🇲🇩 Europe — Non-Schengen
Chisinau, Moldova
Europe — Non-Schengen ✓ Live Numbeo data See Moldova country profile →
One of Europe's cheapest capitals; emerging nomad value
Climate
Rainfall, humidity, and the best months to visit: see the full Chisinau climate profile →
Internet speeds
Measured medians from 29,484 real speedtests within 10 km of the city center (Q1 2026) — not advertised ISP numbers.
| Download | Upload | Latency | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed broadband | 280 Mbps | 243 Mbps | 3 ms | 24,450 |
| Mobile | 88.1 Mbps | 31.2 Mbps | 18 ms | 5,034 |
Speedtest® by Ookla Global Fixed and Mobile Network Performance Maps, © Ookla. Accessed 2026-07-18. Your building's wiring and ISP plan matter more than the city median. Compare all cities in the Internet Speed Explorer →
Cost of living breakdown
USD converted from local prices at baseline rates (1 USD = 17.39 MDL, 2026-06-16). Use the Cost of Living Explorer for live exchange rates.
| 💰 Monthly budgets | USD | Local |
|---|---|---|
| Individual (excl. rent) | $674 | MDL 11,720 |
| Individual all-in (excl. rent + 1BR center) | $1,377 | — |
| Family of 4 (excl. rent) | $2,314 | MDL 40,247 |
| Average net salary (after tax) | $851 | MDL 14,800 |
| 🏢 Rent & property | USD | Local |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR city center | $703 | MDL 12,220 |
| 1BR outside center | $461 | MDL 8,024 |
| 3BR city center | $1,265 | MDL 22,007 |
| 3BR outside center | $795 | MDL 13,825 |
| Buy price / sqft — center | $245 | MDL 4,265 |
| Buy price / sqft — outside | $179 | MDL 3,116 |
| 🍽️ Food & dining | USD | Local |
|---|---|---|
| Cheap meal (1 person) | $9.92 | MDL 173 |
| Mid-range dinner (2 people) | $48.88 | MDL 850 |
| Fast food combo | $8.63 | MDL 150 |
| Beef (per lb) | $4.02 | MDL 69.96 |
| Taxi (per mile) | $0.56 | MDL 9.66 |
| ⚡ Utilities & lifestyle | USD | Local |
|---|---|---|
| Basic utilities / mo | $219 | MDL 3,808 |
| Phone plan / mo | $9 | MDL 161 |
| Internet / mo | $10 | MDL 174 |
| Gym membership / mo | $41 | MDL 714 |
| Cinema ticket | $8.63 | MDL 150 |
| Preschool / mo | $441 | MDL 7,676 |
| International school / yr | $6,019 | MDL 104,677 |
| New car (Corolla equiv.) | $30,247 | MDL 526,000 |
Visa, taxes & legal in Moldova
Country-level research that applies to living in Chisinau — each row links to the full comparison dashboard.
| Tourist entry (US passport) | 90 days visa-free |
| Digital nomad visa | Digital Nomad Visa → launched Sept 2025 — income requirement Modest (below most EU programs → exact 2026 figure still settling; verify) — compare all countries → |
| Path to permanent residency | Residence years can build toward PR |
| Tax if you become resident | Worldwide system · top rate Flat 12% — tax breakdown → |
| Family-law exposure (payer) | Obligation 5/10 · cross-border collection 3/10 — legal detail → |
Everything about the country in one place: Moldova profile for American nomads →
Location
Compare with nearby cities
Data last updated · Source: Numbeo