😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,095 in Macao (China) versus $1,688 in Spain.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,096 in Macao (China) versus $2,494 in Spain.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,097 in Macao (China) versus $3,299 in Spain.
🌍Living in Macao (China) is roughly 24% more expensive than in Spain on average.
📊Both countries sit above the global median: Macao (China) 52% above, Spain 23% above.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Spain: monthly costs span $980 to $2,739, compared to $2,067–$2,122 in Macao (China). City choice carries more weight in Spain.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.38MOP 51.5
$17.19€14.78
-62.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.9MOP 459
$57.3€49.25
-0.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.92MOP 47.80
$11.55€9.93
-48.74%
Cappuccino
$4.98MOP 40.17
$2.43€2.09
104.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00MOP 8.07
$2.61€2.25
-61.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78MOP 6.29
$1.87€1.60
-58.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.77MOP 46.61
$3.48€2.99
65.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.11MOP 57.4
$3.97€3.41
79.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.24MOP 26.20
$1.26€1.09
157.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77MOP 14.28
$1.52€1.31
16.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72MOP 13.87
$1.66€1.43
3.61%
Eggs
$3.52MOP 28.44
$3.43€2.95
2.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.53MOP 133
$14.76€12.69
11.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$19.27MOP 156
$8.78€7.55
119.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.97MOP 234
$16.77€14.41
72.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.69MOP 21.73
$2.61€2.25
3.07%
Banana(1kg)
$2.97MOP 23.97
$2.12€1.82
40.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89MOP 15.22
$2.13€1.83
-11.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41MOP 19.47
$2.67€2.30
-9.74%
Potato(1kg)
$3.97MOP 32.10
$1.91€1.64
107.85%
Onion(1kg)
$2.86MOP 23.11
$2.01€1.73
42.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66MOP 5.37
$1.35€1.16
-51.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MOP 9.65
$0.80€0.69
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.88MOP 55.6
$6.61€5.68
4.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.25MOP 98.9
$5.65€4.86
116.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MOP 13.65
$1.31€1.12
29.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20MOP 17.74
$2.14€1.84
2.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.76MOP 6.16
$1.70€1.46
-55.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.38MOP 181
$35.28€30.33
-36.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.62MOP 21.19
$4.58€3.94
-42.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29MOP 10.39
$1.53€1.32
-15.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.91MOP 120
$25.69€22.08
-41.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.80MOP 14.56
$1.79€1.54
0.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8KMOP 248.9K
$37.2K€32.0K
-17.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9KMOP 257.5K
$30.9K€26.6K
3.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121MOP 973
$151€130
-20.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.20MOP 187
$17.98€15.46
29.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.33MOP 293
$33.12€28.47
9.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.1MOP 558
$46.74€40.18
47.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.66MOP 29.53
$15.95€13.71
-77.05%
Cinema Ticket
$13.96MOP 113
$10.10€8.68
38.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,214MOP 9,804
$561€482
116.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.4KMOP 156.6K
$11.1K€9,531
74.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.3MOP 559
$86.8€74.6
-20.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.69MOP 272
$37.58€32.30
-10.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.3MOP 754
$91.5€78.7
2.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135MOP 1,088
$109€93.8
23.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,111MOP 8,970
$1,046€899
6.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$941MOP 7,597
$825€710
13.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,077MOP 16.8K
$1,637€1,407
26.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,662MOP 13.4K
$1,267€1,089
31.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$11.0KMOP 89.2K
$4,290€3,688
157.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$8,081MOP 65.2K
$2,675€2,300
202.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,992MOP 16.1K
$2,046€1,759
-2.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3
3.29
-8.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Macao (China): August 31, 2026
Last update for Spain: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $1,094 in Macao (China), $927 in Spain. Capital cities: $1,127 in Macao vs $1,583 in Madrid.
💰National salary averages: $1,984 in Macao (China), $2,039 in Spain. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 18% higher in Macao (China).
⭐Public transport is 173% 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 $2,095 per month in Macao (China) and $1,860 in Spain, there's a 13% 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 Spain: 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 Spain across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget in Macao (China) or in Spain?
In Spain, $3,000 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 Spain?
It depends on what you're after: Spain 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