The analytical portal Numbeo has published another cost of living index (COLA) in the world’s largest cities. It uses New York’s figures as 100%, and the figure assigned to a particular city indicates how much more or less its residents spend in percentage terms than in this American metropolis.
At the beginning of 2026, Chisinau’s HHI was 36.5, while in the middle of last year it was 34.1. That is, the indicator increased by 2.4 percentage points, or 7%.
At the expense of what? Numbeo forms the index according to five indicators.
Rental housing in the capital of Moldova is now 15.8% of New York’s. In the middle of 2025 it was 15.3%.
Living expenses plus rent – now 27.2, it was 25.9 (+1.3 p.p.).
Prices in stores – 33.8, six months ago it was 31.9 (+1.9 p.p.).
Prices in restaurants – 34.0, and it was 30.0 (+4 p.p.).
Purchasing power index – 56.2, and in mid-2025 this index was 54.3 (+1.9 p.p.).
That is, the cost of living in Chisinau has increased in all the main indicators, especially the price of catering services.
It should be noted that at the beginning of 2025 the index for Chisinau was 32.0. That is, over the year it increased by 4.5 p.p. or 14%.
