Cost of Living Comparison Between Leova and Orhei Cost of Living Comparison Between Leova and Orhei

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,393 in Leova versus $368 in Orhei.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,132 in Leova versus $607 in Orhei.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,871 in Leova versus $846 in Orhei.

Living in Leova is roughly 278% more expensive than in Orhei, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Leova is 1% above, Orhei is 73% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.58 MDL 182

$11.88 MDL 204

-10.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.32 MDL 606

$23.25 MDL 399

51.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.62 MDL 165

$7.51 MDL 129

28.10%

Cappuccino

$0.90 MDL 15.39

$1.42 MDL 24.35

-36.62%

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

$0.55 MDL 9.51

$0.84 MDL 14.38

-34.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 MDL 7.22

$0.45 MDL 7.73

-6.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.69 MDL 46.13

$1.15 MDL 19.77

133.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 MDL 47.27

$1.49 MDL 25.55

84.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 MDL 29.32

$1.07 MDL 18.35

59.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 MDL 26.74

$0.33 MDL 5.71

372.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 MDL 24.24

Eggs

$1.38 MDL 23.70

$1.98 MDL 34.00

-30.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 MDL 249

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.28 MDL 39.11

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.29 MDL 73.6

Apples (1kg)

$1.40 MDL 23.94

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 MDL 15.37

$1.98 MDL 34.03

-54.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 MDL 17.70

Tomato (1kg)

$1.15 MDL 19.82

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 MDL 26.70

$0.66 MDL 11.28

136.36%

Onion (1kg)

$0.59 MDL 10.18

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 MDL 7.66

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 MDL 18.20

$0.57 MDL 9.76

85.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.81 MDL 82.5

Wine (Bottle)

$15.60 MDL 268

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 MDL 20.27

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 MDL 46.33

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 MDL 6.85

$0.18 MDL 3.14

122.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.90 MDL 513

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.98 MDL 51.1

$1.18 MDL 20.28

152.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MDL 9.59

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 MDL 60.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 MDL 24.61

$1.64 MDL 28.20

-12.80%

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

$35.1K MDL 602.3K

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

$36.4K MDL 624.1K

$21.4K MDL 367.8K

69.69%

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

$199 MDL 3,418

$62.9 MDL 1,080

216.58%

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

$5.90 MDL 101

$7.17 MDL 123

-17.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.89 MDL 376

$10.69 MDL 183

104.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.1 MDL 1,528

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.90 MDL 204

Cinema Ticket

$4.77 MDL 81.8

$3.52 MDL 60.3

35.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.8 MDL 1,524

$34.78 MDL 597

155.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.0 MDL 978

$34.93 MDL 599

63.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.7 MDL 1,710

$113 MDL 1,934

-11.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 MDL 1,971

$34.94 MDL 600

228.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$650 MDL 11.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$550 MDL 9,441

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,560 MDL 26.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 MDL 19.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,564 MDL 44.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,015 MDL 34.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$661 MDL 11.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.19

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Leova: September 6, 2026

Last update for Orhei: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $35.00 in Leova vs $23.00 in Orhei for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $43.00 per month, with Orhei cheaper across the board.

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

Leova vs Orhei: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Orhei is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 278% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,090 in Leova and $553 in Orhei to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 361% higher in Leova. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Orhei – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $35.00 in Leova. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $368 in Orhei versus $1,393 in Leova, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Orhei but tight or insufficient in Leova. The gap between the two cities makes Orhei the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Leova and Orhei are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Orhei gentler on the wallet – expenses run 278% less than in Leova. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.