Cost of Living Comparison Between Chisinau and Soroca Cost of Living Comparison Between Chisinau and Soroca

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,304 per month in Chisinau vs $401 in Soroca, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,008 per month in Chisinau vs $642 in Soroca, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,713 per month in Chisinau vs $882 in Soroca, rent included.

Chisinau costs about 225% more than Soroca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chisinau and Soroca are more affordable than the global median – Chisinau 5% lower, Soroca 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.49 MDL 200

$11.48 MDL 200

0.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.3 MDL 892

$22.67 MDL 395

126.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.72 MDL 152

$4.52 MDL 78.7

92.92%

Cappuccino

$2.23 MDL 38.72

$1.46 MDL 25.37

52.74%

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

$1.24 MDL 21.55

$0.71 MDL 12.42

74.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MDL 15.81

$0.45 MDL 7.77

102.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 MDL 40.88

$1.18 MDL 20.59

99.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 MDL 34.31

$1.48 MDL 25.71

33.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 MDL 22.75

$1.01 MDL 17.59

29.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.69 MDL 12.01

$0.36 MDL 6.35

91.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 MDL 25.47

$1.16 MDL 20.25

25.86%

Eggs

$2.93 MDL 51.0

$2.02 MDL 35.16

45.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.20 MDL 178

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.24 MDL 91.2

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.94 MDL 156

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 MDL 17.69

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 MDL 33.36

$1.98 MDL 34.48

-3.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MDL 35.71

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MDL 37.84

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 MDL 12.01

$0.64 MDL 11.21

7.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 MDL 9.30

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 MDL 25.10

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 MDL 16.20

$0.53 MDL 9.24

75.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.54 MDL 61.6

Wine (Bottle)

$4.80 MDL 83.6

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 MDL 22.27

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 MDL 34.68

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 MDL 7.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.22 MDL 230

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 MDL 40.94

$1.18 MDL 20.45

99.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 MDL 6.28

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.21 MDL 90.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.70 MDL 29.55

$1.60 MDL 27.77

6.25%

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

$29.1K MDL 506.9K

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

$31.2K MDL 543.6K

$21.0K MDL 365.5K

48.75%

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

$251 MDL 4,372

$60.7 MDL 1,056

313.87%

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

$9.43 MDL 164

$8.39 MDL 146

12.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.03 MDL 192

$13.35 MDL 232

-17.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.92 MDL 747

$28.29 MDL 492

51.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.33 MDL 371

Cinema Ticket

$8.49 MDL 148

$3.40 MDL 59.1

149.71%

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

$439 MDL 7,644

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,932 MDL 103.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.6 MDL 1,350

$34.45 MDL 599

125.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.65 MDL 829

$34.73 MDL 604

37.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 MDL 2,085

$110 MDL 1,910

9.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 MDL 2,000

$34.52 MDL 601

232.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 MDL 12.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$443 MDL 7,714

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,247 MDL 21.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$817 MDL 14.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,752 MDL 47.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,957 MDL 34.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$925 MDL 16.1K

$510 MDL 8,871

81.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.41

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

Last update for Chisinau: September 13, 2026

Last update for Soroca: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 81% higher in Chisinau, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Chisinau versus $23.00 in Soroca. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $47.00 – making Soroca 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 Soroca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chisinau is pricier by about 225%, 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 $1,956 per month in Chisinau and $602 in Soroca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 322% more in Chisinau, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Chisinau and $23.00 in Soroca. 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 Soroca, where all-in costs run around $401, than in Chisinau at $1,304. In Soroca it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chisinau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Soroca – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Soroca. 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.