🙂A single person spends $827 per month in Cimislia vs $1,346 in Chisinau, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,161 per month in Cimislia vs $2,052 in Chisinau, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,496 per month in Cimislia vs $2,758 in Chisinau, rent included.
🙂Cimislia is about 39% cheaper than Chisinau, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Cimislia and Chisinau are more affordable than the global median – Cimislia40% lower, Chisinau2% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cimislia
Chisinau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.15MDL 123
$11.69MDL 201
-38.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.96MDL 394
$51.6MDL 885
-55.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.82MDL 186
$8.58MDL 147
26.11%
Cappuccino
$1.76MDL 30.25
$2.23MDL 38.26
-21.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MDL 19.00
$1.25MDL 21.51
-11.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68MDL 11.66
$0.89MDL 15.21
-23.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.15MDL 19.76
$2.29MDL 39.22
-49.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35MDL 40.31
$1.97MDL 33.83
19.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimislia
Chisinau
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06MDL 18.20
$1.30MDL 22.25
-18.46%
White Bread(500g)
$0.43MDL 7.35
$0.72MDL 12.35
-40.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66MDL 28.42
$1.49MDL 25.63
11.41%
Eggs
$2.12MDL 36.32
$2.97MDL 50.9
-28.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.88MDL 118
$10.16MDL 174
-32.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.19MDL 72.0
$5.28MDL 90.6
-20.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.47MDL 111
$8.78MDL 151
-26.31%
Apples(1kg)
$0.60MDL 10.33
$0.97MDL 16.69
-38.14%
Banana(1kg)
$2.30MDL 39.45
$1.90MDL 32.68
21.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43MDL 24.62
$2.05MDL 35.22
-30.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MDL 35.83
$2.21MDL 38.00
-5.43%
Potato(1kg)
$0.56MDL 9.60
$0.68MDL 11.71
-17.65%
Onion(1kg)
$0.56MDL 9.55
$0.57MDL 9.70
-1.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.46MDL 7.82
$1.46MDL 24.97
-68.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60MDL 10.29
$0.93MDL 16.03
-35.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.39MDL 58.2
$3.57MDL 61.2
-5.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.53MDL 77.8
$5.03MDL 86.4
-9.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MDL 20.53
$1.27MDL 21.74
-5.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08MDL 35.68
$1.94MDL 33.36
7.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimislia
Chisinau
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30MDL 5.19
$0.39MDL 6.74
-23.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$13.83MDL 237
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.97MDL 50.9
$2.36MDL 40.54
25.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27MDL 4.68
$0.37MDL 6.31
-27.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MDL 99.3
$5.07MDL 87.1
14.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.50MDL 25.69
$1.71MDL 29.27
-12.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KMDL 605.8K
$29.9KMDL 513.3K
18.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9KMDL 426.8K
$30.5KMDL 523.0K
-18.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimislia
Chisinau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$229MDL 3,930
$254MDL 4,365
-9.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.26MDL 142
$9.44MDL 162
-12.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.48MDL 197
$10.75MDL 185
6.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimislia
Chisinau
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.84MDL 306
$42.83MDL 735
-58.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.23MDL 364
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.12MDL 139
$8.60MDL 148
-5.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimislia
Chisinau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$115MDL 1,970
$445MDL 7,633
-74.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,514MDL 94.6K
$6,089MDL 104.5K
-9.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimislia
Chisinau
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.58MDL 799
$78.4MDL 1,345
-40.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$47.80MDL 820
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.0MDL 995
$119MDL 2,050
-51.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.5MDL 884
$113MDL 1,945
-54.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimislia
Chisinau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$230MDL 3,945
$711MDL 12.2K
-67.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$175MDL 2,998
$455MDL 7,815
-61.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$352MDL 6,046
$1,258MDL 21.6K
-71.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$289MDL 4,951
$821MDL 14.1K
-64.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$758MDL 13.0K
$2,781MDL 47.7K
-72.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$696MDL 11.9K
$1,997MDL 34.3K
-65.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimislia
Chisinau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$434MDL 7,441
$922MDL 15.8K
-52.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
9.41
-14.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cimislia: September 6, 2026
Last update for Chisinau: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $230 in Cimislia versus $711 in Chisinau. 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 113% 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 $23.00 in Cimislia versus $52.0 in Chisinau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $155 vs $197 – making Cimislia 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
Cimislia vs Chisinau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chisinau cheaper than Cimislia?
Yes – Chisinau is pricier by about 63%, 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 $1,240 per month in Cimislia and $2,019 in Chisinau. 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 Cimislia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Cimislia and in Chisinau?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $827 in Cimislia and $1,346 in Chisinau. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $115 per month in Cimislia and $445 in Chisinau. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Cimislia or in Chisinau?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cimislia, where all-in costs run around $827, than in Chisinau at $1,346. In Cimislia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chisinau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cimislia or Chisinau more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cimislia – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Cimislia or Chisinau?
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 Cimislia. 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.