🙂A single person spends $674 per month in Dubasari vs $1,340 in Chisinau, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,010 per month in Dubasari vs $2,023 in Chisinau, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,346 per month in Dubasari vs $2,705 in Chisinau, rent included.
🙂Dubasari is about 50% cheaper than Chisinau, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Dubasari and Chisinau are more affordable than the global median – Dubasari51% lower, Chisinau2% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.52MDL 146
$11.65MDL 199
-26.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.76MDL 527
$50.2MDL 860
-38.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MDL 184
$8.85MDL 151
21.47%
Cappuccino
$1.83MDL 31.30
$2.19MDL 37.47
-16.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MDL 19.14
$1.30MDL 22.25
-13.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72MDL 12.37
$0.89MDL 15.31
-19.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.00MDL 34.19
$2.31MDL 39.49
-13.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39MDL 40.92
$2.09MDL 35.73
14.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31MDL 22.47
$1.26MDL 21.53
3.97%
White Bread(500g)
$0.48MDL 8.24
$0.70MDL 11.91
-31.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62MDL 27.67
$1.45MDL 24.85
11.72%
Eggs
$2.37MDL 40.56
$2.83MDL 48.42
-16.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.09MDL 121
$10.38MDL 178
-31.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.82MDL 82.5
$5.44MDL 93.1
-11.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.55MDL 112
$9.23MDL 158
-29.04%
Apples(1kg)
$1.04MDL 17.76
$1.04MDL 17.87
-
Banana(1kg)
$2.39MDL 40.91
$2.01MDL 34.43
18.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MDL 33.64
$2.18MDL 37.41
-10.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.40MDL 41.05
$2.35MDL 40.20
2.13%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75MDL 12.79
$0.68MDL 11.65
10.29%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52MDL 8.86
$0.57MDL 9.76
-8.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49MDL 8.38
$1.49MDL 25.45
-67.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55MDL 9.46
$0.89MDL 15.18
-38.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.37MDL 57.7
$3.40MDL 58.3
-0.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.56MDL 78.1
$4.71MDL 80.6
-3.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48MDL 25.29
$1.32MDL 22.55
12.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01MDL 34.39
$1.96MDL 33.51
2.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.42MDL 7.23
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$13.75MDL 235
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.90MDL 49.64
$2.32MDL 39.70
25.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27MDL 4.66
$0.34MDL 5.77
-20.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.83MDL 99.7
$5.35MDL 91.6
8.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.51MDL 25.92
$1.64MDL 28.14
-7.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7KMDL 594.1K
$30.5KMDL 522.2K
13.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8KMDL 423.9K
$31.2KMDL 534.8K
-20.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$233MDL 3,989
$256MDL 4,386
-9.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.38MDL 143
$9.82MDL 168
-14.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.73MDL 201
$11.05MDL 189
6.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$11.52MDL 197
$44.19MDL 757
-73.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.05MDL 360
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.67MDL 131
$8.72MDL 149
-12.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$117MDL 2,000
$437MDL 7,477
-73.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,382MDL 92.1K
$6,037MDL 103.3K
-10.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.33MDL 810
$81.1MDL 1,389
-41.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$49.11MDL 841
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.3MDL 981
$123MDL 2,103
-53.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.7MDL 885
$117MDL 1,997
-55.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$706MDL 12.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$443MDL 7,591
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,297MDL 22.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$862MDL 14.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,775MDL 47.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,007MDL 34.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dubasari
Chisinau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$919MDL 15.7K
-
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 Dubasari: August 31, 2026
Last update for Chisinau: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Dubasari versus $50.0 in Chisinau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $171 vs $200 – 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 99%, 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 $1,011 per month in Dubasari and $2,010 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 $674 in Dubasari and $1,340 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 $117 per month in Dubasari and $437 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 $674, than in Chisinau at $1,340. 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.