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 $1,797 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
$6.04 MOP 48.74
-58.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.20 ₹1,349
$54.9 MOP 443
-74.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.98 ₹378
$6.28 MOP 50.6
-36.62%
Cappuccino
$1.88 ₹178
$4.74 MOP 38.28
-60.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ₹41.84
$0.97 MOP 7.82
-54.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 ₹18.50
$0.75 MOP 6.03
-74.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 ₹192
$5.82 MOP 46.99
-65.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 ₹328
$7.28 MOP 58.7
-52.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.72 ₹68.1
$2.77 MOP 22.37
-74.01%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 ₹49.10
$1.58 MOP 12.75
-67.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.72 ₹68.4
$1.48 MOP 11.91
-51.35%
Eggs
$0.93 ₹88.5
$2.85 MOP 23.02
-67.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.24 ₹498
$18.99 MOP 153
-72.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 ₹291
$7.68 MOP 62.0
-60.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$23.15 MOP 187
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 ₹206
$3.71 MOP 29.94
-41.51%
Banana (1kg)
$0.76 ₹71.9
$3.08 MOP 24.83
-75.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 ₹99.7
$3.82 MOP 30.79
-72.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 ₹50.5
$2.75 MOP 22.20
-80.73%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 ₹37.41
$4.39 MOP 35.44
-91.12%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 ₹46.65
$3.52 MOP 28.40
-86.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 ₹49.18
$1.65 MOP 13.30
-68.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₹31.02
$1.08 MOP 8.74
-69.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.05 ₹384
$6.08 MOP 49.08
-33.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.39 ₹701
$12.18 MOP 98.3
-39.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ₹175
$1.42 MOP 11.49
29.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₹276
$2.09 MOP 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
$0.71 MOP 5.71
-49.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.74 ₹925
$22.48 MOP 181
-56.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.95 ₹90.3
$2.53 MOP 20.42
-62.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 ₹28.54
$1.18 MOP 9.51
-74.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.73 ₹164
$14.64 MOP 118
-88.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ₹116
$1.78 MOP 14.35
-30.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K ₹1.3M
$30.5K MOP 246.0K
-54.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K ₹2.1M
$28.0K MOP 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
$93.4 MOP 753
-56.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.91 ₹371
$25.67 MOP 207
-84.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.81 ₹741
$34.24 MOP 276
-77.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.15 ₹1,533
$78.3 MOP 632
-79.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.49 ₹711
$2.83 MOP 22.83
164.66%
Cinema Ticket
$3.42 ₹325
$14.27 MOP 115
-76.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$69.9 ₹6,638
$683 MOP 5,506
-89.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,793 ₹170.2K
$13.5K MOP 108.8K
-86.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.83 ₹2,452
$64.7 MOP 522
-60.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.61 ₹2,527
$28.78 MOP 232
-7.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.24 ₹4,294
$89.6 MOP 723
-49.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.68 ₹3,198
$102 MOP 825
-67.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Macao (China)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$178 ₹16.9K
$1,144 MOP 9,226
-84.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$115 ₹10.9K
$857 MOP 6,910
-86.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$407 ₹38.6K
$2,059 MOP 16.6K
-80.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$264 ₹25.0K
$1,760 MOP 14.2K
-85.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,240 ₹117.7K
$11.1K MOP 89.6K
-88.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$631 ₹59.9K
$8,298 MOP 67.0K
-92.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$432 ₹41.0K
$1,980 MOP 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.

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