🙂A single person spends $682 per month in Dubasari vs $1,217 in Chisinau, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,077 per month in Dubasari vs $1,808 in Chisinau, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,471 per month in Dubasari vs $2,399 in Chisinau, rent included.
🙂Dubasari is about 44% cheaper than Chisinau, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Dubasari and Chisinau are more affordable than the global median – Dubasari49% lower, Chisinau9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.91MDL 155
$8.89MDL 155
0.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.19MDL 630
$36.83MDL 641
-1.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.39MDL 129
$7.38MDL 129
0.14%
Cappuccino
$1.81MDL 31.54
$1.89MDL 32.91
-4.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99MDL 17.29
$0.92MDL 16.08
7.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69MDL 11.94
$0.70MDL 12.14
-1.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.77MDL 30.77
$1.79MDL 31.13
-1.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30MDL 40.05
$2.33MDL 40.48
-1.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28MDL 22.37
$1.28MDL 22.21
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.53MDL 9.16
$0.56MDL 9.79
-5.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.44MDL 25.13
$1.49MDL 26.00
-3.36%
Eggs
$2.61MDL 45.36
$2.61MDL 45.51
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.48MDL 183
$10.51MDL 183
-0.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.50MDL 95.7
$5.36MDL 93.3
2.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83MDL 154
$8.89MDL 155
-0.67%
Apples(1kg)
$0.85MDL 14.84
$0.85MDL 14.79
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.83MDL 31.90
$1.81MDL 31.57
1.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71MDL 29.70
$1.77MDL 30.81
-3.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16MDL 37.60
$2.15MDL 37.42
0.47%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76MDL 13.30
$0.78MDL 13.56
-2.56%
Onion(1kg)
$0.55MDL 9.66
$0.59MDL 10.31
-6.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36MDL 23.68
$1.34MDL 23.34
1.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90MDL 15.70
$0.90MDL 15.63
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.23MDL 56.2
$3.28MDL 57.0
-1.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.59MDL 79.9
$4.59MDL 80.0
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MDL 21.05
$1.21MDL 21.12
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00MDL 34.89
$1.99MDL 34.57
0.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.36MDL 6.29
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$13.82MDL 241
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.06MDL 35.93
$2.10MDL 36.50
-1.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27MDL 4.72
$0.27MDL 4.70
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.13MDL 89.4
$5.17MDL 90.0
-0.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.41MDL 24.60
$1.38MDL 24.06
2.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6KMDL 568.3K
$31.9KMDL 555.7K
2.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5KMDL 531.6K
$31.5KMDL 548.8K
-3.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171MDL 2,971
$170MDL 2,954
0.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.57MDL 132
$7.34MDL 128
3.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.73MDL 187
$10.78MDL 188
-0.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$43.85MDL 763
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.97MDL 383
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.73MDL 135
$7.45MDL 130
3.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$383MDL 6,668
$391MDL 6,800
-1.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,756MDL 135.0K
$7,516MDL 130.9K
3.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.0MDL 1,167
$67.0MDL 1,166
0.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.5MDL 931
$54.2MDL 943
-1.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111MDL 1,936
$110MDL 1,923
0.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MDL 2,129
$122MDL 2,132
-0.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$673MDL 11.7K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$468MDL 8,146
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,243MDL 21.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$822MDL 14.3K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,599MDL 45.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,879MDL 32.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$867MDL 15.1K
-
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Chisinau: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Dubasari versus $37.00 in Chisinau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $192 – making Dubasari 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
Dubasari vs Chisinau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chisinau cheaper than Dubasari?
Yes – Chisinau is pricier by about 79%, 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 $1,023 per month in Dubasari and $1,826 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 and in Chisinau?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $682 in Dubasari and $1,217 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 $383 per month in Dubasari and $391 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 living in Dubasari or in Chisinau?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dubasari, where all-in costs run around $682, than in Chisinau at $1,217. 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.