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Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Moldova
For one person, living is cheaper in India: $399 a month against $1,184 in Moldova, rent and utilities included – about $9,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in India and in Moldova actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $399 in India versus $1,184 in Moldova.
India $399
Moldova $1,184
Estimated couple costs with rent: $639 in India versus $1,775 in Moldova.
India $639
Moldova $1,775
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $879 in India versus $2,367 in Moldova.
India $879
Moldova $2,367
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Moldova: monthly costs span $356 to $1,341, compared to $230–$813 in India. City choice carries more weight in Moldova.
🌍
Living in India costs about 66% less than in Moldova on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: India 71% lower, Moldova 13% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
India
Moldova
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14₹204
$9.34MDL 167
-77.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.46₹996
$33.28MDL 593
-68.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.80₹362
$8.13MDL 145
-53.26%
Cappuccino
$1.68₹160
$1.92MDL 34.19
-12.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38₹36.03
$1.03MDL 18.39
-63.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15₹14.62
$0.76MDL 13.46
-80.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.87₹178
$2.00MDL 35.65
-6.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18₹303
$1.91MDL 34.02
66.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Moldova
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.62₹59.3
$1.21MDL 21.49
-48.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.50₹47.82
$0.66MDL 11.79
-24.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.63₹60.4
$1.38MDL 24.61
-54.35%
Eggs
$0.96₹91.4
$2.62MDL 46.74
-63.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.85₹462
$9.43MDL 168
-48.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.84₹271
$5.09MDL 90.8
-44.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$8.36MDL 149
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.00₹191
$0.99MDL 17.70
102.02%
Banana(1kg)
$0.65₹61.5
$1.84MDL 32.75
-64.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.97₹92.4
$1.90MDL 33.96
-48.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47₹44.35
$2.06MDL 36.65
-77.18%
Potato(1kg)
$0.34₹31.91
$0.78MDL 13.82
-56.41%
Onion(1kg)
$0.42₹39.77
$0.57MDL 10.14
-26.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47₹44.44
$1.34MDL 23.95
-64.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31₹29.71
$0.89MDL 15.86
-65.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.08₹483
$3.38MDL 60.3
50.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.31₹696
$4.33MDL 77.2
68.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63₹155
$1.27MDL 22.73
28.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76₹263
$1.99MDL 35.41
38.69%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.11₹487
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Moldova
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26₹24.88
$0.37MDL 6.68
-29.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.58₹817
$14.40MDL 257
-40.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.00₹94.8
$2.17MDL 38.71
-53.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27₹25.77
$0.34MDL 6.15
-20.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.54₹146
$4.92MDL 87.6
-68.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07₹102
$1.69MDL 30.09
-36.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.2K₹1.1M
$29.7KMDL 529.7K
-62.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K₹1.9M
$27.7KMDL 493.5K
-27.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Moldova
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$37.08₹3,531
$221MDL 3,939
-83.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.58₹341
$9.37MDL 167
-61.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.15₹681
$10.73MDL 191
-33.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Moldova
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.00₹1,428
$40.08MDL 715
-62.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.17₹683
$17.72MDL 316
-59.54%
Cinema Ticket
$3.20₹304
$8.55MDL 152
-62.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Moldova
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$58.8₹5,599
$389MDL 6,941
-84.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,667₹158.7K
$5,437MDL 96.9K
-69.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Moldova
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.03₹2,193
$66.2MDL 1,181
-65.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.17₹2,301
$42.17MDL 752
-42.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.20₹3,923
$104MDL 1,857
-60.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.62₹2,820
$110MDL 1,965
-73.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Moldova
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$146₹13.9K
$597MDL 10.6K
-75.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$96.4₹9,175
$392MDL 6,981
-75.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$343₹32.6K
$1,143MDL 20.4K
-70.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$234₹22.3K
$733MDL 13.1K
-68.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,177₹112.1K
$2,426MDL 43.3K
-51.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$633₹60.3K
$1,796MDL 32.0K
-64.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Moldova
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$409₹38.9K
$751MDL 13.4K
-45.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.93
8.76
1.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for India: October 25, 2026
Last update for Moldova: October 25, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$102 25.6%
Moldova
$186 15.7% ↑ 81.9%$84
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$96 24.1%
Moldova
$392 33.1% ↑ 306%$295
🍽Eating Out
India
$67 16.7%
Moldova
$143 12.1% ↑ 115%$77
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$53 13.3%
Moldova
$145 12.3% ↑ 174%$92
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$48 12%
Moldova
$241 20.4% ↑ 404%$193
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$21 5.4%
Moldova
$57 4.8% ↑ 167%$36
🚌Getting Around
India
$12 3%
Moldova
$20 1.7% ↑ 65.3%$7.8
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$220 25.1%
Moldova
$433 18.3% ↑ 96.4%$212
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$234 26.6%
Moldova
$733 31% ↑ 214%$499
🍽Eating Out
India
$181 20.6%
Moldova
$456 19.3% ↑ 152%$275
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$118 13.4%
Moldova
$323 13.6% ↑ 174%$205
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$51 5.9%
Moldova
$250 10.6% ↑ 387%$199
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$50 5.7%
Moldova
$132 5.6% ↑ 164%$82
🚌Getting Around
India
$24 2.8%
Moldova
$40 1.7% ↑ 64.9%$16
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $120 in India, $402 in Moldova. Capital cities: $277 in Delhi vs $691 in Chisinau.
💰National salary averages: $412 in India, $546 in Moldova. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 235% higher in Moldova.
⭐Dining out costs 145% more in Moldova.
⭐Public transport is 125% more expensive in Moldova.
⭐Salaries are 33% higher in Moldova, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
India vs Moldova: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Moldova?
At $399 per month in India and $1,184 in Moldova, India comes out about 66% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in India: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $402 in Moldova and $120 in India. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or in Moldova?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Moldova it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you’ll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or to Moldova?
It depends on what you’re after: India wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.