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 Macao (China) and in India
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Macao (China) and in India actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,009 in Macao (China) versus $391 in India.
Macao (China) $2,009
India $391
Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,040 in Macao (China) versus $620 in India.
Macao (China) $3,040
India $620
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,070 in Macao (China) versus $849 in India.
Macao (China) $4,070
India $849
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in India: monthly costs span $228 to $812, compared to $2,021–$2,114 in Macao (China). City choice carries more weight in India.
🌍
Living in Macao (China) is roughly 414% more expensive than in India on average.
📊
Macao (China) (49% above) and India (71% below) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Macao (China)
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.08MOP 49.12
$2.14₹203
184.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7MOP 442
$10.57₹1,004
417.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.15MOP 49.70
$3.77₹358
63.13%
Cappuccino
$5.05MOP 40.85
$1.76₹167
186.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02MOP 8.28
$0.42₹39.67
142.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79MOP 6.35
$0.14₹13.45
464.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.63MOP 45.47
$1.95₹186
188.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.40MOP 59.8
$3.11₹295
137.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Macao (China)
India
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.11MOP 25.14
$0.63₹59.6
393.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.70MOP 13.72
$0.46₹43.45
269.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73MOP 13.98
$0.68₹64.3
154.41%
Eggs
$3.46MOP 27.96
$0.93₹88.4
272.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.90MOP 129
$4.83₹458
229.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$19.62MOP 159
$2.91₹276
574.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.68MOP 232
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.70MOP 21.85
$2.00₹190
35.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.87MOP 23.19
$0.63₹59.6
355.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93MOP 15.62
$0.98₹92.8
96.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MOP 19.07
$0.51₹48.04
362.75%
Potato(1kg)
$3.85MOP 31.08
$0.36₹34.28
969.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.97MOP 23.99
$0.39₹36.72
661.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62MOP 5.04
$0.43₹41.31
44.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15MOP 9.31
$0.29₹27.53
296.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76MOP 54.7
$5.14₹488
31.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.20MOP 98.6
$7.33₹696
66.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79MOP 14.46
$1.65₹157
8.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18MOP 17.65
$2.73₹259
-20.15%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.08₹483
-
🚌 Getting Around
Macao (China)
India
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71MOP 5.73
$0.25₹23.70
184.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.62MOP 183
$8.49₹806
166.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.58MOP 20.88
$1.03₹97.9
150.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.28MOP 10.34
$0.25₹23.69
412.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.79MOP 120
$1.61₹153
818.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.85MOP 14.95
$1.07₹101
72.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8KMOP 248.7K
$11.3K₹1.1M
171.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KMOP 251.7K
$20.1K₹1.9M
54.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macao (China)
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124MOP 1,000
$37.73₹3,583
227.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.96MOP 194
$3.58₹340
569.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.38MOP 302
$6.89₹655
442.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Macao (China)
India
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.9MOP 541
$14.63₹1,390
357.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.68MOP 29.72
$7.25₹688
-49.24%
Cinema Ticket
$13.83MOP 112
$3.17₹301
336.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Macao (China)
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,234MOP 9,972
$56.5₹5,369
2082.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.7KMOP 150.8K
$1,646₹156.3K
1033.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Macao (China)
India
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.5MOP 569
$22.73₹2,158
209.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.85MOP 274
$24.04₹2,283
40.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.0MOP 752
$41.04₹3,898
126.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137MOP 1,108
$30.60₹2,906
347.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Macao (China)
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,100MOP 8,892
$144₹13.6K
665.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$931MOP 7,529
$91.5₹8,691
917.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,101MOP 17.0K
$324₹30.8K
547.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MOP 13.3K
$214₹20.3K
669.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$10.8KMOP 87.3K
$1,200₹114.0K
799.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$8,075MOP 65.3K
$619₹58.8K
1204.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Macao (China)
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,031MOP 16.4K
$440₹41.8K
361.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3
8.92
-66.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Macao (China): October 17, 2026
Last update for India: October 19, 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.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Macao (China)
$931 46.7%
India
$92 23.1% ↓ 90.2%$840
🛒Groceries & Markets
Macao (China)
$422 21.2%
India
$102 25.8% ↓ 75.9%$320
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macao (China)
$185 9.3%
India
$48 12.2% ↓ 74%$137
🍽Eating Out
Macao (China)
$178 8.9%
India
$68 17.1% ↓ 61.9%$110
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Macao (China)
$150 7.5%
India
$53 13.5% ↓ 64.6%$97
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Macao (China)
$95 4.7%
India
$21 5.3% ↓ 77.8%$74
🚌Getting Around
Macao (China)
$34 1.7%
India
$12 3% ↓ 65.9%$23
🏠Accommodation & Living
Macao (China)
$1.6K 40.3%
India
$214 24.8% ↓ 87%$1.4K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Macao (China)
$1K 24.7%
India
$220 25.5% ↓ 78.2%$787
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macao (China)
$209 5.1%
India
$52 6% ↓ 75.2%$157
🍽Eating Out
Macao (China)
$620 15.2%
India
$184 21.4% ↓ 70.4%$436
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Macao (China)
$334 8.2%
India
$118 13.8% ↓ 64.6%$216
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Macao (China)
$193 4.7%
India
$49 5.7% ↓ 74.5%$144
🚌Getting Around
Macao (China)
$70 1.7%
India
$24 2.8% ↓ 65.8%$46
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $1,078 in Macao (China), $119 in India. Capital cities: $1,103 in Macao vs $267 in Delhi.
💰National salary averages: $2,041 in Macao (China), $411 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 806% higher in Macao (China).
⭐Dining out costs 460% 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
Macao (China) vs India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Macao (China)?
At $391 per month in India and $2,009 in Macao (China), there's a 414% 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 $1,078 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.
Macao (China) vs other spots: cost of living compared