Moving to Moldova from Austria

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Austria to Moldova — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Austria to Moldova, you would find that Moldova is 50.0% cheaper than Austria overall. A €65,577 salary in Austria would need to be roughly MDL750,554 in Moldova to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Romanian.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Austria to Moldova.

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 MDL750,554

To maintain the same standard of living in Moldova

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 60.9% less

Groceries

pay 55.9% less

Transportation

pay 42.9% less

Housing

pay 64.2% less

Childcare

pay 52.3% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 57.3% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 19.99 MDL (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Austria to Moldova.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

AT
0.9
MD
2.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AT
4.6
MD
9.1

Austria performs better than Moldova across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

AT
$8,250
MD
$1,181
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

AT
55.1
MD
32.5

Austria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Moldova leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

AT
17.0
MD
58.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AT
6.3t
MD
3.4t

Austria generally does better on environment, though Moldova leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

AT
29.6
MD
24.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

AT
8.7%
MD
12.6%

Austria performs better than Moldova across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

AT
5.2%
MD
1.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

AT
$64,600
MD
$15,700

Austria generally does better on employment & economy, though Moldova leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AT
82.3 yrs
MD
72.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AT
3.2
MD
11.6

Austria generally does better on family life, though Moldova leads in education spending.

Data: Federal Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Austria 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.

Austria passport

Austria passport holder visiting Moldova

Visa Free
Austria passport holders can enter Moldova without a visa.
Moldova passport

Moldova passport holder visiting Austria

Visa Free
Moldova passport holders can enter Austria without a visa.

Data: 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 Austria?

Yes — Moldova is on average about 43% cheaper than Austria. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Moldova?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly MDL187,638 in Moldova on a €65,577 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Moldova?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Moldova has 24.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Moldova safe for expats?

Austria performs better than Moldova across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Moldova is 2.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.9 in Austria.

How is healthcare in Moldova compared to Austria?

Austria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Moldova leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 32.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Moldova, compared to 55.1 in Austria. Moldova scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Austria: 85).

What language do they speak in Moldova?

The official language in Moldova is Romanian. In Austria, the official language is German.

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At a Glance

AT MD
Population 8,913,088 3,287,326
Currency Euro (€) Moldovan Leu (MDL)
Languages German Romanian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +43 +373
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112