Incomes rise, but spending grows faster: “not enough for a decent living”
Moldovans' incomes rose by just over 9 percent in 2025 compared to 2024. However, expenses increased at an even faster pace, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics.
On average, last year, a Moldovan earned nearly 5,780 lei per month, spending almost 5,000 lei. Forty percent of this income was dedicated to food, while winter bills also added to financial burdens.
In 2025, Moldovans earned an average of 5,767 lei per month, almost 500 lei more than in 2024. Most of their income came from salaries and social benefits, with agricultural activities contributing 7.4 percent.
Expenses have increased significantly, reaching an average of about 5,000 lei, which is 600 lei more than in 2024. Almost half of the monthly budget goes to food, while 16 percent is allocated for bills and 8 percent for transportation. Seven percent of the income is spent on clothes and shoes.
Many people report struggling to manage their budgets, which they feel are insufficient for a decent standard of living.
One pensioner noted, “I live on my pension and have no other income. I try to eat what I can. First, I pay the utilities to avoid debts with the state, and then I spend what’s left, which is less on clothes since I don’t need much at my age, and more on medicines.”
Another person commented, “For electricity and gas, most people don’t have enough money. I think salaries are very low, and pensions are insufficient as well. While salaries in the Republic of Moldova are low, the prices are European.”
A third person said, “Of course, the biggest expenses are for food, followed by utilities, which also account for a substantial amount. We can't afford to buy expensive items; our budgets are tight.”
One parent expressed concern, “My source of income is precarious because my child is sick, and I can't work at all. Around 5,500 lei goes towards utilities, and on top of that, we need additional money for school and kindergarten.”
A pensioner noted, “We need at least 20,000 lei for a pensioner, and for young people, more is required to properly feed their children and provide them with a decent education.”
Statistical data paints a picture of a fragile economy.
Economic expert Viorel Gîrbu stated, “If the economy does not produce anything, we are either in a recession or have been in this phase for a long time, starting in 2021. We must be economically efficient to improve citizens' material well-being. The economy must grow, but there are no effective economic policies in rural areas.”
Consumption spending varies by household size. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics show that a single person earns almost twice as much as families with five or more members.
