Cost of Living Comparison Between Kawasaki and Macao Cost of Living Comparison Between Kawasaki and Macao

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,491 per month in Kawasaki vs $2,122 in Macao, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,261 per month in Kawasaki vs $2,990 in Macao, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,030 per month in Kawasaki vs $3,858 in Macao, rent included.

Kawasaki is about 30% cheaper than Macao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kawasaki and Macao sit above the global median – Kawasaki by 9%, Macao by 54%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kawasaki
Macao
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.69 ¥1,222
$6.30 MOP 50.9
22.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.31 ¥6,565
$55.2 MOP 446
-25.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.97 ¥789
$5.89 MOP 47.53
-15.62%
Cappuccino
$2.56 ¥406
$5.17 MOP 41.72
-50.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 ¥270
$1.02 MOP 8.21
66.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ¥138
$0.87 MOP 7.01
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.10 ¥493
$5.87 MOP 47.42
-47.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 ¥491
$7.48 MOP 60.4
-58.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kawasaki
Macao
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ¥248
$3.15 MOP 25.43
-50.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.52 ¥241
$1.76 MOP 14.22
-13.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.34 ¥689
$1.68 MOP 13.55
158.33%
Eggs
$2.11 ¥336
$3.38 MOP 27.33
-37.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.32 ¥1,799
$16.02 MOP 129
-29.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.98 ¥1,108
$19.37 MOP 156
-63.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.99 ¥2,700
$28.90 MOP 233
-41.21%
Apples (1kg)
$6.20 ¥986
$2.69 MOP 21.72
130.48%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 ¥437
$2.87 MOP 23.18
-4.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.09 ¥809
$1.88 MOP 15.16
170.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.98 ¥951
$2.46 MOP 19.90
143.09%
Potato (1kg)
$3.63 ¥577
$3.92 MOP 31.66
-7.40%
Onion (1kg)
$3.35 ¥532
$2.92 MOP 23.56
14.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 ¥200
$0.61 MOP 4.96
106.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥132
$1.21 MOP 9.77
-31.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 ¥622
$6.88 MOP 55.6
-43.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.65 ¥1,533
$12.29 MOP 99.3
-21.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 ¥371
$1.72 MOP 13.92
35.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 ¥483
$2.20 MOP 17.76
38.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Kawasaki
Macao
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.86 ¥295
$0.77 MOP 6.23
141.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.2 ¥7,975
$22.27 MOP 180
125.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.21 ¥509
$2.52 MOP 20.37
27.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.15 ¥500
$1.23 MOP 9.92
156.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.51 ¥2,942
$14.91 MOP 120
24.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥174
$1.85 MOP 14.97
-41.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K ¥3.4M
$31.0K MOP 250.6K
-30.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.1K ¥2.4M
$31.8K MOP 256.7K
-52.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kawasaki
Macao
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ¥19.9K
$120 MOP 970
4.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.59 ¥3,748
$23.91 MOP 193
-1.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.35 ¥4,981
$36.83 MOP 297
-14.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kawasaki
Macao
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.2 ¥8,769
$65.0 MOP 525
-15.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.38 ¥1,014
$3.81 MOP 30.77
67.45%
Cinema Ticket
$12.12 ¥1,926
$14.53 MOP 117
-16.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kawasaki
Macao
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$577 ¥91.7K
$1,217 MOP 9,832
-52.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ¥2.3M
$18.8K MOP 151.5K
-22.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kawasaki
Macao
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6 ¥8,034
$69.2 MOP 559
-26.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.57 ¥5,175
$33.86 MOP 273
-3.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.8 ¥9,981
$92.1 MOP 744
-31.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.8 ¥12.0K
$136 MOP 1,102
-44.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kawasaki
Macao
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$761 ¥121.0K
$1,127 MOP 9,105
-32.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$554 ¥88.0K
$1,084 MOP 8,758
-48.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,273 ¥202.3K
$2,086 MOP 16.8K
-38.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$994 ¥158.0K
$1,472 MOP 11.9K
-32.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,644 ¥737.9K
$8,369 MOP 67.6K
-44.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,154 ¥501.1K
$5,647 MOP 45.6K
-44.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kawasaki
Macao
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,550 ¥405.2K
$1,984 MOP 16.0K
28.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.66
3
-44.67%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kawasaki: September 1, 2026

Last update for Macao: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $761 in Kawasaki versus $1,127 in Macao. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 29% higher in Kawasaki, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Kawasaki versus $55.0 in Macao. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $344 vs $424 – making Kawasaki the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Kawasaki vs Macao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kawasaki or Macao?
Macao costs about 42% more than Kawasaki, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kawasaki and in Macao?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,237 per month in Kawasaki and $3,183 in Macao. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kawasaki or Macao?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kawasaki, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Kawasaki and in Macao?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Kawasaki and $55.0 in Macao. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Kawasaki compared to Macao?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,491 in Kawasaki and $2,122 in Macao. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kawasaki or in Macao?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kawasaki, where all-in costs run around $1,491, than in Macao at $2,122. In Kawasaki it covers expenses comfortably, while in Macao it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kawasaki or Macao?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kawasaki costs $1,491 versus $2,122 in Macao. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kawasaki compared to Macao?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Kawasaki or to Macao?
If budget matters most, go with Kawasaki. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Macao makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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