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 $1,061 per month in Targu Mures vs $1,200 in Chisinau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,549 per month in Targu Mures vs $1,843 in Chisinau, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,037 per month in Targu Mures vs $2,485 in Chisinau, rent included.

Targu Mures is about 12% cheaper than Chisinau, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Targu Mures and Chisinau are more affordable than the global median – Targu Mures 21% lower, Chisinau 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.79 RON 39.91

$8.87 MDL 153

-0.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.85 RON 185

$37.12 MDL 640

10.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.78 RON 39.86

$7.54 MDL 130

16.45%

Cappuccino

$2.28 RON 10.35

$1.80 MDL 31.03

26.67%

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

$1.26 RON 5.72

$0.98 MDL 16.87

28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 RON 5.24

$0.70 MDL 12.01

64.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 RON 9.81

$1.73 MDL 29.84

24.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 RON 12.34

$2.29 MDL 39.47

18.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 RON 7.27

$1.28 MDL 22.04

25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 RON 5.51

$0.56 MDL 9.68

116.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 RON 7.20

$1.50 MDL 25.80

6.00%

Eggs

$2.98 RON 13.53

$2.53 MDL 43.60

17.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.87 RON 40.26

$10.22 MDL 176

-13.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.91 RON 31.36

$5.51 MDL 95.1

25.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.30 RON 55.9

$8.74 MDL 151

40.73%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 RON 4.41

$0.89 MDL 15.29

8.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 RON 6.01

$1.76 MDL 30.31

-25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 RON 6.74

$1.76 MDL 30.41

-15.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 RON 8.68

$2.08 MDL 35.94

-8.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 RON 3.97

$0.84 MDL 14.48

3.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 RON 4.02

$0.56 MDL 9.64

58.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 RON 3.58

$1.31 MDL 22.55

-39.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 RON 3.66

$0.83 MDL 14.35

-2.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.06 RON 27.52

$3.30 MDL 56.9

83.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.80 RON 35.41

$4.75 MDL 81.9

64.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 RON 4.74

$1.22 MDL 21.06

-14.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 RON 7.62

$1.92 MDL 33.19

-12.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 RON 2.70

$0.36 MDL 6.26

63.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.77 RON 67.1

$13.74 MDL 237

7.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 RON 4.01

$2.00 MDL 34.44

-56.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 RON 3.24

$0.25 MDL 4.27

184.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 RON 34.06

$5.31 MDL 91.6

41.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 RON 6.91

$1.42 MDL 24.52

7.04%

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

$27.5K RON 124.8K

$32.4K MDL 559.6K

-15.28%

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

$27.9K RON 126.8K

$30.9K MDL 532.9K

-9.58%

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

$169 RON 766

$173 MDL 2,982

-2.43%

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

$8.60 RON 39.05

$7.57 MDL 131

13.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.90 RON 44.96

$10.65 MDL 184

-7.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.97 RON 213

$43.21 MDL 745

8.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.22 RON 82.7

$22.02 MDL 380

-17.26%

Cinema Ticket

$5.67 RON 25.73

$7.65 MDL 132

-25.88%

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

$1,378 RON 6,254

$397 MDL 6,846

247.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,946 RON 31.5K

$7,753 MDL 133.7K

-10.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.2 RON 328

$65.3 MDL 1,126

10.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.87 RON 149

$52.8 MDL 911

-37.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.3 RON 328

$111 MDL 1,921

-35.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.8 RON 371

$124 MDL 2,145

-34.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$440 RON 1,996

$654 MDL 11.3K

-32.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$312 RON 1,415

$462 MDL 7,961

-32.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 RON 2,576

$1,252 MDL 21.6K

-54.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$399 RON 1,810

$819 MDL 14.1K

-51.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,355 RON 10.7K

$2,583 MDL 44.5K

-8.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,505 RON 6,830

$1,942 MDL 33.5K

-22.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,066 RON 4,840

$856 MDL 14.8K

24.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.17

9.24

-11.58%

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

Last update for Targu Mures: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chisinau: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $440 in Targu Mures versus $654 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 25% 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 $41.00 in Targu Mures versus $37.00 in Chisinau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $214 vs $190 – making Chisinau 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

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

Yes – Chisinau is pricier by about 13%, 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 $1,592 per month in Targu Mures and $1,800 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 13% 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 $41.00 in Targu Mures and $37.00 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 $1,061, than in Chisinau at $1,200. 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.