Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Moldova Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Moldova

Name: Moldova
Address: MD

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,643 per month in United States vs $715 in Moldova, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,857 per month in United States vs $1,113 in Moldova, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,070 per month in United States vs $1,510 in Moldova, rent included.

United States costs about 270% more than Moldova on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 97% above the global median, while Moldova is 47% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

United States has a wider regional cost range ($1,343–$5,081) than Moldova ($6.00–$1,231), so location matters more when choosing where to live in United States.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.04 $20.04

$8.97 MDL 154

123.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$35.62 MDL 612

113.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.42 $11.42

$7.82 MDL 134

46.04%

Cappuccino

$5.39 $5.39

$1.68 MDL 28.91

220.83%

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

$2.55 $2.55

$0.90 MDL 15.41

183.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.63 MDL 10.81

223.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 $6.14

$1.73 MDL 29.67

254.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.18 $7.18

$2.29 MDL 39.33

213.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.29 MDL 22.18

-19.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.65 $3.65

$0.53 MDL 9.08

588.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$1.51 MDL 25.89

213.25%

Eggs

$4.38 $4.38

$2.39 MDL 41.03

83.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 $12.76

$9.94 MDL 171

28.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$5.29 MDL 90.9

134.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$8.85 MDL 152

85.42%

Apples (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$0.81 MDL 13.99

569.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.79 MDL 30.74

-7.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$1.73 MDL 29.70

165.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$2.08 MDL 35.68

136.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$0.81 MDL 13.96

260.49%

Onion (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$0.58 MDL 10.05

439.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.36 MDL 23.39

66.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$0.85 MDL 14.55

170.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.89 $9.89

$3.29 MDL 56.5

200.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.10 $15.10

$4.66 MDL 80.1

224.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.18 MDL 20.35

61.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 $3.66

$1.92 MDL 32.92

90.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.33 MDL 5.74

651.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.8 $64.8

$13.73 MDL 236

372.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.02 MDL 34.68

90.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$0.26 MDL 4.44

576.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.58 $30.58

$5.33 MDL 91.6

473.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.42 MDL 24.48

-32.39%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$32.5K MDL 559.3K

-6.31%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$31.2K MDL 537.1K

-15.58%

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

$204 $204

$174 MDL 2,989

17.43%

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

$57.3 $57.3

$8.04 MDL 138

612.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.2 $71.2

$10.96 MDL 188

549.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.67 $46.67

$41.35 MDL 711

12.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.12 $22.12

$19.73 MDL 339

12.11%

Cinema Ticket

$13.84 $13.84

$7.14 MDL 123

93.84%

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

$1,384 $1,384

$373 MDL 6,407

271.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K $22.7K

$7,315 MDL 125.7K

210.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.0 $53.0

$62.7 MDL 1,078

-15.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.17 $43.17

$48.09 MDL 827

-10.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 $90.6

$109 MDL 1,871

-16.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$120 MDL 2,066

-4.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,766 $1,766

$618 MDL 10.6K

185.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,459 $1,459

$440 MDL 7,572

231.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,832 $2,832

$1,183 MDL 20.3K

139.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,411 $2,411

$773 MDL 13.3K

211.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,287 $3,287

$2,582 MDL 44.4K

27.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$1,811 MDL 31.1K

46.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,379 $4,379

$773 MDL 13.3K

466.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

9.18

-29.08%

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

Last update for United States: May 30, 2026

Last update for Moldova: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,637 in United States vs $206 in Moldova. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,591 in Washington, DC and $668 in Chisinau.

Average salary: $4,500 in United States vs $543 in Moldova. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 695% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 152% more in United States.

Public transport is 733% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 729% higher in United States, giving United States stronger purchasing power.

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

United States vs Moldova: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moldova is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 419% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Moldova, contributing to the overall 419% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Moldova, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Moldova is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.