Cost of Living Comparison Between Soroca and Bender Cost of Living Comparison Between Soroca and Bender

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $400 per month in Soroca vs $703 in Bender, rent included.

A couple spends around $653 per month in Soroca vs $1,011 in Bender, rent included.

A family of three spends $905 per month in Soroca vs $1,319 in Bender, rent included.

Soroca is about 43% cheaper than Bender, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Soroca and Bender are more affordable than the global median – Soroca 71% lower, Bender 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.40 MDL 196

$6.67 MDL 114

70.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.28 MDL 399

$19.25 MDL 330

20.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 MDL 81.7

$5.74 MDL 98.4

-17.07%

Cappuccino

$1.49 MDL 25.57

$1.24 MDL 21.26

20.16%

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

$0.72 MDL 12.31

$1.08 MDL 18.48

-33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 MDL 8.17

$0.51 MDL 8.68

-5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 MDL 19.60

$0.91 MDL 15.64

25.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 MDL 25.14

$1.78 MDL 30.55

-17.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 MDL 18.18

$0.96 MDL 16.41

10.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.37 MDL 6.29

$0.52 MDL 8.94

-28.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 MDL 20.43

$1.42 MDL 24.33

-16.20%

Eggs

$2.03 MDL 34.76

$2.00 MDL 34.35

1.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.15 MDL 71.2

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.39 MDL 75.3

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.50 MDL 94.4

Apples (1kg)

$0.86 MDL 14.76

Banana (1kg)

$2.05 MDL 35.13

$1.93 MDL 33.08

6.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 MDL 31.78

Tomato (1kg)

$1.84 MDL 31.64

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 MDL 10.98

$0.73 MDL 12.45

-12.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 MDL 9.21

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 MDL 9.59

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MDL 9.19

$0.79 MDL 13.56

-31.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 MDL 50.6

Wine (Bottle)

$2.60 MDL 44.56

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 MDL 10.25

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 MDL 32.23

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 MDL 6.23

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 MDL 20.28

$2.38 MDL 40.76

-50.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MDL 4.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 MDL 87.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 MDL 28.00

$1.42 MDL 24.36

14.79%

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

$30.3K MDL 519.2K

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

$20.8K MDL 357.8K

$31.6K MDL 542.1K

-34.00%

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

$62.0 MDL 1,063

$254 MDL 4,356

-75.59%

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

$8.68 MDL 149

$10.03 MDL 172

-13.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.53 MDL 232

$10.87 MDL 187

24.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.71 MDL 493

Cinema Ticket

$3.40 MDL 58.3

$8.72 MDL 150

-61.01%

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

$446 MDL 7,655

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,176 MDL 106.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.45 MDL 591

$80.4 MDL 1,379

-57.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.57 MDL 593

$49.39 MDL 848

-30.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 MDL 1,863

$120 MDL 2,064

-9.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.91 MDL 599

$115 MDL 1,967

-69.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$304 MDL 5,217

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$514 MDL 8,825

$322 MDL 5,530

59.57%

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 Soroca: September 5, 2026

Last update for Bender: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 60% higher in Soroca, 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 $23.00 in Soroca versus $19.00 in Bender. Groceries tell a different story – $48.00 in Soroca vs $139 in Bender – so Soroca 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

Soroca vs Bender: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bender is pricier by about 76%, 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 $600 per month in Soroca and $1,054 in Bender. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 190% more in Bender, 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 Soroca and $19.00 in Bender. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $400 in Soroca and $703 in Bender, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Soroca – 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 Soroca. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bender makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.