Cost of Living Comparison Between Orhei and Chisinau Cost of Living Comparison Between Orhei and Chisinau

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $382 per month in Orhei vs $1,340 in Chisinau, rent included.

A couple spends around $622 per month in Orhei vs $2,023 in Chisinau, rent included.

A family of three spends $861 per month in Orhei vs $2,705 in Chisinau, rent included.

Orhei is about 72% cheaper than Chisinau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Orhei and Chisinau are more affordable than the global median – Orhei 72% lower, Chisinau 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.54 MDL 198

$11.65 MDL 199

-0.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.15 MDL 396

$50.2 MDL 860

-53.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.46 MDL 128

$8.85 MDL 151

-15.71%

Cappuccino

$1.42 MDL 24.31

$2.19 MDL 37.47

-35.16%

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

$0.78 MDL 13.41

$1.30 MDL 22.25

-40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MDL 7.67

$0.89 MDL 15.31

-49.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 MDL 19.44

$2.31 MDL 39.49

-50.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 MDL 24.62

$2.09 MDL 35.73

-31.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 MDL 18.23

$1.26 MDL 21.53

-15.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.34 MDL 5.81

$0.70 MDL 11.91

-51.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 MDL 24.85

Eggs

$2.05 MDL 35.03

$2.83 MDL 48.42

-27.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.38 MDL 178

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.44 MDL 93.1

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.23 MDL 158

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 MDL 17.87

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 MDL 35.50

$2.01 MDL 34.43

2.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 MDL 37.41

Tomato (1kg)

$2.35 MDL 40.20

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 MDL 10.95

$0.68 MDL 11.65

-5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 MDL 9.76

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 MDL 25.45

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MDL 9.22

$0.89 MDL 15.18

-39.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 MDL 58.3

Wine (Bottle)

$4.71 MDL 80.6

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 MDL 22.55

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 MDL 33.51

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 MDL 3.39

$0.42 MDL 7.23

-52.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.75 MDL 235

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MDL 20.62

$2.32 MDL 39.70

-48.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 MDL 5.77

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.35 MDL 91.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 MDL 27.29

$1.64 MDL 28.14

-3.05%

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

$30.5K MDL 522.2K

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

$21.4K MDL 366.8K

$31.2K MDL 534.8K

-31.40%

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

$62.8 MDL 1,076

$256 MDL 4,386

-75.47%

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

$6.80 MDL 116

$9.82 MDL 168

-30.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.43 MDL 179

$11.05 MDL 189

-5.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.19 MDL 757

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.05 MDL 360

Cinema Ticket

$3.53 MDL 60.4

$8.72 MDL 149

-59.52%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$437 MDL 7,477

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,037 MDL 103.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.51 MDL 591

$81.1 MDL 1,389

-57.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.26 MDL 604

$49.11 MDL 841

-28.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 MDL 1,902

$123 MDL 2,103

-9.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.63 MDL 593

$117 MDL 1,997

-70.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$706 MDL 12.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$443 MDL 7,591

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,297 MDL 22.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$862 MDL 14.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,775 MDL 47.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,007 MDL 34.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$919 MDL 15.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.41

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

Last update for Orhei: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chisinau: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Orhei versus $50.0 in Chisinau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $43.00 vs $200 – making Orhei 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

Orhei vs Chisinau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chisinau is pricier by about 251%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $573 per month in Orhei and $2,010 in Chisinau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 365% more in Chisinau, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Orhei and $50.0 in Chisinau. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Orhei, where all-in costs run around $382, than in Chisinau at $1,340. In Orhei it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chisinau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Orhei – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Orhei. 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.