• The Romanian leu (RON) is exchanged less often in Moldova than the euro or the dollar, so the choice of banks and counters is narrower and the spread is sometimes a touch wider.
• Before you exchange, decide: are you selling RON for Moldovan lei (look at the bank's buy rate) or buying RON for MDL (look at the sell rate)?
• The route matters: if you're heading to Bucharest or Iasi, it's sometimes better to carry MDL or euros and exchange on the other side of the border.
• Pre-2005 RON paper notes are out of circulation — modern banknotes are polymer, in denominations from 1 to 500 RON.
• Compare RON rates across Chisinau banks in the widget below. The last update time is shown next to each bank.

Why exchange Romanian lei in Chisinau

Moldova and Romania are two especially close neighbours: a shared language, a border an hour and a half by car from Chisinau, regular travel in both directions. So at Chisinau exchange counters RON isn't a "rare" currency, but it isn't "mass-market" either. The exchange flow splits into two main customer groups:

• People returning from Romania and wanting to convert leftover RON into Moldovan lei.
• People preparing for a trip and wanting a little RON in their wallet beforehand.

There's a third smaller but steady group — people earning in RON (freelance, remote work for Romanian companies, family transfers) who exchange regularly.

How RON differs from EUR and USD at the counter

The main practical difference is liquidity. The euro and the dollar move in huge volumes in Moldova, and banks keep solid cash inventories. Romanian lei stocks can be smaller, and at some smaller branches there may be none at all. That means:

• Not every bank handles RON. Larger commercial banks usually do, but it's worth checking the specific branch in advance.
• The RON spread is sometimes wider. Not dramatically so, but the gap between banks can be more visible than it is for the dollar.
• Small denominations (1, 5 RON) aren't accepted everywhere. Some banks only work with 10 RON notes and up.

Modern RON are polymer notes (introduced gradually from 2005, the last paper series withdrawn in 2006). If you've got old paper lei in your wallet — technically, since 2006 only the National Bank of Romania exchanges them, and with limits. Moldovan banks almost certainly won't take them.

Compare RON/MDL rates right now

In the widget below, Chisinau banks currently quoting RON are ranked by the direction you choose. Below the top block: the full list with last-update times and branch addresses.

What to notice in the list:

• How many banks are quoting RON at all. 10–15 means you've got a real choice. 3–5 means a large exchange is better discussed by phone in advance.
• The gap between the leader and the third entry. On RON this gap can be wider than on the dollar at comparable amounts.
• The freshness of the quote. If the RON rate at a bank was last refreshed several hours ago, it's worth confirming it's still current before you head over.

Comparison table: when each option works best

There's no "universal best" scenario — it depends on distance, route and the form your money is in.

Where in Chisinau it's most convenient to exchange RON

Because the choice on RON is narrower than on the dollar or the euro, the right question isn't "which bank is best overall" — it's where three conditions overlap: the bank handles RON, the branch is on your route, and your amount fits its setup.

Centru. The highest concentration of banks that consistently keep RON at the counter. Convenient for business travellers and anyone already downtown on other errands.

Riscani and Botanica. Central branches of the major banks usually have RON, but smaller branches in these areas are worth checking. A two-minute phone call saves a trip.

Ciocana, Buiucani. RON gets trickier here — the choice narrows. If you live in these areas and need RON, it's easier to go to the nearest central branch than to do the rounds locally.

Airport. RON is usually available at the airport, but at "airport" rates. If you're returning from Moldova and your wallet has lei left over, this is not the best place to buy RON.

Specific scenarios: student, freelancer, tourist

Scenario: "student in Bucharest". Moldovan students in Romania often receive scholarships or do side jobs paid in RON. Once a month or two the question comes up: convert part of it to MDL for the family or for trips home. It makes sense to save up a batch of RON and exchange it in one go — the spread once a month is usually less painful than the cumulative spread of weekly little exchanges.

Scenario: "freelancer earning in RON". If your client pays in Romanian lei to a bank account, you can technically skip the cash and pay by card in Moldova straight from the RON account. But the issuing bank's cross rate at conversion can be worse than a cash exchange at a Chisinau bank. Worth comparing once and locking in a habit.

Scenario: "traveller from Russia or Ukraine, transiting Chisinau on the way to Bucharest". The most common mistake is buying RON in Chisinau. If you have euros or dollars in hand, it's better to carry them through to Bucharest and exchange there — the RON spread is naturally tighter inside Romania. Exception: if you're overnighting in Chisinau and want a starter amount for getting to the bus or train station.

Scenario: "back from Romania with 200–400 RON left over". Exchange in Chisinau a week or two later, not the day you return. By then you'll have a clearer head, can check the leaders in the widget and run the operation without rushing.

Border and exchange: what to know before the trip

If you're crossing the Romania–Moldova border (Leuseni–Albita, Sculeni, Giurgiulesti), be aware: there are exchange points at the checkpoints, but the rate there is usually at least 3–5% worse than the bank rate. It's airport logic, on the ground.

What works best per route:

• A day or two trip to Iasi. Buy a minimum of RON in Chisinau for starting expenses (300–500 RON), the rest pull from the ATM or exchange once you're in Iasi.
• A week in Bucharest. Take a minimum with you, do the bulk in Bucharest, where the choice is wider and RON is naturally cheaper.
• Transiting Moldova on the way to Romania (from Ukraine, for instance). If you have euros or dollars in hand, don't convert them to RON in Chisinau — exchange in Romania. If you have MDL and need to spend some on petrol or a meal in Moldova, you don't need RON at all.
• Coming back from Romania with RON left over. If you've got 500+ RON and an hour to the border, exchange it in a larger town along the way (Husi, Vaslui, Siret) before leaving Romania. In Chisinau the RON rate will be worse.

