Chisinau: what to see and whether to move there

What the city lives on and who it suits

Chișinău is the capital of Moldova, with about 650,000 residents. Government, banks, IT companies, winemaking and trade are concentrated here. The country has been a European Union candidate since 2022, with accession talks opened in 2024. Romanian and Russian are both spoken in daily life, so Russian speakers find it easy.

Chișinău suits remote workers and IT specialists who want an inexpensive life close to the European Union, entrepreneurs with business in the region and people with Moldovan roots, who may qualify for Romanian citizenship. It is harder for those who need a large job market and high salaries.

Neighbourhoods: where newcomers settle

• The centre: the main avenue, parks, cafés and offices, old housing mixed with new buildings.
• Botanica: a large residential district by the botanical garden, convenient and inexpensive.
• Râșcani: a quiet district with parks and new buildings near the centre.
• Telecentru: a green district with houses and new complexes.

Cost of living

Rents are usually quoted in euros. Exchange rates: about 17.85 lei per dollar and $1.12 per euro on 6 October 2026.

Practicalities: transport, climate, money

Transport. Trolleybuses, buses and minibuses; since 1 May 2026 a ride costs 7 lei. App taxis are cheap. Climate. Continental: hot summers and cold, snowy winters. Taxes. Income tax is 12% with a personal allowance of 29,700 lei a year, corporate tax 12% and VAT 20%. IT companies have a 7% regime on revenue. More on the Taxes in Moldova page.

Moving and legal status

• Russian citizens need no visa for up to 90 days in 180;
• longer stays require a right of residence and a residence card: from 1 January 2026 it is issued in a new biometric format replacing the previous two documents;
• grounds include work, your own business and investment, work in an IT company, study and family;
• the citizenship by investment programme has been closed since 2020, more on the Moldovan citizenship page;
• people with Moldovan or Romanian roots can apply for Romanian citizenship, and with it live and work in the European Union.

Work and business

Moldova is popular with IT companies because of the IT park regime: 7% of revenue instead of most taxes, but no less than 5,220 lei per employee. Independent entrepreneurs pay 15% on income up to 1.2 million lei. Banks open accounts for foreigners with a residence card and proof of the source of funds. Office and coworking space in the centre is well developed.

Housing: renting and buying

Flats are let for six months or more, with a deposit usually equal to one month's rent. Foreigners can buy flats and houses, but not agricultural or forest land. A notary handles the deal, and ownership is registered in the cadastre. New buildings often sell flats without finishing, so budget for fit-out.

Healthcare, schools and getting there

Residents pay compulsory health insurance and get state healthcare, and private clinics are inexpensive. Chișinău has schools teaching in Romanian and in Russian. The airport is 13 km from the centre, 20-30 minutes by car, with direct flights to Europe and Istanbul. Price on request from a manager. Check the price

Wine and leisure nearby

Near Chișinău are famous underground wine cellars: at Cricova the galleries run for dozens of kilometres, and Mileștii Mici holds one of the largest wine collections in the world. The cave monastery of Old Orhei is about 60 km away. At weekends residents tour wineries and villages with home cooking.

Romanian citizenship by descent

Many Moldovans obtain Romanian citizenship: descendants up to the third generation of those who were Romanian citizens before 1940, when Moldova's territory was part of Romania, can apply. Proof of descent and knowledge of Romanian are required. A Romanian passport allows living and working in any European Union country. More on the Romanian citizenship page.

Is the city worth considering

The pluses are visa-free entry for Russian citizens, Russian in daily life, low taxes and prices, proximity to the European Union and a path to a Romanian passport for those with roots. The minuses are a small job market, modest salaries and infrastructure lagging behind neighbouring European Union countries. Chișinău works as an inexpensive base for remote work and IT business.