How Moldova compares across key indices
Cost of Living
47 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
79/100
Healthcare
53/100
Quality of Life
137/200
How far your money goes in Moldova
Cost of Living
47
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
35
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
47
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
49
100 = NYC dining
How safe residents feel in Moldova - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
79/100
Crime Index
25/100
Lower is better
0 point drop from day to night
Moldova has 22 cities with Freedom Abroad estimates. Monthly costs for a single person range from $930 in Cahul to $1,180 in Chisinau. Cahul leads on safety, scoring 83/100. Cahul ranks highest for quality of life at 143/200.
Cahul
$930/mo
Cahul
83/100
Cahul
143/200
Chisinau
62/100
| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chisinau | $1,180 | 76/100 | 139/200 | 62/100 | 35 |
| Tiraspol | $987 | 81/100 | 141/200 | 52/100 | 26 |
| Bălţi | $976 | 81/100 | 141/200 | 52/100 | 25 |
| Bender | $970 | 81/100 | 142/200 | 51/100 | 25 |
| Rîbniţa | $936 | 83/100 | 142/200 | 49/100 | 22 |
| Cahul | $930 | 83/100 | 143/200 | 49/100 | 22 |
| Ungheni | $930 | 83/100 | 143/200 | 49/100 | 22 |
| Soroca | $930 | 83/100 | 143/200 | 49/100 | 22 |
| Durleşti | $930 | 83/100 | 143/200 | 49/100 | 22 |
| Orhei | $930 | 83/100 | 143/200 | 49/100 | 22 |
| Dubăsari | $930 | 83/100 | 143/200 | 49/100 | 22 |
| Comrat | $930 | 83/100 | 143/200 | 49/100 | 22 |
| Edineţ | $930 | 83/100 | 143/200 | 49/100 | 22 |
| Ceadîr-Lunga | $930 | 83/100 | 143/200 | 49/100 | 22 |
| Căuşeni | $930 | 83/100 | 143/200 | 49/100 | 22 |
| Strășeni | $930 | 83/100 | 143/200 | 49/100 | 22 |
| Hînceşti | $930 | 83/100 | 143/200 | 49/100 | 22 |
| Floreşti | $930 | 83/100 | 143/200 | 49/100 | 22 |
| Drochia | $930 | 83/100 | 143/200 | 49/100 | 22 |
| Codru | $930 | 83/100 | 143/200 | 49/100 | 22 |
| Bilicenii Vechi | $930 | 83/100 | 143/200 | 49/100 | 22 |
| Slobozia | $930 | 83/100 | 143/200 | 49/100 | 22 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Verified school profiles for families comparing language model, grade range, credentials, and admissions next steps in Moldova. Tuition appears only when published in verified public sources.
1
Verified records
1
Cities covered
1
Credential signals
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.
Healthcare system overview for Moldova
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A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
Air quality, water, and environmental conditions in Moldova
Pollution Index
30/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
14.8ug/m3
Good
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Common questions about living in Moldova, answered with data
Moldova has a cost of living index of 47 relative to New York City (100). It is moderately affordable compared to the US. Monthly costs for a single person start around $970 in Bender and reach $1,180 in Chisinau.
Bender is the most affordable city in Moldova in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $970 for a single person including rent. Bălţi is the next most affordable at $976/mo.
Moldova has a safety index of 79/100, making it very safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Bender scores highest on safety at 81/100.
Bender ranks highest for quality of life in Moldova, scoring 142/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $970/mo for a single person.
Moldova scores 53/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it adequate by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
Yes. Moldova's cost of living is roughly 53% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 65% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.
Moldova has a pollution index of 30/100 (lower = cleaner). This is relatively clean by global standards, making it appealing for those prioritising air quality and outdoor lifestyle.
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Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources
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