Moving to Italy from Moldova

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Moldova to Italy, you would find that Italy is 2.0 times more expensive than Moldova overall. A MDL1,319,485 salary in Moldova would need to be roughly €98,062 in Italy to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Catalan and Italian.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

MDL1,319,485 €98,062

To maintain the same standard of living in Italy

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 2.3 times more

Groceries

pay 2.2 times more

Transportation

pay 2.6 times more

Housing

pay 2.0 times more

Childcare

pay 63.6% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.1 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 MDL = 0.0498 EUR (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 Italy, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
3,206 ↓ 11% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to Italy?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

MD
2.3
IT
0.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MD
9.1
IT
5.0

Italy performs significantly better than Moldova across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

MD
$1,181
IT
$4,993
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

MD
32.5
IT
42.5

Italy 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

MD
58.0
IT
15.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MD
3.4t
IT
5.1t

Moldova generally does better on environment, though Italy 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
IT
31.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MD
12.6%
IT
29.6%

Moldova generally does better on infrastructure, though Italy leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MD
1.6%
IT
7.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MD
$15,700
IT
$52,700

Moldova generally does better on employment & economy, though Italy 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
IT
82.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MD
11.6
IT
3.2

Moldova generally does better on family life, though Italy leads in life expectancy.

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Moldova passport

Moldova passport holder visiting Italy

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

Italy passport holder visiting Moldova

Visa Free
Italy 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 Italy than Moldova?

No — Italy is on average about 49% more expensive than Moldova. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Italy?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €24,516 in Italy 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 Italy?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Italy has 31.5 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 Italy safe for expats?

Italy performs significantly better than Moldova across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Italy is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.3 in Moldova.

How is healthcare in Italy compared to Moldova?

Italy generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Moldova leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 42.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Italy, compared to 32.5 in Moldova. Italy scores 84 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Moldova: 71).

What language do they speak in Italy?

The official languages in Italy are Catalan and Italian. In Moldova, the official language is Romanian.

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At a Glance

MD IT
Population 3,287,326 61,095,551
Currency Moldovan Leu (MDL) Euro (€)
Languages Romanian Catalan, Italian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +373 +39
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112