Cost of Living Comparison Between Brownsville, TX and Macao Cost of Living Comparison Between Brownsville, TX and Macao

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,941 per month in Brownsville, TX vs $1,754 in Macao, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,685 per month in Brownsville, TX vs $2,830 in Macao, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,429 per month in Brownsville, TX vs $3,906 in Macao, rent included.

Brownsville, TX costs about 11% more than Macao, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Brownsville, TX and Macao sit above the global median – Brownsville, TX by 45%, Macao by 31%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.03 $10.03

$6.36 MOP 51.3

57.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.3 $54.3

$48.97 MOP 395

10.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.81 $11.81

$6.37 MOP 51.4

85.40%

Cappuccino

$4.92 $4.92

$4.66 MOP 37.59

5.58%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.21 MOP 9.76

62.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.87 MOP 7.06

126.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.47 $5.47

$5.63 MOP 45.46

-2.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.38 $7.38

$7.23 MOP 58.3

2.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$2.86 MOP 23.04

-70.28%

White Bread (500g)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.59 MOP 12.83

38.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.47 MOP 11.83

51.70%

Eggs

$2.84 $2.84

$3.18 MOP 25.69

-10.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.27 $9.27

$17.41 MOP 141

-46.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.67 $11.67

$7.78 MOP 62.8

50.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.57 $9.57

$23.26 MOP 188

-58.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$3.82 MOP 30.79

-35.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$3.12 MOP 25.16

-47.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$3.73 MOP 30.09

-54.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.83 MOP 22.87

-31.45%

Potato (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$4.31 MOP 34.78

29.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$3.33 MOP 26.88

-67.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.70 MOP 13.70

-42.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.03 MOP 8.34

-3.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.32 $9.32

$6.25 MOP 50.4

49.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.04 $15.04

$12.31 MOP 99.4

22.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.37 MOP 11.10

33.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.87 $4.87

$2.11 MOP 17.04

130.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.77 MOP 6.19

162.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.70 MOP 183

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.58 MOP 20.84

32.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.18 MOP 9.51

39.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.59 $29.59

$15.01 MOP 121

97.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.74 MOP 14.02

-55.75%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.0K $29.0K

$31.6K MOP 254.9K

-8.08%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.6K $25.6K

$27.3K MOP 220.5K

-6.22%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$334 $334

$100 MOP 809

232.85%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$73.7 $73.7

$25.40 MOP 205

190.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.8 $76.8

$33.00 MOP 266

132.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.69 $49.69

$87.8 MOP 708

-43.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.33 MOP 26.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.60 $14.60

$13.91 MOP 112

4.96%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$600 $600

$681 MOP 5,495

-11.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$13.4K MOP 108.4K

74.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.4 $50.4

$64.4 MOP 520

-21.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.60 $40.60

$28.28 MOP 228

43.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 $85.7

$89.7 MOP 724

-4.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$102 MOP 823

9.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$774 $774

$1,068 MOP 8,619

-27.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 $673

$777 MOP 6,272

-13.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 $944

$2,002 MOP 16.2K

-52.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$956 $956

$1,638 MOP 13.2K

-41.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,870 $1,870

$12.7K MOP 102.6K

-85.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,833 $1,833

$7,956 MOP 64.2K

-76.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,283 $3,283

$2,048 MOP 16.5K

60.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.47

3.28

66.77%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Brownsville, TX: April 21, 2026

Last update for Macao: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $774 in Brownsville, TX versus $1,068 in Macao. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 60% higher in Brownsville, TX, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54 in Brownsville, TX versus $49 in Macao. Groceries tell a different story – $288 in Brownsville, TX vs $365 in Macao – so Brownsville, TX wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Brownsville, TX vs Macao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,941 in Brownsville, TX, $1,754 in Macao – roughly 11% apart. Brownsville, TX costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,911 per month in Brownsville, TX and $2,631 in Macao. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Macao, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,941 in Brownsville, TX and $1,754 in Macao. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $600 per month in Brownsville, TX and $681 in Macao. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Macao, where all-in costs run around $1,754, than in Brownsville, TX at $1,941. In Macao it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brownsville, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Macao – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Macao. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brownsville, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.