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 $1,219 in Chisinau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,549 per month in Targu Mures vs $1,808 in Chisinau, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,036 per month in Targu Mures vs $2,397 in Chisinau, rent included.

Targu Mures is about 13% 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 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.46 RON 38.78

$9.02 MDL 158

-6.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.85 RON 183

$37.02 MDL 648

7.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 RON 40.30

$7.69 MDL 135

14.30%

Cappuccino

$2.19 RON 10.05

$1.80 MDL 31.49

21.67%

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

$1.32 RON 6.03

$0.99 MDL 17.34

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 RON 5.26

$0.65 MDL 11.38

76.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 RON 10.32

$1.78 MDL 31.25

26.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 RON 12.75

$2.29 MDL 40.16

21.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 RON 7.41

$1.25 MDL 21.85

29.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 RON 5.59

$0.56 MDL 9.89

117.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 RON 7.31

$1.45 MDL 25.37

9.66%

Eggs

$2.92 RON 13.40

$2.50 MDL 43.86

16.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.68 RON 39.78

$10.25 MDL 179

-15.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.94 RON 31.83

$5.38 MDL 94.2

29.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.63 RON 57.9

$8.74 MDL 153

44.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 RON 4.66

$0.89 MDL 15.56

14.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 RON 6.04

$1.81 MDL 31.77

-27.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 RON 6.97

$1.75 MDL 30.67

-13.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 RON 9.03

$2.13 MDL 37.32

-7.51%

Potato (1kg)

$0.91 RON 4.15

$0.77 MDL 13.47

18.18%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 RON 4.28

$0.59 MDL 10.25

57.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 RON 3.58

$1.36 MDL 23.78

-42.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 RON 3.65

$0.82 MDL 14.39

-2.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.25 RON 28.67

$3.24 MDL 56.8

92.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.39 RON 33.89

$4.69 MDL 82.2

57.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 RON 4.81

$1.26 MDL 22.09

-16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 RON 7.40

$1.94 MDL 33.94

-17.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 RON 2.58

$0.36 MDL 6.32

55.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.04 RON 68.9

$13.75 MDL 241

9.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 RON 4.13

$2.08 MDL 36.36

-56.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 RON 3.29

$0.25 MDL 4.35

188.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.52 RON 34.47

$5.42 MDL 94.8

38.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 RON 7.39

$1.38 MDL 24.11

16.67%

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

$27.8K RON 127.6K

$32.0K MDL 560.9K

-13.11%

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

$28.5K RON 130.8K

$31.2K MDL 545.5K

-8.46%

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

$167 RON 765

$175 MDL 3,057

-4.46%

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

$8.53 RON 39.09

$7.58 MDL 133

12.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.05 RON 46.10

$10.71 MDL 188

-6.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.19 RON 212

$42.78 MDL 749

7.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.49 RON 84.8

$22.19 MDL 388

-16.67%

Cinema Ticket

$5.83 RON 26.73

$7.66 MDL 134

-23.89%

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

$1,378 RON 6,320

$387 MDL 6,781

255.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,028 RON 32.2K

$7,503 MDL 131.4K

-6.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.9 RON 334

$65.4 MDL 1,146

11.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.90 RON 146

$54.8 MDL 959

-41.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.9 RON 339

$113 MDL 1,971

-34.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 RON 368

$123 MDL 2,148

-34.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$440 RON 2,019

$673 MDL 11.8K

-34.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 RON 1,445

$459 MDL 8,039

-31.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$559 RON 2,563

$1,234 MDL 21.6K

-54.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$407 RON 1,864

$822 MDL 14.4K

-50.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,294 RON 10.5K

$2,652 MDL 46.4K

-13.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,504 RON 6,898

$1,882 MDL 32.9K

-20.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,062 RON 4,869

$875 MDL 15.3K

21.36%

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: July 19, 2026

Last update for Chisinau: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $440 in Targu Mures 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 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 $40.00 in Targu Mures versus $37.00 in Chisinau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $214 vs $189 – 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 15%, 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 $1,829 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 $40.00 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 $1,219. 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.