Retiring to Moldova

Hi all, Fred here again. I'm estimating that I'll have saved up around $300,000 within the next six years. Do you think this will be enough to retire to Moldova? I'm in my mid 50s now, so I'll be 61 by that time.

On regards to that I question from passed experience Moldova is a place that slowly sucks you dry and you just keep on pouring money into a pit. You must have a small business on the side to help keep you afloat even if it pulls in aroun 700 to 1000 euro a month

Well, my pension will bring in around that much. However, I'm curious about your experiences in Moldova. Most of the articles I've read state that on average, the cost of living in Moldova is far lower than (for example) Britain or Australia. What exactly "sucks you dry" to the extent that you're talking about?

The cost of living is cheeper but it is rising and many products you would bye in the supermarket are more expensive than Europe and on the rise. Fresh produce besides in the summer time it is cheep but it is on par with australia when it is not in season. In the last 5 years the season has become shorter and shorter. The only place I have saved money on is having my own house and the the monthly bills of running the place but even property value and quality is shit and is way over priced for Eastern Europe when I can go to Romania next door and bye for less new on the sea if I wanted too. I ammarried to amarried to a Moldovan and worked for many years there. The constant paying people bribes to get anything done is endless and frustrating and never stops and things still don't get done properly. I could go on but as my wife said it is the toilet of Eastern Europe and that is why people want to leave. Moldova is a place for te rich were rules can be bent and it's all about who you no that is high up in the country.

Are you still living in Moldova?

I do still live in moldova but work contract work away now as I was the head chef of Hotel Codru for several years and Leo grand Hotel but no other company will pay thousands of euros a month for my services so I am forced to work away.

If you and your wife are so unhappy in Moldova, why don't you sell your property and relocate permanently?

I don't live there permanently as we both live in Qatar but I was only answering your question if that would be enough money to retire on. Just break the factors of everything down and to what quality of life you would like to live there and the long term future of the country.

Do you live there now or have you ever lived there on a permanent basis ?

When you were working in Moldova, were you supporting your wife, or did she have a separate income?

she did work and have a separate income.

I lived in CZ for ten years, how would you compare the two? As long as I don't get kidnapped for ransom I'm in, seriously. Heard the worst about MD and the best...your thoughts?

Don't quiet understand your question as I can not  compare the 2 as I have only lived in chisinau

I lived in Thailand back in 2001 (just after the economic collapse), and managed to survive comfortably on around $550 a month. Circumstances were similar to present day Moldova; extreme poverty, corrupt officials, social unrest, local mafia and petty scams, but I never found the environment particularly threatening. As a matter of fact, I lived like a king most of the time, considering that the average Thai wage was less than $200 a month. Please tell us more about your experiences in the Czech Republic -- I've heard that Prague is one of the most beautiful cities on Earth.

Never lived in the czeck republic and moldova is different it cost much to live and all family members have people working away and sending home money. To live realy comfortably you need 1000 euro to 1500 a month. It is not dangerous hear. Prices are like Europe when you want to bye products but not all.

Can never relive it mate, never. It was that good especially in the first eight years or so, after that it went downhill for me because of a lot of things, bunch of deaths in the family, my best friend, brother suicide at Beachy Head, you name it, but at 29 in 2005 it was like living life in some sort of weird, wonderful film set. I lived in Kolín, a sleepy town at best and became one of two American expats on the scene. First time in ever felt at home it was. Maybe looking for the same experience in MD, will try anyways. Even after growing up in America it's always felt totally foreign to me, still does. Anyhow, I'm expecting a November arrival. Be ready world. And the comment about being kidnapped, it's a real, though unlikely consequence of moving that far east. My uncle is in the diplomatic corps focused on post Cold War nuclear deterrence and he's got nothing good to say about MD. In any event, off I go. F

Yeah, that's the best way to go, buddy. Approach it as an adventure, play the hands you're dealt, and enjoy each day as it comes. As the old saying goes, life favours the bold.

Good luck man, you should bye a place just out of the city with some land were you can put animal and grow fruit and vegetables as the land in Moldova is great for agriculture. I have my own farm and raise animals and sell them. If you can obtain some realy good beef cattle you can make a bit of money from them as local cattle are quiet skinny. i have cows that are from Australia. If you can live of the fat of your land it's ok. If you are not married there are plenty of beautiful girls there but stay away from the Russian girls as there only good for a fling and trying to empty your pockets. Girls that are not from the city are good. The city is tiny so don't expect to see
Skyscrapers and it's basically one Main Street that runs through the centre of town.

Grrump is right about Russian girls. It's better not to show you have money as you won't be having it for long after meeting them. Moldovan girls are more reliable and stable for a long term relationships. I am sorry if this hurts somebody but I am telling this from my personal experiences.

The people in Czech Republic are very different.  For the most part they are ice cold to strangers with few exceptions. The worst in Eastern Europe. But the infrastructure is much better. So that's the tradeoff. Ice cold people and good infrastructure or friendly people and terrible infrastructure.

I second that,
I was dating a Russian lady but after she arrived in the USA, she wanted her green card only.
I married a Moldovian lady that is much nice and a good wife and a friend.
Considering selling everything in the USA and retire in Moldova, mainly looking for income-producing Residential Real Estate, or Mix use Real Estate (stores first floor, apartments upstairs)
Plus my Retirement from the USA.
the only concern is Medical insurance

@david728 I second that.