Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartago and Taipa Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartago and Taipa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,683 in Cartago versus $2,067 in Taipa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,387 in Cartago versus $3,202 in Taipa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,090 in Cartago versus $4,337 in Taipa.

Living in Cartago costs roughly 19% less than in Taipa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cartago 23% above, Taipa 50% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.92 ₡3,993

$6.12 MOP 49.43

45.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.02 ₡16.1K

$56.3 MOP 455

-36.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.87 ₡4,416

$6.12 MOP 49.39

61.27%

Cappuccino

$4.49 ₡2,009

$5.13 MOP 41.42

-12.48%

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

$2.19 ₡980

$0.77 MOP 6.25

184.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₡645

$0.38 MOP 3.08

278.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ₡991

$5.63 MOP 45.47

-60.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.17 ₡1,868

$7.34 MOP 59.2

-43.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.46 ₡1,102

$3.18 MOP 25.72

-22.64%

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 ₡1,083

$1.70 MOP 13.75

42.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.57 ₡1,149

$1.73 MOP 13.93

48.55%

Eggs

$3.46 ₡1,550

$3.46 MOP 27.90

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.82 ₡3,947

$16.36 MOP 132

-46.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.39 ₡4,649

$19.23 MOP 155

-45.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.23 ₡6,369

$29.35 MOP 237

-51.52%

Apples (1kg)

$5.25 ₡2,348

$2.65 MOP 21.42

98.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 ₡612

$2.92 MOP 23.57

-53.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 ₡1,956

$1.87 MOP 15.07

133.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.09 ₡1,383

$2.47 MOP 19.91

25.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 ₡981

$3.86 MOP 31.20

-43.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 ₡987

$2.93 MOP 23.64

-24.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₡489

$0.65 MOP 5.26

67.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₡1,023

$1.16 MOP 9.33

97.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.17 ₡2,762

$6.80 MOP 54.9

-9.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.44 ₡6,909

$12.60 MOP 102

22.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₡1,315

$1.78 MOP 14.36

65.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₡905

$2.26 MOP 18.25

-10.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.31 ₡587

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 ₡33.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.37 ₡614

$2.61 MOP 21.09

-47.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 ₡739

$1.30 MOP 10.48

26.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.94 ₡4,003

$14.76 MOP 119

-39.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 ₡695

$1.85 MOP 14.93

-16.22%

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

$22.0K ₡9.8M

$31.4K MOP 253.3K

-29.91%

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

$34.4K ₡15.4M

$31.6K MOP 254.8K

8.94%

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

$54.5 ₡24.4K

$122 MOP 988

-55.50%

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

$36.55 ₡16.4K

$23.44 MOP 189

55.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.5 ₡27.5K

$36.39 MOP 294

68.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.9 ₡33.5K

$75.7 MOP 611

-1.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$78.7 ₡35.2K

$3.81 MOP 30.77

1965.35%

Cinema Ticket

$7.03 ₡3,145

$12.37 MOP 99.9

-43.17%

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

$547 ₡244.9K

$1,190 MOP 9,613

-54.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,044 ₡3.6M

$19.0K MOP 153.4K

-57.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.0 ₡32.2K

$71.0 MOP 573

1.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.1 ₡25.1K

$33.79 MOP 273

65.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 ₡54.0K

$91.1 MOP 736

32.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.1 ₡39.8K

$136 MOP 1,094

-34.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$920 ₡411.5K

$1,060 MOP 8,563

-13.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 ₡296.6K

$972 MOP 7,852

-31.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,880 ₡841.4K

$2,142 MOP 17.3K

-12.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$714 ₡319.4K

$1,959 MOP 15.8K

-63.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$16.2K MOP 130.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$13.1K MOP 106.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,333 ₡596.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

192.67%

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

Last update for Cartago: August 31, 2026

Last update for Taipa: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $920 in Cartago and $1,060 in Taipa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36.00 in Cartago vs $56.0 in Taipa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $354 vs $426 per month, with Cartago cheaper across the board.

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

Cartago vs Taipa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cartago is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,525 in Cartago and $3,101 in Taipa to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $920 in Cartago versus $1,060 in Taipa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Taipa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,683 per month in Cartago versus $2,067 in Taipa – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,683 in Cartago versus $2,067 in Taipa, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Cartago but tight or insufficient in Taipa. The gap between the two cities makes Cartago the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Cartago and Taipa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Cartago gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Taipa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.