😐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, Spain23% 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
$6.04MOP 48.74
$16.17€14.03
-62.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.9MOP 443
$57.3€49.69
-4.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.28MOP 50.6
$10.62€9.21
-40.87%
Cappuccino
$4.74MOP 38.28
$2.38€2.07
99.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MOP 7.82
$2.59€2.25
-62.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75MOP 6.03
$1.91€1.66
-60.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.82MOP 46.99
$3.49€3.03
66.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.28MOP 58.7
$4.03€3.49
80.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.77MOP 22.37
$1.24€1.08
123.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.58MOP 12.75
$1.59€1.38
-0.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.48MOP 11.91
$1.59€1.38
-6.92%
Eggs
$2.85MOP 23.02
$3.05€2.65
-6.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.99MOP 153
$14.55€12.62
30.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.68MOP 62.0
$8.42€7.30
-8.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.15MOP 187
$15.52€13.47
49.16%
Apples(1kg)
$3.71MOP 29.94
$2.54€2.20
46.06%
Banana(1kg)
$3.08MOP 24.83
$2.01€1.74
53.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.82MOP 30.79
$2.09€1.81
82.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75MOP 22.20
$2.53€2.20
8.70%
Potato(1kg)
$4.39MOP 35.44
$1.85€1.60
137.30%
Onion(1kg)
$3.52MOP 28.40
$1.89€1.64
86.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.65MOP 13.30
$1.35€1.17
22.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MOP 8.74
$0.74€0.64
45.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.08MOP 49.08
$6.35€5.51
-4.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.18MOP 98.3
$5.66€4.91
115.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42MOP 11.49
$1.25€1.08
13.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09MOP 16.82
$2.06€1.79
1.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71MOP 5.71
$1.69€1.47
-57.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.48MOP 181
$35.10€30.45
-35.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.53MOP 20.42
$4.42€3.83
-42.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.18MOP 9.51
$1.34€1.16
-11.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.64MOP 118
$26.32€22.83
-44.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.78MOP 14.35
$1.84€1.59
-3.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5KMOP 246.0K
$38.8K€33.7K
-21.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KMOP 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)
$93.4MOP 753
$150€131
-37.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.67MOP 207
$20.56€17.84
24.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.24MOP 276
$34.49€29.92
-0.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$78.3MOP 632
$47.96€41.60
63.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.83MOP 22.83
$16.05€13.92
-82.37%
Cinema Ticket
$14.27MOP 115
$8.99€7.80
58.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$683MOP 5,506
$509€441
34.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.5KMOP 108.8K
$9,884€8,574
36.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.7MOP 522
$86.5€75.0
-25.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.78MOP 232
$37.14€32.22
-22.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.6MOP 723
$92.0€79.8
-2.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102MOP 825
$109€94.4
-6.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,144MOP 9,226
$1,045€907
9.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$857MOP 6,910
$834€723
2.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,059MOP 16.6K
$1,689€1,466
21.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,760MOP 14.2K
$1,238€1,074
42.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$11.1KMOP 89.6K
$4,378€3,798
153.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$8,298MOP 67.0K
$2,747€2,383
202.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Macao (China)
Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,980MOP 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