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 $2,045 per month in Brownsville, TX vs $2,104 in Macao, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,088 per month in Brownsville, TX vs $2,971 in Macao, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,132 per month in Brownsville, TX vs $3,837 in Macao, rent included.

Brownsville, TX is about 3% cheaper than Macao, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Brownsville, TX and Macao sit above the global median – Brownsville, TX by 48%, Macao by 53%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.77 $19.77

$6.06 MOP 48.94

226.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.0 $75.0

$54.9 MOP 444

36.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.46 $11.46

$5.79 MOP 46.79

97.93%

Cappuccino

$5.39 $5.39

$5.12 MOP 41.37

5.27%

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

$2.60 $2.60

$1.05 MOP 8.45

147.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.87 MOP 7.05

122.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.10 $6.10

$5.81 MOP 46.91

4.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.19 $7.19

$7.49 MOP 60.5

-4.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$3.14 MOP 25.37

-73.25%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.75 MOP 14.12

22.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$1.73 MOP 13.95

147.40%

Eggs

$2.83 $2.83

$3.33 MOP 26.93

-15.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.26 $9.26

$16.32 MOP 132

-43.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.92 $12.92

$19.30 MOP 156

-33.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$28.72 MOP 232

-40.11%

Apples (1kg)

$5.08 $5.08

$2.71 MOP 21.89

87.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.95 MOP 23.82

-50.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$1.90 MOP 15.31

134.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$2.44 MOP 19.68

96.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$4.00 MOP 32.31

-30.75%

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.96 MOP 23.88

2.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.09 $2.09

$0.66 MOP 5.37

216.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.21 MOP 9.77

82.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.60 $10.60

$6.55 MOP 52.9

61.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.92 $14.92

$12.43 MOP 100

20.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.79 MOP 14.46

20.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 $3.23

$2.23 MOP 18.01

44.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.89 $1.89

$0.76 MOP 6.16

148.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.27 MOP 180

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.62 MOP 21.19

3.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.25 MOP 10.08

36.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.36 $26.36

$14.66 MOP 118

79.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.76 MOP 14.18

-54.55%

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

$33.0K $33.0K

$31.1K MOP 251.4K

6.07%

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

$23.6K $23.6K

$32.0K MOP 258.7K

-26.39%

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

$195 $195

$124 MOP 999

57.95%

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

$75.7 $75.7

$23.69 MOP 191

219.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.9 $76.9

$37.54 MOP 303

104.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.45 $42.45

$63.2 MOP 510

-32.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.74 MOP 30.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.41 $14.41

$14.64 MOP 118

-1.57%

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

$1,442 $1,442

$1,229 MOP 9,926

17.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$19.0K MOP 153.2K

22.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.6 $53.6

$68.6 MOP 554

-21.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.28 $47.28

$33.13 MOP 268

42.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.3 $90.3

$91.9 MOP 742

-1.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 $129

$135 MOP 1,093

-4.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$964 $964

$1,139 MOP 9,198

-15.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$790 $790

$1,070 MOP 8,642

-26.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,684 $1,684

$2,124 MOP 17.2K

-20.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,420 $1,420

$1,421 MOP 11.5K

-0.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,881 $1,881

$8,441 MOP 68.2K

-77.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,828 $1,828

$5,667 MOP 45.8K

-67.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,299 $3,299

$1,990 MOP 16.1K

65.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.65

88.33%

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

Last update for Brownsville, TX: September 5, 2026

Last update for Macao: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $964 in Brownsville, TX versus $1,139 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 66% higher in Brownsville, TX, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Brownsville, TX versus $55.0 in Macao. Groceries tell a different story – $375 in Brownsville, TX vs $425 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: $2,045 in Brownsville, TX, $2,104 in Macao – roughly 3% apart. Macao costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,067 per month in Brownsville, TX and $3,156 in Macao. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Brownsville, TX, 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 $2,045 in Brownsville, TX and $2,104 in Macao. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,442 per month in Brownsville, TX and $1,229 in Macao. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Brownsville, TX, where all-in costs run around $2,045, than in Macao at $2,104. In Brownsville, TX it covers expenses comfortably, while in Macao it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Brownsville, TX – 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 Brownsville, TX. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Macao makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.