Cost Of Living in Chisinau 2024

Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in Chisinau

Whether you're living in Chisinau or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.

Singles

The average monthly expense for a single person living in Chisinau is 28,000 MDL. Expenses can range from 4,000 MDL at the minimum level to 190,000 MDL at the highest end.

Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in Chisinau is 47,000 MDL. Expenditure can range from 16,000 MDL to 250,000 MDL per month.

Families

The average cost of living for families in Chisinau is 62,000 MDL per month. Families spend anywhere from 22,000 MDL to 400,000 MDL.

Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in Chisinau is 20,000 MDL. Students spend from 3,100 MDL to 140,000 MDL per month.

Expenditure to Income Ratio in Chisinau

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in.

Expense to income distribution levels

Interpretation and Analysis

The average spending-to-salary ratio in Chisinau is 88% This means that on average, people spend around 88% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 16% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.

Individual
79%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

71%

88%

Couple
83%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

75%

93%

Family
92%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

83%

100%

How do people spend their money in Chisinau?

We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.

People living in Chisinau typically spend from 13% to 32% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 24% being the average. The average spend on housing is 12,000 MDL with expenditure ranging from 930 MDL to 120,000 MDL. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Chisinau ranges from 4% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 2,000 MDL with 160 MDL and 20,000 MDL being the upper and lower limits.

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 310 MDL to 40,000 MDL on commuting with 4,000 MDL being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 7% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 11%.

The average outlay on groceries in a month in Chisinau is 10,000 MDL. The cost of groceries can range between 780 MDL to 100,000 MDL. People spend on average about 28% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 20% and 34% respectively.

People in Chisinau allocate 5% to 13% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 10%. The range of medical expenses range from 220 MDL to 28,000 MDL with 2,800 MDL being the norm.

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 120 MDL to 16,000 MDL with 1,600 MDL being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 9% of total expenses with an average of 5% for most residents.

Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 5% of the monthly expenditure with 3% and 11% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 2,400 MDL per month with 190 MDL being the minimum spent amount and 24,000 MDL being the maximum.

How much money can you save in Chisinau every month?

We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.

What percentage of people in Chisinau manage to save money from their income every month?

Almost 61% of the surveyed people in Chisinau said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 39% said that aren't saving anything.

Percentage of people saving money by population group in Chisinau

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

For most people, 13% to 34% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 22% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 15,000 MDL on average with savings ranging from 1,100 MDL to 150,000 MDL.

70% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 65% of couples said the same. 59% of families confirmed their ability to save money.

How much money do people actually save in Chisinau?

Singles

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for singles

Interpretation and Analysis

Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 16% to 36% of their monthly income to savings, with 26% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 10,000 MDL with 1,100 MDL and 67,000 MDL being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Couples

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 14% to 35% of their monthly income, with 24% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 17,000 MDL with 5,600 MDL and 90,000 MDL being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Families

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families in Chisinau can save anywhere between 13% to 32% of their monthly income, with 21% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 22,000 MDL with 7,900 MDL and 150,000 MDL being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Chisinau

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in Chisinau. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 5% of the people said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 8% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 14% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 11% blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 20% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 13% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for people in Chisinau

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Chisinau

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Chisinau?

Around 68% of surveyed residents think that living in Chisinau is affordable with proper budgeting while 33% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Chisinau

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked residents how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options60%

Few low-cost options40%

Based on the survey, 60% of the people living in Chisinau have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 40% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked residents of Chisinau whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes63%

No37%

Based on the survey, 37% of the people living in Chisinau said that they don't have an emergency fund while 63% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Moldova

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy59%

We asked residents of Moldova whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 41% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 59% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether residents of Moldova have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 44% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 56% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance44%

Easily manages finances56%

Financial goals of people in Chisinau

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Chisinau, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 8% of those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 40% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 10% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 7% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 18% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 7% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 7% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 13% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in Chisinau

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in Chisinau and how much retirement savings are required?

Retirement age

The retirement age for most employees in Moldova is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.

Retirement planning and savings

There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.

Retirement Income Distribution

We asked residents of Chisinau about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Retirement Monthly Expenses in Chisinau

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Chisinau

Percentage of people who are in debt

According to the survey, 34% of the people in Chisinau have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 66% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Chisinau

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 30% of the people's monthly income in Chisinau goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Chisinau pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 17% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 14% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 16% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 11% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Chisinau

9% of debtors in Chisinau confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 29% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 17% of people and personal loans rose at 42%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Chisinau.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Chisinau

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked residents of Chisinau how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Chisinau

Rent Cost in Chisinau

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

3,500 MDL

5,300 MDL

14,000 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$200

$300

$790

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

5,300 MDL

8,500 MDL

21,000 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$300

$480

$1,200

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

7,100 MDL

11,000 MDL

28,000 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$400

$600

$1,600

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

8,500 MDL

14,000 MDL

38,000 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$480

$790

$2,200

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

17,000 MDL

42,000 MDL

85,000 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$950

$2,400

$4,800

Townhouse monthly rent cost

14,000 MDL

21,000 MDL

60,000 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$790

$1,200

$3,400

House monthly rent cost

17,000 MDL

42,000 MDL

85,000 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$950

$2,400

$4,800

Villa monthly rent cost

21,000 MDL

53,000 MDL

85,000 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,200

$3,000

$4,800

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Chisinau ranges between 3,500 MDL and 14,000 MDL, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 5,300 MDL to 21,000 MDL. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 7,100 MDL and 28,000 MDL per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 8,500 MDL to 38,000 MDL. The average rent of a townhouse in Chisinau is around 21,000 MDL while house rental costs can be as high as 42,000 MDL per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 21,000 MDL to 85,000 MDL per month.

