Moving to Turkey from Moldova

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Moldova to Turkey, you would find that Turkey is 19.2% more expensive than Moldova overall. A MDL1,310,966 salary in Moldova would need to be roughly TRY4,164,663 in Turkey to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Turkish.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

MDL1,310,966 TRY4,164,663

To maintain the same standard of living in Turkey

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 1.6% less

Groceries

pay 2.7% less

Transportation

pay 49.3% more

Housing

pay 1.3% more

Childcare

pay 62.6% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 38.1% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 MDL = 2.7 TRY (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 Turkey, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
537 ↓ 37% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to Turkey?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

MD
2.3
TR
2.7
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MD
9.1
TR
6.5

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MD
$1,181
TR
$1,769
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

MD
32.5
TR
21.7

Moldova generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Turkey 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
TR
39.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MD
3.4t
TR
5.4t

Moldova generally does better on environment, though Turkey 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
TR
22.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MD
12.6%
TR
43.4%

Moldova generally does better on infrastructure, though Turkey leads in electricity per capita.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MD
1.6%
TR
9.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MD
$15,700
TR
$34,400

Moldova generally does better on employment & economy, though Turkey 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
TR
76.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MD
11.6
TR
19.4

Moldova generally does better on family life, though Turkey 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 Turkey. To live, work, or study long-term in Turkey, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Turkey's immigration authority.

Moldova passport

Moldova passport holder visiting Turkey

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

Turkey passport holder visiting Moldova

Visa Free
Turkey 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 Turkey than Moldova?

No — Turkey is on average about 18% more expensive than Moldova. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Turkey?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly TRY1,041,166 in Turkey on a MDL1,310,966 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Turkey?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Turkey has 22.3 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 Turkey safe for expats?

Moldova generally does better on safety, though Turkey leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Turkey is 2.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.3 in Moldova.

How is healthcare in Turkey compared to Moldova?

Moldova generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Turkey leads in health coverage index. There are 21.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Turkey, compared to 32.5 in Moldova. Turkey scores 76 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Moldova: 71).

What language do they speak in Turkey?

The official language in Turkey is Turkish. In Moldova, the official language is Romanian.

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At a Glance

MD TR
Population 3,287,326 83,047,706
Currency Moldovan Leu (MDL) Turkish Lira (TRY)
Languages Romanian Turkish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +373 +90
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112