🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $388 in India versus $1,797 in Macao (China).
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $617 in India versus $2,831 in Macao (China).
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $846 in India versus $3,864 in Macao (China).
🙂Living in India costs about 78% less than in Macao (China) on average.
📊India (71% below) and Macao (China) (34% above) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in India: monthly costs span $264 to $888, compared to $1,764–$1,830 in Macao (China). City choice carries more weight in India.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.49₹236
$6.04MOP 48.74
-58.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.20₹1,349
$54.9MOP 443
-74.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.98₹378
$6.28MOP 50.6
-36.62%
Cappuccino
$1.88₹178
$4.74MOP 38.28
-60.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44₹41.84
$0.97MOP 7.82
-54.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19₹18.50
$0.75MOP 6.03
-74.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.02₹192
$5.82MOP 46.99
-65.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45₹328
$7.28MOP 58.7
-52.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.72₹68.1
$2.77MOP 22.37
-74.01%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52₹49.10
$1.58MOP 12.75
-67.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.72₹68.4
$1.48MOP 11.91
-51.35%
Eggs
$0.93₹88.5
$2.85MOP 23.02
-67.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.24₹498
$18.99MOP 153
-72.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.07₹291
$7.68MOP 62.0
-60.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$23.15MOP 187
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.17₹206
$3.71MOP 29.94
-41.51%
Banana(1kg)
$0.76₹71.9
$3.08MOP 24.83
-75.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.05₹99.7
$3.82MOP 30.79
-72.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.53₹50.5
$2.75MOP 22.20
-80.73%
Potato(1kg)
$0.39₹37.41
$4.39MOP 35.44
-91.12%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49₹46.65
$3.52MOP 28.40
-86.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52₹49.18
$1.65MOP 13.30
-68.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33₹31.02
$1.08MOP 8.74
-69.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.05₹384
$6.08MOP 49.08
-33.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.39₹701
$12.18MOP 98.3
-39.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84₹175
$1.42MOP 11.49
29.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90₹276
$2.09MOP 16.82
38.76%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.65₹536
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Macao (China)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₹34.48
$0.71MOP 5.71
-49.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.74₹925
$22.48MOP 181
-56.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.95₹90.3
$2.53MOP 20.42
-62.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30₹28.54
$1.18MOP 9.51
-74.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.73₹164
$14.64MOP 118
-88.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23₹116
$1.78MOP 14.35
-30.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K₹1.3M
$30.5KMOP 246.0K
-54.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K₹2.1M
$28.0KMOP 225.7K
-19.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.88₹3,881
$93.4MOP 753
-56.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.91₹371
$25.67MOP 207
-84.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.81₹741
$34.24MOP 276
-77.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.15₹1,533
$78.3MOP 632
-79.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.49₹711
$2.83MOP 22.83
164.66%
Cinema Ticket
$3.42₹325
$14.27MOP 115
-76.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$69.9₹6,638
$683MOP 5,506
-89.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,793₹170.2K
$13.5KMOP 108.8K
-86.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.83₹2,452
$64.7MOP 522
-60.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.61₹2,527
$28.78MOP 232
-7.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.24₹4,294
$89.6MOP 723
-49.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.68₹3,198
$102MOP 825
-67.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Macao (China)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$178₹16.9K
$1,144MOP 9,226
-84.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$115₹10.9K
$857MOP 6,910
-86.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$407₹38.6K
$2,059MOP 16.6K
-80.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$264₹25.0K
$1,760MOP 14.2K
-85.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,240₹117.7K
$11.1KMOP 89.6K
-88.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$631₹59.9K
$8,298MOP 67.0K
-92.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$432₹41.0K
$1,980MOP 16.0K
-78.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.02
3.21
181.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for India: June 2, 2026
Last update for Macao (China): June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $127 in India, $1,143 in Macao (China). Capital cities: $239 in Delhi vs $1,064 in Macao.
💰National salary averages: $398 in India, $1,983 in Macao (China). Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 800% higher in Macao (China).
⭐Dining out costs 355% more in Macao (China).
⭐Public transport is 22% more expensive in Macao (China).
⭐Salaries are 398% higher in Macao (China).
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
India vs Macao (China): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Macao (China)?
At $576 per month in India and $1,797 in Macao (China), there's a 212% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
India is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Macao (China) beats India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or Macao (China)?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Macao (China), it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or Macao (China)?
It depends on what you're after. India wins on affordability; Macao (China) may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.