For one person, living is cheaper in Pakistan: $473 a month against $1,996 in Macao (China), rent and utilities included – about $18,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Macao (China) and in Pakistan
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 Pakistan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,996 in Macao (China) versus $473 in Pakistan.
Macao (China) $1,996
Pakistan $473
Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,037 in Macao (China) versus $720 in Pakistan.
Macao (China) $3,037
Pakistan $720
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,078 in Macao (China) versus $968 in Pakistan.
Macao (China) $4,078
Pakistan $968
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Pakistan: monthly costs span $291 to $602, compared to $2,035–$2,139 in Macao (China). City choice carries more weight in Pakistan.
🌍
Living in Macao (China) is roughly 322% more expensive than in Pakistan on average.
📊
Macao (China) (47% above) and Pakistan (65% below) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Macao (China)
Pakistan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.08MOP 49.12
$2.10PKR 583
189.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7MOP 442
$13.70PKR 3,793
298.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.15MOP 49.70
$5.56PKR 1,539
10.61%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.14PKR 591
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.46PKR 1,234
-
Cappuccino
$5.05MOP 40.85
$1.98PKR 549
155.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02MOP 8.28
$0.37PKR 104
175.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79MOP 6.35
$0.21PKR 58.0
276.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.63MOP 45.47
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.40MOP 59.8
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Macao (China)
Pakistan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.11MOP 25.14
$0.88PKR 243
253.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.70MOP 13.72
$0.59PKR 163
188.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73MOP 13.98
$1.21PKR 336
42.98%
Eggs
$3.46MOP 27.96
$1.22PKR 337
183.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.90MOP 129
$5.66PKR 1,566
180.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$19.62MOP 159
$2.82PKR 779
595.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.68MOP 232
$5.19PKR 1,436
452.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70MOP 21.85
$1.21PKR 334
123.14%
Banana(1kg)
$2.87MOP 23.19
$0.65PKR 181
341.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93MOP 15.62
$0.89PKR 247
116.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MOP 19.07
$0.59PKR 164
300.00%
Potato(1kg)
$3.85MOP 31.08
$0.31PKR 84.8
1141.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.97MOP 23.99
$0.41PKR 114
624.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62MOP 5.04
$0.35PKR 95.5
77.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15MOP 9.31
$0.38PKR 104
202.63%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.07PKR 573
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.12PKR 309
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.25PKR 624
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76MOP 54.7
$2.13PKR 590
217.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.20MOP 98.6
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79MOP 14.46
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18MOP 17.65
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Macao (China)
Pakistan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71MOP 5.73
$0.16PKR 44.06
343.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.62MOP 183
$10.15PKR 2,810
122.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.58MOP 20.88
$0.88PKR 244
193.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.28MOP 10.34
$0.53PKR 146
141.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.79MOP 120
$2.12PKR 586
597.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.85MOP 14.95
$1.25PKR 346
48.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8KMOP 248.7K
$18.2KPKR 5.0M
69.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KMOP 251.7K
$23.6KPKR 6.5M
32.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macao (China)
Pakistan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124MOP 1,000
$109PKR 30.3K
13.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.96MOP 194
$5.40PKR 1,495
343.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.38MOP 302
$16.19PKR 4,480
130.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Macao (China)
Pakistan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.9MOP 541
$17.15PKR 4,746
289.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.68MOP 29.72
$11.40PKR 3,155
-67.72%
Cinema Ticket
$13.83MOP 112
$4.36PKR 1,206
217.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Macao (China)
Pakistan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,234MOP 9,972
$46.28PKR 12.8K
2565.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.7KMOP 150.8K
$1,513PKR 418.7K
1132.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Macao (China)
Pakistan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.5MOP 569
$17.14PKR 4,745
311.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.85MOP 274
$23.35PKR 6,462
44.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.0MOP 752
$75.7PKR 21.0K
22.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137MOP 1,108
$35.05PKR 9,701
290.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Macao (China)
Pakistan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,100MOP 8,892
$141PKR 39.0K
681.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$931MOP 7,529
$78.9PKR 21.8K
1080.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,101MOP 17.0K
$322PKR 89.1K
552.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MOP 13.3K
$172PKR 47.7K
854.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$10.8KMOP 87.3K
$1,047PKR 289.7K
932.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$8,075MOP 65.3K
$523PKR 144.7K
1444.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Macao (China)
Pakistan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,031MOP 16.4K
$189PKR 52.4K
973.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3
14.1
-78.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Macao (China): October 17, 2026
Last update for Pakistan: October 18, 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%
Pakistan
$79 16.7% ↓ 91.5%$853
🛒Groceries & Markets
Macao (China)
$422 21.2%
Pakistan
$95 20.1% ↓ 77.5%$327
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macao (China)
$185 9.3%
Pakistan
$131 27.7% ↓ 29.2%$54
🍽Eating Out
Macao (China)
$178 8.9%
Pakistan
$60 12.6% ↓ 66.5%$118
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Macao (China)
$150 7.5%
Pakistan
$68 14.4% ↓ 54.8%$82
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Macao (China)
$95 4.7%
Pakistan
$26 5.5% ↓ 72.6%$69
🚌Getting Around
Macao (China)
$34 1.7%
Pakistan
$14 3% ↓ 58.5%$20
🏠Accommodation & Living
Macao (China)
$1.6K 40.3%
Pakistan
$172 17.8% ↓ 89.5%$1.5K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Macao (China)
$1K 24.7%
Pakistan
$231 23.8% ↓ 77.1%$776
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macao (China)
$209 5.1%
Pakistan
$136 14.1% ↓ 34.7%$73
🍽Eating Out
Macao (China)
$620 15.2%
Pakistan
$185 19.2% ↓ 70.1%$435
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Macao (China)
$334 8.2%
Pakistan
$151 15.6% ↓ 54.8%$183
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Macao (China)
$193 4.7%
Pakistan
$63 6.5% ↓ 67.2%$130
🚌Getting Around
Macao (China)
$70 1.7%
Pakistan
$29 3% ↓ 58.9%$41
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $1,101 in Macao (China), $124 in Pakistan. Capital cities: $1,132 in Macao vs $269 in Islamabad.
💰National salary averages: $2,054 in Macao (China), $185 in Pakistan. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 788% higher in Macao (China).
⭐Dining out costs 323% more in Macao (China).
⭐Public transport is 22% more expensive in Macao (China).
⭐Salaries are 1010% higher in Macao (China), and purchasing power comes out stronger in Macao (China).
Macao (China)→Pakistan4,150 km≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
Macao (China)
Pakistan
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 Pakistan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Macao (China) and Pakistan?
At $1,996 per month in Macao (China) and $473 in Pakistan, there's a 322% 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 Pakistan: 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 $124 in Pakistan. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Macao (China) or in Pakistan?
In Pakistan, $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 Macao (China) or to Pakistan?
It depends on what you're after: Pakistan 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