Record High Apartment Prices in Chisinau Spark Housing Crisis Fears

Chisinau Apartment Prices Soar to Record High Chisinau, Moldova – Apartment prices in Moldova's capital have reached record levels, causing concern among residents and prompting analysis from economic experts. In the first quarter of 2025, prices for new apartments surged by 21%, reaching an average of 1906 euros per square meter, according to a report by Canal 5. This marks a significant increase from the previous record of 14.5% in 2008. "The increase is shocking," stated Vyacheslav Ionita, an economic expert featured in the report. He points to a sharp imbalance in the market, with high demand outpacing the limited supply of new housing. Internal migration from rural areas and a significant influx of foreign residents, over 4000 in 2024 alone, have fueled this demand. Only 811,000 square meters of housing were constructed in the past three years, significantly less than the 1.7 million square meters built between 2019 and 2021. Ionita warns of a potential housing crisis if the government doesn't intervene quickly. The construction cost increase of 50% in the last three years further complicates the situation. Without a national strategy for affordable housing, this price surge may be just the beginning of a deeper crisis affecting generations to come.