MYR 17.8K

73.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 MDL 1,166

$60.9 MYR 249

10.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.2 MDL 943

$36.78 MYR 150

47.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 MDL 1,923

$74.9 MYR 306

47.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MDL 2,132

$78.8 MYR 322

55.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$673 MDL 11.7K

$449 MYR 1,838

49.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MDL 8,146

$351 MYR 1,437

33.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 MDL 21.6K

$834 MYR 3,413

49.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$822 MDL 14.3K

$472 MYR 1,930

74.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,599 MDL 45.2K

$1,583 MYR 6,473

64.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,879 MDL 32.7K

$707 MYR 2,891

165.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$867 MDL 15.1K

$1,047 MYR 4,284

-17.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.24

3.96

133.33%

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

Last update for Chisinau: July 12, 2026

Last update for Selangor: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $673 in Chisinau versus $449 in Selangor. 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 21% higher in Selangor, 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 $24.00 in Selangor. Groceries tell a different story – $192 in Chisinau vs $261 in Selangor – 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 Selangor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chisinau is pricier by about 22%, 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 $1,826 per month in Chisinau and $1,498 in Selangor. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Selangor, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 36% cheaper in Chisinau – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Chisinau and $24.00 in Selangor. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Selangor, where all-in costs run around $999, than in Chisinau at $1,217. In Selangor it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chisinau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Selangor – 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 Selangor. 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.