Costs
Is Moldova cheap or expensive?
Cheap — Moldova is one of the least expensive countries in Europe, around 60% below New York on everyday costs and a notch below its EU neighbours. Below are real June 2026 prices and three daily budgets you can plan against.
Last reviewed: June 2026 · prices drift; treat as a guide, not a quote
What things cost (June 2026)
The currency is the Moldovan leu (MDL); reference rates in 2026 are about 19–20 MDL to €1 and 17–18 MDL to $1. Euro equivalents below are rounded.
| Item | MDL | ≈ EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Inexpensive restaurant meal | ~170 | €9 |
| Mid-range 3-course dinner for two | ~850 | €43 |
| Domestic beer (0.5 L, bar) | ~35 | €1.80 |
| Cappuccino | ~37 | €1.90 |
| Bottled water (1.5 L) | ~15 | €0.80 |
| City transport ride (trolleybus / bus) | 7 | €0.35 |
| Monthly transport pass | ~273 | €14 |
| Airport → centre by taxi / Yandex | 80–180 | €4–9 |
| Tourist SIM (5–20 GB) | 30–100 | €1.50–5 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | 200–280 | €10–14 |
Everyday-price reference: Numbeo, Chișinău, June 2026. Transport and airport fares cross-checked against operator rates.
Where to sleep, by budget
- Hostel dorm — ~€10–14 a night.
- Budget hotel / guesthouse — ~€30–45.
- Mid-range 3–4 star — ~€55–130.
- Boutique / luxury — ~€150–280.
Full picks on the Chișinău hotels page. For winery and cellar-tour prices, see wine tours — most cellar visits with a tasting are an affordable add-on by Western standards.
Daily budgets
Per person, excluding the flight or train in. Built from the prices above.
€25–35
Backpacker
Hostel dorm, market and canteen food, public transport, the odd cheap restaurant.
€60–90
Mid-range
3-star hotel or guesthouse, restaurant meals, a paid day-tour or winery visit.
€120–180
Comfort
Boutique or 4-star, private wine tours, taxis everywhere, good dinners and wine.
Money tips
- Carry small leu. Markets, marshrutkas, trolleybuses and village cafés are cash-only; change for 200/500 notes is often scarce.
- Cards in cities. Visa and Mastercard cover hotels, restaurants and supermarkets in Chișinău and regional capitals.
- Euros help. Hotels and wineries often quote and accept EUR; USD works at hotels but at worse rates.
- Use bank-lobby ATMs to avoid skimmers, and refuse the machine's own conversion (choose to be charged in leu).
- Torn or worn notes are routinely rejected — ask for crisp bills when you exchange.
- Transnistria is a separate currency zone — leu and foreign cards don't work; bring cash and exchange at Sheriff supermarkets.
Next: getting to Moldova, the best time to visit, and a ready-made itinerary.