Cost of Living Comparison Between Cricova and Bender Cost of Living Comparison Between Cricova and Bender

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,053 per month in Cricova vs $693 in Bender, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,939 per month in Cricova vs $1,000 in Bender, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,825 per month in Cricova vs $1,307 in Bender, rent included.

Cricova costs about 52% more than Bender, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cricova and Bender are more affordable than the global median – Cricova 23% lower, Bender 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.56 MDL 145

$6.72 MDL 114

27.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.10 MDL 494

$19.08 MDL 324

52.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.89 MDL 185

$5.72 MDL 97.1

90.38%

Cappuccino

$1.08 MDL 18.32

$1.22 MDL 20.68

-11.48%

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

$1.09 MDL 18.47

$1.03 MDL 17.57

5.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 MDL 12.35

$0.54 MDL 9.08

35.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 MDL 34.27

$0.97 MDL 16.51

108.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 MDL 38.68

$1.78 MDL 30.31

28.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.51 MDL 42.60

$0.96 MDL 16.36

161.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 MDL 8.89

$0.51 MDL 8.73

1.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 MDL 18.49

$1.42 MDL 24.13

-23.24%

Eggs

$1.30 MDL 22.06

$2.00 MDL 33.94

-35.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.95 MDL 118

$4.05 MDL 68.7

71.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 MDL 80.0

$4.41 MDL 74.9

6.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.59 MDL 214

$5.54 MDL 94.1

127.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 MDL 19.31

$0.90 MDL 15.34

26.67%

Banana (1kg)

$0.83 MDL 14.15

$1.94 MDL 33.01

-57.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.12 MDL 19.09

$1.94 MDL 33.02

-42.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 MDL 19.36

$1.92 MDL 32.55

-40.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 MDL 12.84

$0.67 MDL 11.42

13.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 MDL 19.36

$0.55 MDL 9.32

107.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 MDL 18.57

$0.59 MDL 10.06

84.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MDL 18.42

$0.79 MDL 13.38

36.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 MDL 57.4

$2.97 MDL 50.5

13.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.73 MDL 80.2

$2.55 MDL 43.23

85.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 MDL 45.17

$0.59 MDL 10.06

350.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.49 MDL 76.2

$1.87 MDL 31.83

140.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MDL 10.27

$0.36 MDL 6.18

66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.42 MDL 398

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 MDL 19.21

$2.39 MDL 40.63

-52.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 MDL 4.63

$0.28 MDL 4.75

-3.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.90 MDL 117

$5.29 MDL 89.9

30.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 MDL 23.20

$1.42 MDL 24.19

-3.52%

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

$30.3K MDL 514.0K

$30.1K MDL 511.0K

0.58%

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

$25.2K MDL 427.1K

$30.8K MDL 523.4K

-18.41%

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

$249 MDL 4,235

$252 MDL 4,274

-0.93%

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

$8.20 MDL 139

$9.69 MDL 164

-15.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.79 MDL 200

$10.51 MDL 179

12.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.8 MDL 998

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.72 MDL 199

Cinema Ticket

$7.96 MDL 135

$9.00 MDL 153

-11.56%

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

$119 MDL 2,015

$442 MDL 7,500

-73.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,386 MDL 91.5K

$5,966 MDL 101.3K

-9.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.4 MDL 974

$78.7 MDL 1,337

-27.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.86 MDL 490

$49.33 MDL 838

-41.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 MDL 1,472

$122 MDL 2,065

-28.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 MDL 1,949

$115 MDL 1,954

-0.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$936 MDL 15.9K

$306 MDL 5,195

206.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$229 MDL 3,881

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,446 MDL 24.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,168 MDL 19.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,942 MDL 50.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,013 MDL 34.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$584 MDL 9,924

$327 MDL 5,547

78.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.3

-24.73%

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

Last update for Cricova: August 16, 2026

Last update for Bender: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $936 in Cricova versus $306 in Bender. 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 79% higher in Cricova, 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 $29.00 in Cricova versus $19.00 in Bender. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $140 – making Bender 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

Cricova vs Bender: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cricova is pricier by about 52%, 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 $1,579 per month in Cricova and $1,039 in Bender. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Cricova and $19.00 in Bender. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 41% more in Cricova, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bender, where all-in costs run around $693, than in Cricova at $1,053. In Bender it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cricova it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bender – 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 Bender. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cricova makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.