For one person, living is cheaper in India: $395 a month against $1,996 in Macao (China), rent and utilities included – about $19,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in India 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 India and in Macao (China) actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $395 in India versus $1,996 in Macao (China).
India $395
Macao (China) $1,996
Estimated couple costs with rent: $628 in India versus $3,037 in Macao (China).
India $628
Macao (China) $3,037
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $861 in India versus $4,078 in Macao (China).
India $861
Macao (China) $4,078
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in India: monthly costs span $229 to $828, compared to $2,035–$2,139 in Macao (China). City choice carries more weight in India.
🌍
Living in India costs about 80% less than in Macao (China) on average.
📊
India (71% below) and Macao (China) (47% above) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14₹203
$6.08MOP 49.12
-64.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.57₹1,004
$54.7MOP 442
-80.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.77₹358
$6.15MOP 49.70
-38.70%
Cappuccino
$1.76₹167
$5.05MOP 40.85
-65.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₹39.67
$1.02MOP 8.28
-58.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14₹13.45
$0.79MOP 6.35
-82.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.95₹186
$5.63MOP 45.47
-65.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11₹295
$7.40MOP 59.8
-57.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.63₹59.6
$3.11MOP 25.14
-79.74%
White Bread(500g)
$0.46₹43.45
$1.70MOP 13.72
-72.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.68₹64.3
$1.73MOP 13.98
-60.69%
Eggs
$0.93₹88.4
$3.46MOP 27.96
-73.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.83₹458
$15.90MOP 129
-69.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.91₹276
$19.62MOP 159
-85.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$28.68MOP 232
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.00₹190
$2.70MOP 21.85
-25.93%
Banana(1kg)
$0.63₹59.6
$2.87MOP 23.19
-78.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.98₹92.8
$1.93MOP 15.62
-49.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.51₹48.04
$2.36MOP 19.07
-78.39%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36₹34.28
$3.85MOP 31.08
-90.65%
Onion(1kg)
$0.39₹36.72
$2.97MOP 23.99
-86.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.43₹41.31
$0.62MOP 5.04
-30.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29₹27.53
$1.15MOP 9.31
-74.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.14₹488
$6.76MOP 54.7
-23.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.33₹696
$12.20MOP 98.6
-39.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65₹157
$1.79MOP 14.46
-7.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73₹259
$2.18MOP 17.65
25.23%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.08₹483
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Macao (China)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₹23.70
$0.71MOP 5.73
-64.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.49₹806
$22.62MOP 183
-62.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.03₹97.9
$2.58MOP 20.88
-60.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25₹23.69
$1.28MOP 10.34
-80.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.61₹153
$14.79MOP 120
-89.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07₹101
$1.85MOP 14.95
-42.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.3K₹1.1M
$30.8KMOP 248.7K
-63.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K₹1.9M
$31.1KMOP 251.7K
-35.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$37.73₹3,583
$124MOP 1,000
-69.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.58₹340
$23.96MOP 194
-85.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.89₹655
$37.38MOP 302
-81.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.63₹1,390
$66.9MOP 541
-78.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.25₹688
$3.68MOP 29.72
97.01%
Cinema Ticket
$3.17₹301
$13.83MOP 112
-77.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$56.5₹5,369
$1,234MOP 9,972
-95.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,646₹156.3K
$18.7KMOP 150.8K
-91.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.73₹2,158
$70.5MOP 569
-67.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.04₹2,283
$33.85MOP 274
-28.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.04₹3,898
$93.0MOP 752
-55.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.60₹2,906
$137MOP 1,108
-77.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Macao (China)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$144₹13.6K
$1,100MOP 8,892
-86.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$91.5₹8,691
$931MOP 7,529
-90.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$324₹30.8K
$2,101MOP 17.0K
-84.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$214₹20.3K
$1,644MOP 13.3K
-87.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,200₹114.0K
$10.8KMOP 87.3K
-88.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$619₹58.8K
$8,075MOP 65.3K
-92.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Macao (China)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$440₹41.8K
$2,031MOP 16.4K
-78.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.92
3
197.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for India: October 19, 2026
Last update for Macao (China): October 17, 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.
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$102 25.8%
Macao (China)
$422 21.2% ↑ 314%$320
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$92 23.1%
Macao (China)
$931 46.7% ↑ 918%$840
🍽Eating Out
India
$68 17.1%
Macao (China)
$178 8.9% ↑ 163%$110
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$53 13.5%
Macao (China)
$150 7.5% ↑ 182%$97
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$48 12.2%
Macao (China)
$185 9.3% ↑ 284%$137
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$21 5.3%
Macao (China)
$95 4.7% ↑ 351%$74
🚌Getting Around
India
$12 3%
Macao (China)
$34 1.7% ↑ 193%$23
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$220 25.5%
Macao (China)
$1K 24.7% ↑ 358%$787
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$214 24.8%
Macao (China)
$1.6K 40.3% ↑ 670%$1.4K
🍽Eating Out
India
$184 21.4%
Macao (China)
$620 15.2% ↑ 238%$436
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$118 13.8%
Macao (China)
$334 8.2% ↑ 182%$216
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$52 6%
Macao (China)
$209 5.1% ↑ 304%$157
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$49 5.7%
Macao (China)
$193 4.7% ↑ 292%$144
🚌Getting Around
India
$24 2.8%
Macao (China)
$70 1.7% ↑ 193%$46
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $119 in India, $1,101 in Macao (China). Capital cities: $271 in Delhi vs $1,132 in Macao.
💰National salary averages: $413 in India, $2,054 in Macao (China). Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 825% higher in Macao (China).
⭐Dining out costs 450% more in Macao (China).
⭐Public transport is 57% more expensive in 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
India vs Macao (China): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Macao (China)?
At $395 per month in India and $1,996 in Macao (China), there's a 405% 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 cheaper in India: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. 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 for a central one-bedroom averages $1,101 in Macao (China) and $119 in India. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
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.