Cost of Living Comparison Between Macao and Auburn, AL Cost of Living Comparison Between Macao and Auburn, AL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,122 in Macao versus $1,935 in Auburn, AL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,990 in Macao versus $2,836 in Auburn, AL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,858 in Macao versus $3,736 in Auburn, AL.

Living in Macao is roughly 10% more expensive than in Auburn, AL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Macao 54% above, Auburn, AL 41% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.30 MOP 50.9

$12.94 $12.94

-51.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.2 MOP 446

$47.01 $47.01

17.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.89 MOP 47.53

$10.32 $10.32

-42.93%

Cappuccino

$5.17 MOP 41.72

$5.09 $5.09

1.57%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 MOP 8.21

$2.40 $2.40

-57.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 MOP 7.01

$1.92 $1.92

-54.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.87 MOP 47.42

$5.10 $5.10

15.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.48 MOP 60.4

$5.89 $5.89

26.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.15 MOP 25.42

$0.88 $0.88

257.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.76 MOP 14.22

$2.92 $2.92

-39.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 MOP 13.55

$2.67 $2.67

-37.08%

Eggs

$3.38 MOP 27.32

$4.08 $4.08

-17.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.02 MOP 129

$9.32 $9.32

71.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$19.37 MOP 156

$6.44 $6.44

200.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$28.90 MOP 233

$10.56 $10.56

173.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 MOP 21.72

$3.72 $3.72

-27.69%

Banana (1kg)

$2.87 MOP 23.17

$1.19 $1.19

141.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 MOP 15.16

$2.40 $2.40

-21.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 MOP 19.89

$2.97 $2.97

-17.17%

Potato (1kg)

$3.92 MOP 31.65

$1.85 $1.85

111.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 MOP 23.56

$2.19 $2.19

33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 MOP 4.96

$2.03 $2.03

-69.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MOP 9.77

$1.81 $1.81

-33.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.88 MOP 55.6

$6.81 $6.81

1.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.29 MOP 99.3

$12.30 $12.30

-0.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 MOP 13.92

$1.67 $1.67

2.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 MOP 17.76

$3.25 $3.25

-32.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MOP 6.23

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.27 MOP 180

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 MOP 20.37

$4.19 $4.19

-39.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 MOP 9.91

$1.94 $1.94

-36.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.91 MOP 120

$32.19 $32.19

-53.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.85 MOP 14.96

$0.78 $0.78

137.18%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.0K MOP 250.6K

$34.6K $34.6K

-10.29%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.8K MOP 256.7K

$24.9K $24.9K

27.49%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$120 MOP 969

$171 $171

-29.71%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$23.91 MOP 193

$60.9 $60.9

-60.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.83 MOP 297

$63.9 $63.9

-42.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.0 MOP 525

$65.6 $65.6

-0.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.81 MOP 30.77

Cinema Ticket

$14.53 MOP 117

$11.94 $11.94

21.69%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,217 MOP 9,831

$1,542 $1,542

-21.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K MOP 151.5K

$8,288 $8,288

126.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.2 MOP 559

$49.32 $49.32

40.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.86 MOP 273

$48.84 $48.84

-30.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.1 MOP 744

$67.5 $67.5

36.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 MOP 1,101

$65.5 $65.5

108.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,127 MOP 9,104

$1,276 $1,276

-11.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,084 MOP 8,757

$910 $910

19.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,086 MOP 16.8K

$2,123 $2,123

-1.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,472 MOP 11.9K

$1,572 $1,572

-6.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,369 MOP 67.6K

$2,244 $2,244

272.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,647 MOP 45.6K

$2,064 $2,064

173.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,984 MOP 16.0K

$4,188 $4,188

-52.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

-50.82%

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

Last update for Macao: August 30, 2026

Last update for Auburn, AL: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,127 in Macao and $1,276 in Auburn, AL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Auburn, AL pays 111% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $55.0 in Macao vs $47.00 in Auburn, AL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $424 vs $286 per month, with Auburn, AL cheaper across the board.

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 vs Auburn, AL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Macao and Auburn, AL differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($2,122 vs $1,935 including rent). Auburn, AL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 111% lower in Auburn, AL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,127 in Macao versus $1,276 in Auburn, AL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,217 in Macao versus $1,542 in Auburn, AL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Auburn, AL – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $55.0 in Macao. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,935 in Auburn, AL versus $2,122 in Macao, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Auburn, AL but tight or insufficient in Macao. The gap between the two cities makes Auburn, AL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Macao and Auburn, AL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Auburn, AL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Macao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.