Cost of Living Comparison Between Cricova and Chisinau Cost of Living Comparison Between Cricova and Chisinau

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $9.17 per month in Cricova vs $1,200 in Chisinau, rent included.

A couple spends around $12.00 per month in Cricova vs $1,843 in Chisinau, rent included.

A family of three spends $13.90 per month in Cricova vs $2,485 in Chisinau, rent included.

Cricova is about 99% cheaper than Chisinau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cricova and Chisinau are more affordable than the global median – Cricova 99% lower, Chisinau 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.87 MDL 153

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.12 MDL 641

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.54 MDL 130

Cappuccino

$1.80 MDL 31.07

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

$0.98 MDL 16.89

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 MDL 12.02

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 MDL 29.87

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 MDL 39.52

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 MDL 22.06

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 MDL 9.69

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 MDL 25.83

Eggs

$2.53 MDL 43.65

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.22 MDL 177

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.51 MDL 95.2

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.74 MDL 151

Apples (1kg)

$0.89 MDL 15.31

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 MDL 30.35

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 MDL 30.44

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MDL 35.98

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 MDL 14.50

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 MDL 9.65

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 MDL 22.57

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 MDL 14.37

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.30 MDL 57.0

Wine (Bottle)

$4.58 MDL 79.1

$4.75 MDL 82.0

-3.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 MDL 21.08

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 MDL 33.23

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 MDL 6.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.74 MDL 237

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.00 MDL 34.48

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 MDL 4.28

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.31 MDL 91.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 MDL 24.55

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

$32.4K MDL 560.3K

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

$30.9K MDL 533.5K

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

$173 MDL 2,986

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

$7.57 MDL 131

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.65 MDL 184

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.21 MDL 746

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.02 MDL 380

Cinema Ticket

$7.65 MDL 132

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

$397 MDL 6,854

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,753 MDL 133.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.3 MDL 1,127

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.8 MDL 912

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 MDL 1,923

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 MDL 2,147

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$654 MDL 11.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 MDL 7,970

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,252 MDL 21.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$819 MDL 14.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,877 MDL 49.7K

$2,583 MDL 44.6K

11.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,054 MDL 35.5K

$1,942 MDL 33.5K

5.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 MDL 10.3K

$856 MDL 14.8K

-30.50%

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 Cricova: June 6, 2026

Last update for Chisinau: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 44% higher in Chisinau, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Chisinau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chisinau is pricier by about 12987%, 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 $13.75 per month in Cricova and $1,800 in Chisinau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $9.17 in Cricova and $1,200 in Chisinau. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 1971% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Cricova, where all-in costs run around $9.17, than in Chisinau at $1,200. In Cricova it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chisinau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cricova – 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 Cricova. 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.