Cost of Living Comparison Between Selangor and Chisinau Cost of Living Comparison Between Selangor and Chisinau

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $999 per month in Selangor vs $1,217 in Chisinau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,432 per month in Selangor vs $1,808 in Chisinau, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,865 per month in Selangor vs $2,399 in Chisinau, rent included.

Selangor is about 18% cheaper than Chisinau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Selangor and Chisinau are more affordable than the global median – Selangor 25% lower, Chisinau 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.55 MYR 10.43

$8.89 MDL 155

-71.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.88 MYR 97.7

$36.83 MDL 641

-35.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.73 MYR 15.27

$7.38 MDL 129

-49.46%

Cappuccino

$2.30 MYR 9.41

$1.89 MDL 32.91

21.69%

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

$0.77 MYR 3.17

$0.92 MDL 16.08

-16.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.70 MDL 12.14

-48.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.22 MYR 17.28

$1.79 MDL 31.13

135.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.38 MYR 22.02

$2.33 MDL 40.48

130.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MYR 7.39

$1.28 MDL 22.21

41.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 4.15

$0.56 MDL 9.79

80.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 6.12

$1.49 MDL 26.00

0.67%

Eggs

$1.88 MYR 7.70

$2.61 MDL 45.51

-27.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 MYR 58.8

$10.51 MDL 183

36.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.68 MYR 19.15

$5.36 MDL 93.3

-12.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.88 MYR 40.43

$8.89 MDL 155

11.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 MYR 12.27

$0.85 MDL 14.79

252.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 MYR 6.40

$1.81 MDL 31.57

-13.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 MYR 11.19

$1.77 MDL 30.81

54.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.94

$2.15 MDL 37.42

-32.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.22

$0.78 MDL 13.56

64.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 MYR 4.12

$0.59 MDL 10.31

71.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 MYR 4.63

$1.34 MDL 23.34

-15.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 MYR 2.10

$0.90 MDL 15.63

-43.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 MYR 17.72

$3.28 MDL 57.0

32.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.24 MYR 78.7

$4.59 MDL 80.0

319.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 MYR 13.69

$1.21 MDL 21.12

176.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 MYR 17.42

$1.99 MDL 34.57

114.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.80

$0.36 MDL 6.29

88.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 MYR 48.49

$13.82 MDL 241

-14.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.75

$2.10 MDL 36.50

-44.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.51

$0.27 MDL 4.70

307.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.35 MYR 17.78

$5.17 MDL 90.0

-15.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$1.38 MDL 24.06

-63.77%

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

$40.5K MYR 165.6K

$31.9K MDL 555.7K

26.75%

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

$30.8K MYR 126.0K

$31.5K MDL 548.8K

-2.34%

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

$64.9 MYR 266

$170 MDL 2,954

-61.76%

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

$9.99 MYR 40.90

$7.34 MDL 128

36.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.88 MYR 106

$10.78 MDL 188

140.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.38 MYR 157

$43.85 MDL 763

-12.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 MYR 29.75

$21.97 MDL 383

-66.91%

Cinema Ticket

$5.17 MYR 21.14

$7.45 MDL 130

-30.60%

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

$116 MYR 476

$391 MDL 6,800

-70.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,342 MYR 17.8K

$7,516 MDL 130.9K

-42.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.9 MYR 249

$67.0 MDL 1,166

-9.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.78 MYR 151

$54.2 MDL 943

-32.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.9 MYR 307

$110 MDL 1,923

-32.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 MYR 322

$122 MDL 2,132

-35.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$449 MYR 1,839

$673 MDL 11.7K

-33.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 MYR 1,438

$468 MDL 8,146

-24.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$834 MYR 3,415

$1,243 MDL 21.6K

-32.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$472 MYR 1,931

$822 MDL 14.3K

-42.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,583 MYR 6,477

$2,599 MDL 45.2K

-39.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$707 MYR 2,893

$1,879 MDL 32.7K

-62.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,047 MYR 4,286

$867 MDL 15.1K

20.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.96

9.24

-57.14%

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

Last update for Selangor: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chisinau: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $449 in Selangor versus $673 in Chisinau. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 21% higher in Selangor, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Selangor versus $37.00 in Chisinau. Groceries tell a different story – $261 in Selangor vs $192 in Chisinau – so Chisinau wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Selangor vs Chisinau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chisinau is pricier by about 22%, 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 $1,498 per month in Selangor and $1,826 in Chisinau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Selangor, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 36% cheaper in Chisinau – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Selangor and $37.00 in Chisinau. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Selangor, where all-in costs run around $999, than in Chisinau at $1,217. In Selangor it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chisinau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Selangor – 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 Selangor. 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.