Moving to Canada from Moldova

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Moldova to Canada, you would find that Canada is 2.3 times more expensive than Moldova overall. A MDL1,319,485 salary in Moldova would need to be roughly CA$168,161 in Canada to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and French.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

MDL1,319,485 CA$168,161

To maintain the same standard of living in Canada

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 2.1 times more

Groceries

pay 2.6 times more

Transportation

pay 2.4 times more

Housing

pay 3.3 times more

Childcare

pay 2.1 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.6 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 MDL = 0.0806 CAD (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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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Moldova to Canada, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
140 ↓ 36% vs 2022

people moved from Moldova to Canada · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Canada?

Top countries of origin for Canada's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

MD
2.3
CA
2.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MD
9.1
CA
4.7

Moldova generally does better on safety, though Canada leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

MD
$1,181
CA
$7,646
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

MD
32.5
CA
25.0

Moldova generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

MD
58.0
CA
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MD
3.4t
CA
14.0t

Moldova generally does better on environment, though Canada leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

MD
24.4
CA
42.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MD
12.6%
CA
3.7%

Canada performs significantly 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

MD
1.6%
CA
5.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MD
$15,700
CA
$55,800

Moldova generally does better on employment & economy, though Canada leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

MD
72.4 yrs
CA
83.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MD
11.6
CA
4.4

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

Data: State tax Service, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Moldova and Canada. To live, work, or study long-term in Canada, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Canada's immigration authority.

Moldova passport

Moldova passport holder visiting Canada

Visa Required
Moldova passport holders need a visa to enter Canada.
Canada passport

Canada passport holder visiting Moldova

Visa Free
Canada passport holders can enter Moldova 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 Canada than Moldova?

No — Canada is on average about 58% more expensive than Moldova. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Canada?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly CA$42,040 in Canada on a MDL1,319,485 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Canada?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Canada has 42.6 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 Canada safe for expats?

Moldova generally does better on safety, though Canada leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Canada is 2.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.3 in Moldova.

How is healthcare in Canada compared to Moldova?

Moldova generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada leads in health coverage index. There are 25.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Canada, compared to 32.5 in Moldova. Canada scores 91 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Moldova: 71).

What language do they speak in Canada?

The official languages in Canada are English and French. In Moldova, the official language is Romanian.

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At a Glance

MD CA
Population 3,287,326 38,232,593
Currency Moldovan Leu (MDL) Canadian Dollar (CA$)
Languages Romanian English, French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +373 +1
Time zones 1 6
Emergency number 112 911