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 $2,626 per month in United States vs $740 in Moldova, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,830 per month in United States vs $1,144 in Moldova, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,033 per month in United States vs $1,547 in Moldova, rent included.

The cost of living in United States is about 255% higher than in Moldova on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 90% above the global median, while Moldova is 46% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

The regional cost range is wider in United States ($986–$5,298) than in Moldova ($368–$1,393), so city choice matters more there.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.83 $19.83

$9.73 MDL 167

103.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 $78.8

$34.95 MDL 600

125.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.19 $12.19

$8.45 MDL 145

44.26%

Cappuccino

$5.59 $5.59

$1.92 MDL 32.89

191.15%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$1.06 MDL 18.15

162.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.70 MDL 11.95

211.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 $5.86

$2.01 MDL 34.41

191.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 $8.02

$2.08 MDL 35.74

285.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.26 MDL 21.55

-15.08%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$0.66 MDL 11.24

457.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$1.38 MDL 23.74

237.68%

Eggs

$4.20 $4.20

$2.68 MDL 46.02

56.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.78 $12.78

$9.51 MDL 163

34.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.40 $12.40

$5.14 MDL 88.2

141.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.90 $16.90

$8.38 MDL 144

101.67%

Apples (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$0.98 MDL 16.86

433.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.91 MDL 32.84

-13.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$2.02 MDL 34.64

114.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$2.09 MDL 35.83

137.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$0.79 MDL 13.59

256.96%

Onion (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$0.59 MDL 10.09

427.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.43 MDL 24.50

53.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$0.90 MDL 15.44

151.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.35 $10.35

$3.61 MDL 62.0

186.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$4.60 MDL 78.9

221.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.25 MDL 21.50

67.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 $3.65

$1.93 MDL 33.20

89.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 $2.38

$0.40 MDL 6.82

495.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.5 $64.5

$14.32 MDL 246

350.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$2.27 MDL 38.92

55.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 $1.86

$0.34 MDL 5.77

447.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.34 $30.34

$5.30 MDL 90.9

472.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.63 MDL 28.02

-38.65%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$29.9K MDL 513.8K

18.69%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$29.2K MDL 501.9K

-11.57%

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

$222 $222

$228 MDL 3,913

-2.56%

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

$61.1 $61.1

$9.75 MDL 167

526.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.7 $74.7

$11.31 MDL 194

560.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.49 $44.49

$40.01 MDL 687

11.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.35 $22.35

$18.21 MDL 313

22.73%

Cinema Ticket

$15.03 $15.03

$8.66 MDL 149

73.56%

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

$1,431 $1,431

$402 MDL 6,891

256.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.9K $25.9K

$5,719 MDL 98.1K

352.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.6 $53.6

$70.2 MDL 1,205

-23.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.46 $43.46

$42.74 MDL 733

1.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 $91.5

$111 MDL 1,905

-17.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$113 MDL 1,933

0.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 $1,633

$580 MDL 9,950

181.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 $1,328

$372 MDL 6,378

257.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,606 $2,606

$1,089 MDL 18.7K

139.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,206 $2,206

$749 MDL 12.8K

194.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,323 $3,323

$2,524 MDL 43.3K

31.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,653 $2,653

$1,846 MDL 31.7K

43.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,306 $4,306

$816 MDL 14.0K

427.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

8.93

-30.46%

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

Last update for United States: September 7, 2026

Last update for Moldova: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,604 in United States vs $231 in Moldova. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,360 in Columbia, TN and $711 in Chisinau.

Average salary: $4,526 in United States vs $565 in Moldova. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 594% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 178% more in United States.

Public transport is 350% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 701% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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 257% 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 257% 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.