Apartment and house prices in Chisinau

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

710,000 MDL

1.1M MDL

2.1M MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$40,000

$60,000

$120,000

1-bedroom apartment price

850,000 MDL

1.4M MDL

5.3M MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$48,000

$79,000

$300,000

2-bedroom apartment price

1.4M MDL

4.2M MDL

8.5M MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$79,000

$240,000

$480,000

3-bedroom apartment price

4.7M MDL

7.1M MDL

21M MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$260,000

$400,000

$1.2M

Townhouse price

6M MDL

14M MDL

53M MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$340,000

$790,000

$3M

House price

7.1M MDL

42M MDL

60M MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$400,000

$2.4M

$3.4M

Villa price

8.5M MDL

47M MDL

71M MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$480,000

$2.6M

$4M

The average price of a studio apartment in Chisinau can range from 710,000 MDL to 2.1M MDL depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 850,000 MDL to 5.3M MDL. A villa can cost you 47M MDL on average with prices ranging from 8.5M MDL to 71M MDL.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Chisinau can be x128 to x224 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x128 multiples of the average monthly salary in Chisinau.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Chisinau is around 34%. This means that people pay 34% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 23% to 44% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Chisinau

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Chisinau

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Individual

240 MDL

1,700 MDL

11,000 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$13

$95

$630

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

620 MDL

2,100 MDL

14,000 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$35

$120

$770

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

1,100 MDL

3,100 MDL

20,000 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$61

$180

$1,100

Internet and cable cost

190 MDL

380 MDL

510 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$11

$22

$29

Mobile phone bill and charges

150 MDL

260 MDL

770 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$8.6

$14

$43

The average monthly expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in Chisinau ranges between 240 MDL and 11,000 MDL with average being 1,700 MDL, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 2,100 MDL with 620 MDL and 14,000 MDL being the upper and lower limits respectively. As expected, the energy and water consumption of families is the highest among the three groups with an average of 3,100 MDL. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and ranges from 190 MDL to 510 MDL with 380 MDL being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 260 MDL but can range between 150 MDL and 770 MDL depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Chisinau is around 5.3%. This means that people pay 5.3% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2.1% to 9.5% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Chisinau

Prices and cost of goods and services in Chisinau

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

38 MDL

77 MDL

130 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.2

$4.3

$7.2

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Chisinau is approximatly 77 MDL with meal cost ranging from 38 MDL to 130 MDL. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

130 MDL

200 MDL

400 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$7.6

$11

$23

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 130 MDL and 400 MDL with 200 MDL being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Chisinau.

Fine dining meal for one price

270 MDL

400 MDL

1,600 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$15

$23

$91

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 270 MDL to 1,600 MDL with the average cost being 400 MDL for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Chisinau.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

32 MDL

51 MDL

77 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.8

$2.9

$4.3

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Chisinau is around 51 MDL. Price ranges between 32 MDL and 77 MDL depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

26 MDL

31 MDL

38 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.4

$1.7

$2.2

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Chisinau is 31 MDL. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 38 MDL and the minimum being 26 MDL depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

19 MDL

26 MDL

38 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1

$1.4

$2.2

A dozen eggs costs around 26 MDL on average with 19 MDL and 38 MDL being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

44 MDL

56 MDL

80 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.5

$3.2

$4.5

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Chisinau is between 44 MDL and 80 MDL depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 56 MDL.

Pack of beef price

51 MDL

77 MDL

150 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.9

$4.3

$8.6

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 77 MDL. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

21 MDL

28 MDL

40 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.2

$1.6

$2.2

A bag of rice in Chisinau costs around 28 MDL on average with prices rangeing between 21 MDL and 40 MDL depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

7.7 MDL

10 MDL

19 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.43

$0.58

$1.1

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 7.7 MDL to 19 MDL. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

14 MDL

18 MDL

29 MDL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.77

$1

$1.7

A bag of apples costs 18 MDL on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Chisinau is around 26%. This means that people spend 26% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 18% to 33% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for every population group

A single person living alone spends approximately 4,500 MDL per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 630 MDL and 30,000 MDL depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 6,500 MDL per month. That number can be get as low as 2,200 MDL or a high as 35,000 MDL. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 3,900 MDL to 73,000 MDL with the location, income, and size of the family being the most determinite factors.

SingleSpending habits, consumption analysis, and expenditure patterns for a single person living in Chisinau

CoupleAverage monthly living expenditure breaks and spending patterns for couples in Chisinau

FamilyAverage monthly expenses and break out of spending for families living in Chisinau

StudentCost of living and expenses break down for students living in Chisinau