Cost of Living Comparison Between Soroca and Chisinau Cost of Living Comparison Between Soroca and Chisinau

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $400 per month in Soroca vs $1,340 in Chisinau, rent included.

A couple spends around $653 per month in Soroca vs $2,023 in Chisinau, rent included.

A family of three spends $906 per month in Soroca vs $2,705 in Chisinau, rent included.

Soroca is about 70% cheaper than Chisinau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Soroca and Chisinau are more affordable than the global median – Soroca 71% lower, Chisinau 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.70 MDL 200

$11.65 MDL 199

0.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.60 MDL 404

$50.2 MDL 860

-53.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.72 MDL 80.9

$8.85 MDL 151

-46.67%

Cappuccino

$1.48 MDL 25.37

$2.19 MDL 37.47

-32.42%

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

$0.75 MDL 12.77

$1.30 MDL 22.25

-42.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 MDL 7.85

$0.89 MDL 15.31

-48.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 MDL 19.70

$2.31 MDL 39.49

-50.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 MDL 24.26

$2.09 MDL 35.73

-32.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 MDL 17.64

$1.26 MDL 21.53

-18.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.36 MDL 6.24

$0.70 MDL 11.91

-48.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 MDL 19.64

$1.45 MDL 24.85

-20.69%

Eggs

$1.99 MDL 34.02

$2.83 MDL 48.42

-29.68%

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)

$2.00 MDL 34.24

$2.01 MDL 34.43

-0.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 MDL 37.41

Tomato (1kg)

$2.35 MDL 40.20

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 MDL 11.97

$0.68 MDL 11.65

2.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 MDL 9.76

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 MDL 25.45

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MDL 8.95

$0.89 MDL 15.18

-41.57%

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)

$0.42 MDL 7.23

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.75 MDL 235

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 MDL 20.24

$2.32 MDL 39.70

-49.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 MDL 5.77

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.35 MDL 91.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.65 MDL 28.25

$1.64 MDL 28.14

0.61%

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 366.0K

$31.2K MDL 534.8K

-31.56%

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

$61.4 MDL 1,051

$256 MDL 4,386

-76.05%

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

$8.81 MDL 151

$9.82 MDL 168

-10.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.19 MDL 226

$11.05 MDL 189

19.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.64 MDL 507

$44.19 MDL 757

-32.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.05 MDL 360

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 MDL 58.9

$8.72 MDL 149

-60.55%

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)

$34.97 MDL 599

$81.1 MDL 1,389

-56.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.04 MDL 600

$49.11 MDL 841

-28.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 MDL 1,934

$123 MDL 2,103

-8.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.09 MDL 601

$117 MDL 1,997

-69.92%

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)

$517 MDL 8,849

$919 MDL 15.7K

-43.73%

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chisinau: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 78% higher in Chisinau, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Soroca versus $50.0 in Chisinau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $47.00 vs $200 – making Soroca 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

Soroca vs Chisinau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chisinau is pricier by about 235%, 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 $2,010 in Chisinau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 327% 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 $24.00 in Soroca and $50.0 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 Soroca, where all-in costs run around $400, than in Chisinau at $1,340. In Soroca it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chisinau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Soroca. 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.