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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Orhei costs roughly 74% less than in Leova, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.88 MDL 204

$10.58 MDL 182

12.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.25 MDL 399

$35.32 MDL 606

-34.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.51 MDL 129

$9.62 MDL 165

-21.93%

Cappuccino

$1.42 MDL 24.35

$0.90 MDL 15.39

57.78%

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

$0.84 MDL 14.38

$0.55 MDL 9.51

52.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MDL 7.73

$0.42 MDL 7.22

7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 MDL 19.77

$2.69 MDL 46.13

-57.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 MDL 25.55

$2.75 MDL 47.27

-45.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 MDL 18.35

$1.71 MDL 29.32

-37.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.33 MDL 5.71

$1.56 MDL 26.74

-78.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 MDL 24.24

Eggs

$1.98 MDL 34.00

$1.38 MDL 23.70

43.48%

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)

$1.98 MDL 34.03

$0.90 MDL 15.37

120.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 MDL 17.70

Tomato (1kg)

$1.15 MDL 19.82

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 MDL 11.28

$1.56 MDL 26.70

-57.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.59 MDL 10.18

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 MDL 7.66

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MDL 9.76

$1.06 MDL 18.20

-46.23%

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)

$0.18 MDL 3.14

$0.40 MDL 6.85

-55.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.90 MDL 513

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 MDL 20.28

$2.98 MDL 51.1

-60.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MDL 9.59

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 MDL 60.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.64 MDL 28.20

$1.43 MDL 24.61

14.69%

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)

$21.4K MDL 367.8K

$36.4K MDL 624.1K

-41.07%

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

$62.9 MDL 1,080

$199 MDL 3,418

-68.41%

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

$7.17 MDL 123

$5.90 MDL 101

21.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.69 MDL 183

$21.89 MDL 376

-51.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.1 MDL 1,528

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.90 MDL 204

Cinema Ticket

$3.52 MDL 60.3

$4.77 MDL 81.8

-26.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.78 MDL 597

$88.8 MDL 1,524

-60.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.93 MDL 599

$57.0 MDL 978

-38.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 MDL 1,934

$99.7 MDL 1,710

13.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.94 MDL 600

$115 MDL 1,971

-69.58%

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 Orhei: September 6, 2026

Last update for Leova: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $23.00 in Orhei vs $35.00 in Leova for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $43.00 vs $197 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

Orhei vs Leova: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

You'd need roughly $553 in Orhei and $2,090 in Leova 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, Orhei and Leova 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.