Cost of Living Comparison Between Targu Mures and Chisinau Cost of Living Comparison Between Targu Mures and Chisinau

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $993 per month in Targu Mures vs $1,346 in Chisinau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,532 per month in Targu Mures vs $2,052 in Chisinau, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,071 per month in Targu Mures vs $2,758 in Chisinau, rent included.

Targu Mures is about 26% cheaper than Chisinau, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Targu Mures and Chisinau are more affordable than the global median – Targu Mures 28% lower, Chisinau 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.12 RON 41.16

$11.69 MDL 200

-21.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.14 RON 204

$51.6 MDL 881

-12.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 RON 39.09

$8.58 MDL 147

0.93%

Cappuccino

$2.40 RON 10.83

$2.23 MDL 38.08

7.62%

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

$1.58 RON 7.15

$1.25 MDL 21.41

26.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 RON 5.83

$0.89 MDL 15.13

44.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 RON 8.81

$2.29 MDL 39.04

-14.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 RON 11.24

$1.97 MDL 33.67

26.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 RON 6.41

$1.30 MDL 22.15

9.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 RON 5.04

$0.72 MDL 12.29

55.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 RON 6.93

$1.49 MDL 25.52

2.68%

Eggs

$2.99 RON 13.49

$2.97 MDL 50.7

0.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.50 RON 38.36

$10.16 MDL 173

-16.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.24 RON 28.18

$5.28 MDL 90.2

18.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.62 RON 47.96

$8.78 MDL 150

20.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 RON 4.65

$0.97 MDL 16.61

6.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 RON 6.03

$1.90 MDL 32.53

-29.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 RON 6.61

$2.05 MDL 35.06

-28.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.90 RON 8.57

$2.21 MDL 37.83

-14.03%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 RON 3.42

$0.68 MDL 11.66

11.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 RON 2.54

$0.57 MDL 9.65

-1.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 RON 3.89

$1.46 MDL 24.85

-41.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 RON 3.39

$0.93 MDL 15.95

-19.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.22 RON 28.10

$3.57 MDL 60.9

74.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.95 RON 35.88

$5.03 MDL 86.0

58.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 RON 5.06

$1.27 MDL 21.64

-11.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 RON 7.42

$1.94 MDL 33.20

-15.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 RON 2.88

$0.39 MDL 6.70

64.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.06 RON 122

$13.83 MDL 236

95.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 RON 4.07

$2.36 MDL 40.35

-61.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 RON 4.10

$0.37 MDL 6.28

145.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.08 RON 36.46

$5.07 MDL 86.7

59.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.87 RON 8.43

$1.71 MDL 29.13

9.36%

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

$29.8K RON 134.6K

$29.9K MDL 510.9K

-0.35%

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

$26.6K RON 120.2K

$30.5K MDL 520.6K

-12.67%

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

$106 RON 477

$254 MDL 4,344

-58.44%

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

$9.81 RON 44.29

$9.44 MDL 161

3.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.36 RON 37.73

$10.75 MDL 184

-22.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.43 RON 196

$42.83 MDL 732

1.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.34 RON 87.3

$21.23 MDL 363

-8.90%

Cinema Ticket

$6.76 RON 30.53

$8.60 MDL 147

-21.40%

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

$1,374 RON 6,203

$445 MDL 7,598

208.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,089 MDL 104.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 RON 254

$78.4 MDL 1,339

-28.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.54 RON 142

$47.80 MDL 816

-34.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 RON 365

$119 MDL 2,041

-32.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.7 RON 369

$113 MDL 1,936

-27.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$444 RON 2,004

$711 MDL 12.1K

-37.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 RON 1,386

$455 MDL 7,778

-32.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 RON 3,010

$1,258 MDL 21.5K

-47.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$505 RON 2,281

$821 MDL 14.0K

-38.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,388 RON 10.8K

$2,781 MDL 47.5K

-14.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,511 RON 6,820

$1,997 MDL 34.1K

-24.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,042 RON 4,704

$922 MDL 15.7K

13.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.47

9.41

-20.62%

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

Last update for Targu Mures: September 5, 2026

Last update for Chisinau: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $444 in Targu Mures versus $711 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 13% higher in Targu Mures, 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 $45.00 in Targu Mures versus $52.0 in Chisinau. Groceries tell a different story – $201 in Targu Mures vs $197 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

Targu Mures vs Chisinau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chisinau is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,489 per month in Targu Mures and $2,019 in Chisinau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% 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 $45.00 in Targu Mures and $52.0 in Chisinau. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Targu Mures, where all-in costs run around $993, than in Chisinau at $1,346. In Targu Mures it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chisinau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Targu Mures – 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 Targu Mures. 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.