Moldova
How much does a trip to Moldova cost? Daily budget and prices
Budget €25–40 a day as a backpacker, €60–110 mid-range, €150+ for comfort, per person, 2026 estimate. Moldova is one of Europe's cheapest countries: beds, food and minibuses are low, and winery tours are the main splurge. Pay locally in lei; carry cash outside Chișinău.
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GuideMoldova
Key facts
- Currency
- Moldovan leu (MDL); prices below in MDL and EUR
- Backpacker day
- €25–40: hostel, canteen and market food, minibuses
- Mid-range day
- €60–110: 3★ hotel, restaurants, one winery tour
- Comfort day
- €150+: 4★ or winery stay, private driver, tastings
- Cheapest big cost
- Bed: hostel dorm from about €10–18 a night
- Main splurgecheck
- Winery tour with tasting and transport, roughly MDL 600–1,500
- Cash
- Cards work in Chișinău hotels and supermarkets; minibuses, markets and villages are cash
- Getting therecheck
- Chișinău–Bucharest sleeper train from about €35 one way
Costs by travel style
Moldova sits at the cheap end of Europe. A dorm bed, plăcinte from a canteen and a minibus ticket can keep a day under €40. Move up to a private room, restaurant meals and a guided winery visit and you are in the €60–110 band. Comfort travel means a 4★ hotel or a winery stay plus a driver, which pushes past €150 a day.
The table below is per person per day, 2026 estimate. Pay in lei; the euro figures are for planning.
| Tier | Bed | Food | Transport | Sights | Extras | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | €10–18 | €8–15 | €2–5 | €0–10 | €2–5 | €22–53 |
| Mid-range | €35–60 | €20–35 | €5–20 | €15–40 | €5–10 | €80–165 |
| Comfort | €80–180 | €40–70 | €50–100 | €40–80 | €10–30 | €220–460 |
Per person per day, 2026 estimate; pay locally in MDL.
What things cost
Food is where Moldova is easiest on the wallet. A plăcintă at a canteen-style place runs MDL 40–60, a dinner main in Chișinău MDL 150–300, a 0.5 l beer MDL 40–60 and a glass of local wine MDL 50–90. Supermarkets and markets are cheaper still.
Transport is cheap too: a minibus from Chișinău to Orhei is MDL 30–50. The big variable is wine tourism. A Cricova tour with tasting is roughly MDL 600–1,500 depending on the package and whether transport is included, so it can double a budget day.
| Item | Price (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Plăcintă at La Plăcinte | MDL 40–60 |
| Dinner main in Chișinău | MDL 150–300 |
| Beer (0.5 l) | MDL 40–60 |
| Glass of Moldovan wine | MDL 50–90 |
| Minibus Chișinău–Orhei | MDL 30–50 |
| Cricova tour with tasting | About MDL 600–1,500 (check) |
Money and payments
The currency is the Moldovan leu (MDL). Cards are accepted in Chișinău hotels, supermarkets and many restaurants, but minibuses, markets and villages run on cash, so keep lei on you. Change money at banks or official exchange offices; euros and US dollars are the easiest to exchange.
Budget a little extra for the airport-to-city transfer and any private driver, which are usually paid in cash. Tipping is not obligatory but rounding up or leaving about 10% in restaurants is common.
How to keep costs down
Base yourself in Chișinău and take day trips rather than moving hotels every night; the country is small and minibuses are cheap. Eat at canteens and markets at least once a day, and book winery tours directly rather than through a hotel concierge.
Travel outside July and August if you can: rooms are easier to find and cheaper, and you avoid the peak wine-tour prices.
- Stay in one base and day-trip by minibus
- Eat plăcinte and market food for one meal a day
- Book winery tours direct, not via the hotel
- Carry lei for minibuses and markets
- Travel in shoulder season for cheaper rooms
Notes
All figures are 2026 estimates and can move with the exchange rate. Winery tour prices in particular vary a lot by package, so confirm before you book. Moldova is one of the cheapest countries in Europe; the main expense is wine tourism, not daily living.
Questions people ask
How much money do you need per day in Moldova?
About €25–40 a day as a backpacker, €60–110 mid-range and €150+ for comfort, per person, 2026 estimate. That covers bed, food, local transport and one paid sight. Winery tours can add MDL 600–1,500.
Is Moldova expensive for tourists?
No. It is one of the cheapest countries in Europe. Hostel beds start around €10–18, canteen meals are a few euros, and minibuses cost MDL 30–50. The main splurge is wine tourism.
What do meals, hotels and transport cost in Moldova?
A plăcintă is MDL 40–60, a Chișinău dinner main MDL 150–300, a beer MDL 40–60. Hostels run €10–18 a night, 3★ hotels €35–60. Minibuses are MDL 30–50; the Chișinău–Bucharest sleeper train starts around €35.
Do I need cash in Moldova?
Yes, for minibuses, markets and villages. Cards work in Chișinău hotels, supermarkets and many restaurants. Change money at banks or official exchange offices; euros and US dollars are easiest.
How much should I budget for a winery tour?
A Cricova tour with tasting is roughly MDL 600–1,500 depending on the package and whether transport is included (check). Book direct rather than through a hotel to keep the price down.
When is the cheapest time to visit Moldova?
Outside July and August. Shoulder-season rooms are easier to find and cheaper, and wine-tour prices are lower than in peak summer.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialMoldova tourism portal
- officialNational Bank of Moldova – exchange rates
- secondaryWikivoyage – Moldova