For one person, living is cheaper in Macao (China): $2,016 a month against $2,080 in Germany, rent and utilities included – about $770 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Germany and in Macao (China)
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Germany and in Macao (China) actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,080 in Germany versus $2,016 in Macao (China).
Germany $2,080
Macao (China) $2,016
Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,130 in Germany versus $3,061 in Macao (China).
Germany $3,130
Macao (China) $3,061
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,180 in Germany versus $4,107 in Macao (China).
Germany $4,180
Macao (China) $4,107
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Germany: monthly costs span $1,337 to $2,681, compared to $2,004–$2,158 in Macao (China). City choice carries more weight in Germany.
🌍
Living in Germany is roughly 3% more expensive than in Macao (China) on average.
📊
Both countries sit above the global median: Germany 53% above, Macao (China) 48% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Germany
Macao (China)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.60€14.88
$6.06MOP 48.99
173.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.8€64.4
$54.8MOP 443
31.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.12€10.86
$6.07MOP 49.05
99.67%
Cappuccino
$3.96€3.55
$5.00MOP 40.39
-20.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36€3.01
$1.03MOP 8.36
226.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89€2.59
$0.86MOP 6.94
236.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.07€4.54
$5.87MOP 47.44
-13.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.50€4.03
$7.26MOP 58.7
-38.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Germany
Macao (China)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26€1.13
$3.10MOP 25.03
-59.35%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20€1.97
$1.74MOP 14.04
26.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.54€3.17
$1.71MOP 13.84
107.02%
Eggs
$3.88€3.48
$3.44MOP 27.75
12.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.24€12.76
$16.04MOP 130
-11.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.90€10.66
$19.42MOP 157
-38.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.68€18.53
$29.27MOP 236
-29.35%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28€2.94
$2.66MOP 21.51
23.31%
Banana(1kg)
$2.05€1.83
$2.95MOP 23.84
-30.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31€2.07
$1.89MOP 15.26
22.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.29€3.84
$2.46MOP 19.87
74.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53€1.37
$3.85MOP 31.14
-60.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50€1.34
$2.91MOP 23.50
-48.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.64€1.47
$0.65MOP 5.29
152.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02€0.91
$1.14MOP 9.23
-10.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.69€8.68
$6.59MOP 53.2
47.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.01€5.38
$12.48MOP 101
-51.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12€1.01
$1.72MOP 13.90
-34.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56€1.40
$2.27MOP 18.34
-31.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Germany
Macao (China)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.85€3.45
$0.75MOP 6.08
413.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.7€62.5
$22.29MOP 180
212.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.34€4.78
$2.63MOP 21.24
103.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.81€2.52
$1.24MOP 10.01
126.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.83€34.80
$14.83MOP 120
161.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13€1.91
$1.83MOP 14.76
16.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K€29.2K
$30.6KMOP 247.6K
6.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.7K€33.8K
$31.9KMOP 257.4K
18.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Germany
Macao (China)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$342€307
$124MOP 1,002
175.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.87€22.29
$23.90MOP 193
4.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.49€43.45
$37.46MOP 303
29.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Germany
Macao (China)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.42€35.32
$80.4MOP 650
-50.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.47€24.62
$3.70MOP 29.89
642.43%
Cinema Ticket
$14.65€13.13
$14.24MOP 115
2.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Germany
Macao (China)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$611€547
$1,234MOP 9,972
-50.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.3K€15.5K
$19.0KMOP 153.8K
-9.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Germany
Macao (China)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.1€79.8
$68.2MOP 551
30.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.07€37.70
$33.91MOP 274
24.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.3€88.1
$93.6MOP 756
5.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131€117
$136MOP 1,098
-3.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Germany
Macao (China)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$934€837
$1,115MOP 9,010
-16.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$718€644
$935MOP 7,557
-23.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,704€1,527
$2,126MOP 17.2K
-19.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,294€1,159
$1,641MOP 13.3K
-21.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,944€5,326
$9,902MOP 80.0K
-39.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,958€3,547
$6,923MOP 55.9K
-42.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Germany
Macao (China)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,290€2,948
$1,974MOP 15.9K
66.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.96
3
32.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Germany: October 25, 2026
Last update for Macao (China): October 26, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Germany
$718 34.6%
Macao (China)
$935 46.4% ↑ 30.2%$217
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Germany
$415 20%
Macao (China)
$185 9.2% ↓ 55.4%$230
🛒Groceries & Markets
Germany
$335 16.1%
Macao (China)
$425 21.1% ↑ 26.8%$90
🍽Eating Out
Germany
$276 13.3%
Macao (China)
$178 8.8% ↓ 35.5%$98
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Germany
$162 7.8%
Macao (China)
$149 7.4% ↓ 7.9%$13
🚌Getting Around
Germany
$104 5%
Macao (China)
$34 1.7% ↓ 67.3%$70
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Germany
$69 3.3%
Macao (China)
$109 5.4% ↑ 58.4%$40
🏠Accommodation & Living
Germany
$1.3K 31%
Macao (China)
$1.6K 40% ↑ 26.9%$348
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Germany
$440 10.5%
Macao (China)
$209 5.1% ↓ 52.5%$231
🛒Groceries & Markets
Germany
$795 19%
Macao (China)
$1K 24.7% ↑ 27.4%$218
🍽Eating Out
Germany
$910 21.8%
Macao (China)
$621 15.1% ↓ 31.8%$289
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Germany
$360 8.6%
Macao (China)
$332 8.1% ↓ 7.9%$29
🚌Getting Around
Germany
$217 5.2%
Macao (China)
$70 1.7% ↓ 67.8%$147
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Germany
$165 4%
Macao (China)
$221 5.4% ↑ 34.3%$57
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $812 in Germany, $1,076 in Macao (China). Capital cities: $1,407 in Berlin vs $1,095 in Macao.
💰National salary averages: $3,107 in Germany, $2,042 in Macao (China). Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 33% higher in Macao (China).
⭐Dining out costs 29% more in Germany.
⭐Public transport is 196% more expensive in Germany.
⭐Salaries are 52% higher in Germany, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Germany.
Germany→Macao (China)8,720 km≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
Germany
Macao (China)
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Germany vs Macao (China): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Germany or Macao (China)?
At $2,080 per month in Germany and $2,016 in Macao (China), Macao (China) comes out about 3% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Does the cost gap hold in every spending category?
Overall, Macao (China) is the cheaper option, but not in every category: rent, groceries, transport, and eating out each follow their own pattern. Check the categories you spend the most on before deciding.
How far does $2,500 go in Germany compared to Macao (China)?
In Macao (China), $2,500 covers most cities easily; in Germany it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you’ll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in Germany and in Macao (China)?
It depends on what you’re after: Macao (China) wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.