Cost of Living Comparison Between Macao (China) and Spain Cost of Living Comparison Between Macao (China) and Spain

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,797 in Macao (China) versus $1,646 in Spain.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,831 in Macao (China) versus $2,401 in Spain.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,864 in Macao (China) versus $3,155 in Spain.

Living in Macao (China) is roughly 9% more expensive than Spain on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: Macao (China) 34% above, Spain 23% above.

Internal cost variation is higher in Spain: monthly costs span $1,133 to $3,262, compared to $1,764$1,830 in Macao (China). City choice carries more weight in Spain.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.04 MOP 48.74
$16.17 €14.03
-62.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.9 MOP 443
$57.3 €49.69
-4.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.28 MOP 50.6
$10.62 €9.21
-40.87%
Cappuccino
$4.74 MOP 38.28
$2.38 €2.07
99.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MOP 7.82
$2.59 €2.25
-62.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 MOP 6.03
$1.91 €1.66
-60.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.82 MOP 46.99
$3.49 €3.03
66.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.28 MOP 58.7
$4.03 €3.49
80.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.77 MOP 22.37
$1.24 €1.08
123.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.58 MOP 12.75
$1.59 €1.38
-0.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 MOP 11.91
$1.59 €1.38
-6.92%
Eggs
$2.85 MOP 23.02
$3.05 €2.65
-6.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.99 MOP 153
$14.55 €12.62
30.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.68 MOP 62.0
$8.42 €7.30
-8.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.15 MOP 187
$15.52 €13.47
49.16%
Apples (1kg)
$3.71 MOP 29.94
$2.54 €2.20
46.06%
Banana (1kg)
$3.08 MOP 24.83
$2.01 €1.74
53.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.82 MOP 30.79
$2.09 €1.81
82.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.75 MOP 22.20
$2.53 €2.20
8.70%
Potato (1kg)
$4.39 MOP 35.44
$1.85 €1.60
137.30%
Onion (1kg)
$3.52 MOP 28.40
$1.89 €1.64
86.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.65 MOP 13.30
$1.35 €1.17
22.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MOP 8.74
$0.74 €0.64
45.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.08 MOP 49.08
$6.35 €5.51
-4.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.18 MOP 98.3
$5.66 €4.91
115.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 MOP 11.49
$1.25 €1.08
13.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 MOP 16.82
$2.06 €1.79
1.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.71 MOP 5.71
$1.69 €1.47
-57.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.48 MOP 181
$35.10 €30.45
-35.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.53 MOP 20.42
$4.42 €3.83
-42.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.18 MOP 9.51
$1.34 €1.16
-11.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.64 MOP 118
$26.32 €22.83
-44.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.78 MOP 14.35
$1.84 €1.59
-3.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K MOP 246.0K
$38.8K €33.7K
-21.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K MOP 225.7K
$31.6K €27.4K
-11.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.4 MOP 753
$150 €131
-37.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.67 MOP 207
$20.56 €17.84
24.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.24 MOP 276
$34.49 €29.92
-0.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.3 MOP 632
$47.96 €41.60
63.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.83 MOP 22.83
$16.05 €13.92
-82.37%
Cinema Ticket
$14.27 MOP 115
$8.99 €7.80
58.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$683 MOP 5,506
$509 €441
34.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.5K MOP 108.8K
$9,884 €8,574
36.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.7 MOP 522
$86.5 €75.0
-25.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.78 MOP 232
$37.14 €32.22
-22.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.6 MOP 723
$92.0 €79.8
-2.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 MOP 825
$109 €94.4
-6.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,144 MOP 9,226
$1,045 €907
9.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$857 MOP 6,910
$834 €723
2.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,059 MOP 16.6K
$1,689 €1,466
21.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,760 MOP 14.2K
$1,238 €1,074
42.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$11.1K MOP 89.6K
$4,378 €3,798
153.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,298 MOP 67.0K
$2,747 €2,383
202.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,980 MOP 16.0K
$2,073 €1,799
-4.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.21
3.51
-8.55%

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

Last update for Macao (China): June 2, 2026

Last update for Spain: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,143 in Macao (China), $898 in Spain. Capital cities: $1,064 in Macao vs $1,566 in Madrid.

National salary averages: $1,983 in Macao (China), $2,030 in Spain. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 27% higher in Macao (China).

Public transport is 200% more expensive in Spain.

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 Spain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Macao (China) and Spain?
At $1,797 per month in Macao (China) and $2,198 in Spain, there's a 22% 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?
Macao (China) is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 Spain beats Macao (China) across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Macao (China) or Spain?
In Macao (China), $2,500 covers most cities easily. In Spain, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Macao (China) or Spain?
It depends on what you're after. Macao (China) wins on affordability; Spain 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

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