Moving to Moldova from Australia
What to Expect
Considering a move from Australia to Moldova? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Australia to Moldova, you would find that Moldova is 57.6% cheaper than Australia overall. A A$110,000 salary in Australia would need to be roughly MDL574,000 in Moldova to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Romanian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Moldova cheaper than Australia?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 44.4% less
Groceries
pay 56.5% less
Transportation
pay 35.1% less
Housing
pay 65.5% less
Childcare
pay 81.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 65.3% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
What salary do you need in Moldova?
What does your salary buy?
A$110,000 → MDL574,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Moldova
Calculate with your salary →Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Moldova cost about 38% less than cities in Australia.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to Moldova
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Moldova compared to Australia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Australia performs better than Moldova across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Australia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Moldova leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Australia generally does better on environment, though Moldova leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Australia performs better than Moldova across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Australia generally does better on employment & economy, though Moldova leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Australia generally does better on family life, though Moldova leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Australian Taxation Office (2016), State tax Service (2016), The World Factbook (2020). How we calculate this
Can you move from Australia to Moldova?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Australia and Moldova. To live, work, or study long-term in Moldova, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Moldova's immigration authority.
Australia passport holder visiting Moldova
Visa Free
Moldova passport holder visiting Australia
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Moldova than Australia?
On average Moldova is about 58% less expensive than Australia, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Moldova?
Budget about MDL143,500 for 3 months in Moldova (based on a A$110,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Moldova?
Connectivity is usually fine (Moldova: 29.6 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Moldova offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Moldova safe for expats?
Australia performs better than Moldova across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Moldova is 2.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Australia.
How is healthcare in Moldova compared to Australia?
Australia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Moldova leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 40.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Moldova, compared to 40.9 in Australia. Moldova scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Australia: 87).
What language do they speak in Moldova?
The official language in Moldova is Romanian. In Australia, the official language is English.
