🙂A single person spends $706 per month in Dubasari vs $1,231 in Chisinau, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,089 per month in Dubasari vs $1,813 in Chisinau, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,472 per month in Dubasari vs $2,394 in Chisinau, rent included.
🙂Dubasari is about 43% cheaper than Chisinau, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Dubasari and Chisinau are more affordable than the global median – Dubasari47% lower, Chisinau8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.03MDL 155
$8.53MDL 147
5.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.34MDL 625
$37.11MDL 638
-2.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.40MDL 127
$7.53MDL 130
-1.73%
Cappuccino
$1.89MDL 32.52
$1.87MDL 32.22
1.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MDL 16.13
$0.99MDL 17.03
-5.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66MDL 11.27
$0.70MDL 12.01
-5.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72MDL 29.51
$1.74MDL 29.89
-1.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40MDL 41.19
$2.29MDL 39.41
4.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28MDL 22.05
$1.29MDL 22.16
-0.78%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53MDL 9.03
$0.52MDL 8.98
1.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51MDL 26.02
$1.46MDL 25.03
3.42%
Eggs
$2.58MDL 44.34
$2.62MDL 44.99
-1.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.36MDL 178
$10.22MDL 176
1.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.52MDL 94.9
$5.35MDL 92.0
3.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89MDL 153
$8.69MDL 149
2.30%
Apples(1kg)
$0.85MDL 14.63
$0.84MDL 14.40
1.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77MDL 30.50
$1.82MDL 31.29
-2.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79MDL 30.73
$1.78MDL 30.52
0.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MDL 35.99
$2.17MDL 37.27
-3.69%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81MDL 13.99
$0.81MDL 13.93
-
Onion(1kg)
$0.58MDL 10.00
$0.54MDL 9.31
7.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30MDL 22.33
$1.30MDL 22.40
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89MDL 15.38
$0.90MDL 15.47
-1.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.16MDL 54.3
$3.28MDL 56.4
-3.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.54MDL 78.1
$4.73MDL 81.4
-4.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27MDL 21.84
$1.21MDL 20.84
4.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94MDL 33.28
$1.91MDL 32.83
1.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.33MDL 5.75
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$13.47MDL 232
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.00MDL 34.34
$2.07MDL 35.61
-3.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27MDL 4.69
$0.25MDL 4.29
8.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.31MDL 91.2
$5.33MDL 91.7
-0.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44MDL 24.71
$1.44MDL 24.76
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KMDL 550.4K
$32.7KMDL 561.9K
-2.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7KMDL 526.9K
$31.5KMDL 540.7K
-2.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170MDL 2,915
$174MDL 2,991
-2.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.47MDL 128
$7.38MDL 127
1.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.81MDL 186
$10.98MDL 189
-1.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$43.14MDL 742
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.18MDL 381
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.45MDL 128
$7.63MDL 131
-2.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$387MDL 6,650
$388MDL 6,663
-0.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,611MDL 130.8K
$7,708MDL 132.5K
-1.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.8MDL 1,147
$65.4MDL 1,123
2.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.9MDL 909
$54.3MDL 934
-2.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MDL 1,932
$111MDL 1,911
1.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124MDL 2,131
$120MDL 2,071
2.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$668MDL 11.5K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$468MDL 8,048
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,243MDL 21.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$798MDL 13.7K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,649MDL 45.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,901MDL 32.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$864MDL 14.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.24
9.24
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dubasari: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chisinau: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Dubasari versus $37.00 in Chisinau. Groceries tell a different story – $191 in Dubasari vs $190 in Chisinau – 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
Dubasari vs Chisinau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chisinau cheaper than Dubasari?
Yes – Chisinau is pricier by about 74%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. 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 $1,059 per month in Dubasari and $1,846 in Chisinau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Dubasari vs Chisinau?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $706 in Dubasari and $1,231 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 $387 per month in Dubasari and $388 in Chisinau. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Dubasari or Chisinau?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dubasari, where all-in costs run around $706, than in Chisinau at $1,231. In Dubasari it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chisinau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Dubasari or Chisinau more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Dubasari – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Dubasari 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 Dubasari. 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.