😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,095 in Macao (China) versus $365 in India.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,096 in Macao (China) versus $579 in India.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,097 in Macao (China) versus $792 in India.
🌍Living in Macao (China) is roughly 474% more expensive than in India on average.
📊Macao (China) (52% above) and India (73% below) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in India: monthly costs span $231 to $827, compared to $2,067–$2,122 in Macao (China). City choice carries more weight in India.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Macao (China)
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.38MOP 51.5
$2.06₹195
209.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.9MOP 459
$10.63₹1,004
434.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.92MOP 47.80
$3.70₹350
60.00%
Cappuccino
$4.98MOP 40.17
$1.74₹164
186.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00MOP 8.07
$0.37₹35.14
170.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78MOP 6.29
$0.17₹16.26
358.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.77MOP 46.61
$1.93₹182
198.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.11MOP 57.4
$3.06₹289
132.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Macao (China)
India
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.24MOP 26.20
$0.62₹58.6
422.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77MOP 14.28
$0.49₹46.45
261.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72MOP 13.87
$0.63₹59.8
173.02%
Eggs
$3.52MOP 28.44
$0.94₹88.5
274.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.53MOP 133
$4.67₹441
253.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$19.27MOP 156
$2.88₹272
569.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.97MOP 234
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.69MOP 21.73
$1.91₹180
40.84%
Banana(1kg)
$2.97MOP 23.97
$0.64₹60.6
364.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89MOP 15.22
$0.98₹92.8
92.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41MOP 19.47
$0.51₹47.90
372.55%
Potato(1kg)
$3.97MOP 32.10
$0.34₹31.92
1067.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.86MOP 23.11
$0.42₹39.68
580.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66MOP 5.37
$0.48₹45.44
37.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MOP 9.65
$0.29₹27.27
313.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.88MOP 55.6
$4.91₹464
40.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.25MOP 98.9
$7.27₹687
68.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MOP 13.65
$1.65₹156
2.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20MOP 17.74
$2.66₹251
-17.29%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.22₹493
-
🚌 Getting Around
Macao (China)
India
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.76MOP 6.16
$0.27₹25.67
181.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.38MOP 181
$8.45₹798
164.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.62MOP 21.19
$0.96₹90.9
172.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29MOP 10.39
$0.27₹25.74
377.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.91MOP 120
$1.60₹151
831.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.80MOP 14.56
$1.12₹106
60.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8KMOP 248.9K
$12.7K₹1.2M
142.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9KMOP 257.5K
$20.4K₹1.9M
56.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macao (China)
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121MOP 973
$37.48₹3,541
221.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.20MOP 187
$3.50₹331
562.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.33MOP 293
$7.16₹676
407.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Macao (China)
India
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.1MOP 558
$14.79₹1,398
366.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.66MOP 29.53
$7.08₹669
-48.31%
Cinema Ticket
$13.96MOP 113
$3.06₹289
356.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Macao (China)
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,214MOP 9,804
$57.0₹5,381
2031.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.4KMOP 156.6K
$1,679₹158.6K
1055.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Macao (China)
India
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.3MOP 559
$22.56₹2,131
206.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.69MOP 272
$24.04₹2,271
40.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.3MOP 754
$40.60₹3,836
129.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135MOP 1,088
$30.39₹2,871
343.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Macao (China)
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,111MOP 8,970
$145₹13.7K
665.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$941MOP 7,597
$91.4₹8,630
929.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,077MOP 16.8K
$335₹31.6K
520.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,662MOP 13.4K
$209₹19.8K
694.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$11.0KMOP 89.2K
$1,233₹116.5K
795.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$8,081MOP 65.2K
$626₹59.1K
1191.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Macao (China)
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,992MOP 16.1K
$443₹41.9K
349.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3
8.94
-66.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Macao (China): August 31, 2026
Last update for India: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $1,094 in Macao (China), $120 in India. Capital cities: $1,127 in Macao vs $272 in Delhi.
💰National salary averages: $1,984 in Macao (China), $408 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 812% higher in Macao (China).
⭐Dining out costs 460% more in Macao (China).
⭐Public transport is 57% more expensive in Macao (China).
⭐Salaries are 386% higher in Macao (China), and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.
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 $529 per month in India and $2,095 in Macao (China), there's a 296% 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.
Macao (China) vs other spots: cost of living compared