Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Macao (China) Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Macao (China)

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $388 in India versus $1,778 in Macao (China).

Estimated couple costs with rent: $617 in India versus $2,855 in Macao (China).

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $846 in India versus $3,932 in Macao (China).

Living in India costs about 78% less than in Macao (China) on average.

India (71% below) and Macao (China) (33% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in India: monthly costs span $265 to $913, compared to $1,721$1,835 in Macao (China). City choice carries more weight in India.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.53 ₹244
$6.26 MOP 50.6
-59.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.73 ₹1,324
$56.6 MOP 457
-75.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.00 ₹386
$6.06 MOP 48.91
-33.99%
Cappuccino
$1.91 ₹185
$4.79 MOP 38.72
-60.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ₹41.92
$0.95 MOP 7.69
-54.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 ₹16.14
$0.76 MOP 6.16
-77.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.93 ₹186
$5.93 MOP 47.88
-67.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 ₹341
$7.28 MOP 58.8
-51.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.73 ₹70.0
$2.69 MOP 21.75
-72.86%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 ₹50.2
$1.58 MOP 12.77
-67.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.73 ₹70.0
$1.49 MOP 12.01
-51.01%
Eggs
$0.95 ₹91.5
$3.00 MOP 24.22
-68.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.32 ₹513
$19.15 MOP 155
-72.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ₹299
$7.75 MOP 62.6
-60.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$22.72 MOP 184
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.16 ₹208
$3.89 MOP 31.41
-44.47%
Banana (1kg)
$0.70 ₹67.8
$3.09 MOP 24.98
-77.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 ₹101
$3.82 MOP 30.84
-72.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 ₹50.9
$2.77 MOP 22.36
-80.87%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 ₹37.72
$4.28 MOP 34.57
-90.89%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 ₹46.71
$3.35 MOP 27.09
-85.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 ₹49.86
$1.66 MOP 13.38
-68.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 ₹34.38
$1.04 MOP 8.40
-65.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.02 ₹388
$6.09 MOP 49.18
-33.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.28 ₹702
$12.24 MOP 98.9
-40.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 ₹184
$1.35 MOP 10.89
40.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 ₹293
$2.03 MOP 16.42
49.26%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.84 ₹563
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Macao (China)
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₹34.72
$0.72 MOP 5.84
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.84 ₹949
$22.23 MOP 180
-55.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.95 ₹92.0
$2.56 MOP 20.65
-62.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 ₹29.08
$1.16 MOP 9.41
-74.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.79 ₹172
$14.81 MOP 120
-87.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 ₹117
$1.77 MOP 14.29
-31.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K ₹1.3M
$31.4K MOP 253.9K
-55.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₹2.2M
$28.2K MOP 227.7K
-20.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.16 ₹3,873
$92.7 MOP 749
-56.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.76 ₹363
$25.14 MOP 203
-85.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.04 ₹776
$34.99 MOP 283
-77.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.25 ₹1,567
$76.9 MOP 621
-78.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.56 ₹729
$2.73 MOP 22.05
176.92%
Cinema Ticket
$3.43 ₹330
$14.23 MOP 115
-75.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$69.7 ₹6,724
$677 MOP 5,464
-89.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,852 ₹178.6K
$13.3K MOP 107.5K
-86.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.59 ₹2,467
$65.5 MOP 529
-60.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.30 ₹2,536
$28.63 MOP 231
-8.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$44.89 ₹4,328
$91.0 MOP 735
-50.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.20 ₹3,202
$99.7 MOP 805
-66.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Macao (China)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$174 ₹16.8K
$1,168 MOP 9,434
-85.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$112 ₹10.8K
$850 MOP 6,867
-86.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$405 ₹39.0K
$2,083 MOP 16.8K
-80.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$258 ₹24.8K
$1,743 MOP 14.1K
-85.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,263 ₹121.8K
$11.0K MOP 88.7K
-88.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$653 ₹62.9K
$8,003 MOP 64.6K
-91.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$424 ₹40.9K
$2,022 MOP 16.3K
-79.03%
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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Macao (China): July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $127 in India, $1,129 in Macao (China). Capital cities: $242 in Delhi vs $1,061 in Macao.

National salary averages: $398 in India, $2,055 in Macao (China). Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 789% higher in Macao (China).

Dining out costs 355% more in Macao (China).

Public transport is 22% more expensive in Macao (China).

Salaries are 416% higher in Macao (China), and purchasing power comes out stronger 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 $589 per month in India and $1,778 in Macao (China), there's a 202% 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?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in India: 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) is consistently higher than in 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 in Macao (China)?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Macao (China) it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or to 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.

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