None of this means exchanging RON in Chisinau is a bad idea. It means every route has an "optimal point" where the rate is at its best.

If RON has unexpectedly landed in your wallet

Sometimes RON shows up by accident: a guest visiting Moldova leaves some, or a friend sends cash from Romania. What to do with it:

• Small amount (up to 200 RON). Easier to keep it or spend it on the next trip. Converting it isn't worth it.
• Medium amount (200–1,000 RON). Exchange at a Chisinau bank, picked through the widget.
• Large amount (1,000+ RON). Compare the direct conversion rate at Chisinau banks with a double conversion via RON→EUR→MDL. The second route sometimes wins, but not always.
• Really large amount (5,000+ RON). Worth getting in touch with a bank in Romania and transferring the funds to an account via SWIFT, then converting into EUR or MDL. A bulky RON cash exchange in Moldova can come out poorly because of low liquidity.

Is it worth exchanging RON in Moldova at all

Not a frequent question, but a fair one. There are three sensible answers:

Yes, in Moldova. For a small amount (up to 500 RON, equivalent to about 2,000 MDL at current rates — check in the widget), a Chisinau bank is the most convenient option. Half an hour, a passport, a receipt — done.

Better in Romania, before heading back. If you've got a large leftover after a trip (1,000+ RON) and you're still in Romania, it pays to check the rate there. Romanian counters have a wider choice and the spread on the home currency is usually tighter. But don't leave it until the border checkpoint — those rates are the worst around. Also remember some bank counters at international branches close early.

Don't exchange at all. If you've got 50–100 RON sitting in your wallet "as a souvenir" and there's no clear reason to change it, leave it for the next trip. Polymer RON barely wears out and sits there for years without trouble.

If you're deciding which currency to bring to Moldova in the first place, also see What's better to bring to Moldova: euros or Romanian lei and Which currency to bring to Moldova.

Step-by-step: the visit

Step 1. Lock in the direction and the amount. Write it down for yourself: "I'm changing 800 RON to MDL" or "I'm buying 500 RON for MDL".

Step 2. Open the widget, pick RON and the direction. If the list has few banks (under 5), call the leader first to confirm they have the currency.

Step 3. Check what notes you have. Recent polymer RON is the easiest case. If you have 1 or 5 RON notes, ask whether the bank takes those denominations.

Step 4. Head to the branch with your passport. For large amounts, bring whichever documents you've confirmed are needed.

Step 5. At the counter, the usual rules: get the receipt, check the amount, don't rush.

Pre-visit checklist

• [ ] I know whether I'm selling or buying RON.
• [ ] I've compared rates in the widget and picked 2 banks.
• [ ] I know the chosen bank has RON on hand (for a large amount — confirmed by phone).
• [ ] Notes are modern, in normal condition.
• [ ] If I have small 1–5 RON notes, I've checked they'll be accepted.
• [ ] Passport on me.
• [ ] I know how many MDL I should receive or hand over.

Common mistakes

• Trying to exchange old paper RON. Until 2005 the notes were paper, with denominations in the thousands and tens of thousands (after redenomination, 1 new RON = 10,000 old). Moldovan banks won't take them.
• Exchanging at the border checkpoint. Rates there are worse than at any bank in Chisinau or Bucharest.
• Changing the whole sum before the trip. If you're spending several days in Romania, it's more sensible to take a starter amount in RON and exchange the rest as you go.
• Ignoring the card. Romania has solid card acceptance, and for most expenses a card is a convenient tool. Sometimes that makes the "how much RON should I take" question moot — a small reserve is all you need.

Frequently asked questions

Do all Chisinau banks handle Romanian lei?

No, not all. Larger commercial banks usually do, but the specific branch is worth checking ahead. The widget on this page only shows banks with an active RON quote.

Where is it cheaper to exchange RON — Moldova or Romania?

Depends on the amount and the route. For a small leftover, easier in Chisinau. For a large amount, if you can, check the rate in Bucharest or Iasi before heading back.

Can I pay with Romanian lei in Moldova?

In ordinary shops — no, transactions are in MDL. Sometimes individual outlets near the border accept RON, but that's the exception.

What do I do with 1 and 5 RON notes?

Some banks accept them, some don't. If it's just a handful of small notes, it's easier to keep them for the next trip.

Do polymer RON need any special storage?

No, they're water-resistant and tolerant of folds and wear. The one thing to avoid: ironing clothes with a note tucked inside — high heat can deform them.

Which RON denomination is the most useful to hold?

50 and 100 RON notes are the workhorse range. 200 and 500 RON exist but are sometimes exchanged at slightly worse rates in Moldovan banks.

Bottom line

Exchanging Romanian lei in Chisinau is doable, but it's not as "mass-market" as the dollar or the euro. The choice of banks is narrower, the spread a touch wider, and the logic of the exchange is tightly tied to your route: sometimes it's better not to exchange in advance and do it in Romania instead. So start with an honest answer to two questions — how much, and where to — and only then pick a bank by the rate in the widget.

If the broader question is which currency to take on the trip, see Which currency to bring to Moldova. For specific RON leaders, there's a detailed piece: Which banks in Chisinau most often have the best Romanian leu rate.