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