Economy of Chisinau

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the city has become a relatively lively and well-provisioned capital, with a much higher standard of living than in most rural areas of the country.

Air Moldova has its head office on the property of Chișinău International Airport.

Notable sites around the city include the cinema Patria, the new mall Malldova, and retailers N1 and Green Hills. While many locals continue to shop at the numerous bazaars, many upper class residents and tourists shop at the retail stores and at Malldova. Elăt, an older mall located in the Botanica district, and Sun City, located in the city center, are more popular with locals. Fast-food chain McDonald's has several locations around the city, with the largest being in a two-story building in the city center. There is another McDonald's, as well as a Sbarro and a KFC, located inside of Malldova. Many Western companies, such as Levi's and Adidas, have stores inside the mall as well.

Several amusement parks exist around the city. A Soviet era one is located in the Botanica district, along the three lakes of a major park, which reaches the outskirts of the city center. Another, the modern Aventura Park, is located farther from the city center. A circus, which used to reside in a grand building in the Rîşcani sector, has been inactive for several years due to a poorly funded renovation project