🙂A single person spends $1,721 per month in Macao vs $2,546 in Bishops Stortford, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,815 per month in Macao vs $3,749 in Bishops Stortford, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,908 per month in Macao vs $4,952 in Bishops Stortford, rent included.
🙂Macao is about 32% cheaper than Bishops Stortford, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Macao and Bishops Stortford sit above the global median – Macao by 29%, Bishops Stortford by 91%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Macao
Bishops Stortford
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.24MOP 50.4
$20.12£14.98
-68.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.70MOP 401
$82.5£61.4
-39.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.32MOP 51.1
$9.91£7.38
-36.23%
Cappuccino
$4.87MOP 39.33
$4.35£3.24
11.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20MOP 9.66
$1.90£1.42
-36.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MOP 7.10
$1.66£1.23
-46.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.67MOP 45.78
$5.48£4.08
3.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.14MOP 57.7
$5.53£4.12
29.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Macao
Bishops Stortford
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.95MOP 23.84
$1.15£0.86
156.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59MOP 12.81
$1.54£1.14
3.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.53MOP 12.32
$2.05£1.53
-25.37%
Eggs
$3.08MOP 24.86
$4.33£3.23
-28.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.32MOP 140
$10.08£7.50
71.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.80MOP 63.0
$7.33£5.46
6.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.05MOP 186
$17.57£13.08
31.19%
Apples(1kg)
$3.76MOP 30.39
$1.51£1.12
149.01%
Banana(1kg)
$3.00MOP 24.26
$0.98£0.73
206.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.75MOP 30.31
$3.39£2.52
10.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75MOP 22.17
$2.62£1.95
4.96%
Potato(1kg)
$4.26MOP 34.40
$0.57£0.42
647.37%
Onion(1kg)
$3.38MOP 27.30
$0.65£0.48
420.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62MOP 13.11
$0.60£0.45
170.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MOP 8.77
$0.42£0.32
159.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.19MOP 49.96
$16.60£12.36
-62.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.27MOP 99.1
$10.61£7.90
15.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MOP 11.34
$1.19£0.88
17.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09MOP 16.87
$2.81£2.09
-25.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Macao
Bishops Stortford
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.77MOP 6.21
$4.14£3.08
-81.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.92MOP 177
$77.7£57.9
-71.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.63MOP 21.25
$2.79£2.07
-5.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.17MOP 9.49
$1.64£1.22
-28.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.96MOP 121
$13.69£10.19
9.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.74MOP 14.09
$1.92£1.43
-9.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0KMOP 250.6K
$22.1K£16.4K
40.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5KMOP 221.7K
$35.8K£26.7K
-23.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macao
Bishops Stortford
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103MOP 830
$351£261
-70.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.16MOP 203
$17.61£13.11
42.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.06MOP 267
$35.29£26.28
-6.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Macao
Bishops Stortford
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$85.1MOP 687
$47.10£35.06
80.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.45MOP 27.88
$8.36£6.22
-58.73%
Cinema Ticket
$14.39MOP 116
$12.17£9.06
18.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Macao
Bishops Stortford
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693MOP 5,599
$1,749£1,302
-60.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.6KMOP 110.0K
$6,848£5,098
98.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Macao
Bishops Stortford
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.9MOP 524
$47.16£35.11
37.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.20MOP 236
$33.93£25.26
-13.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.5MOP 715
$70.3£52.3
25.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102MOP 820
$90.7£67.5
12.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Macao
Bishops Stortford
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,061MOP 8,568
$1,443£1,074
-26.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$771MOP 6,223
$1,279£952
-39.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,955MOP 15.8K
$2,168£1,614
-9.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,593MOP 12.9K
$2,204£1,641
-27.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,503MOP 68.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,652MOP 45.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Macao
Bishops Stortford
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,055MOP 16.6K
$2,749£2,047
-25.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.28
5.9
-44.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Macao: July 11, 2026
Last update for Bishops Stortford: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,061 in Macao versus $1,443 in Bishops Stortford. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 34% higher in Bishops Stortford, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Macao versus $82.0 in Bishops Stortford. Groceries tell a different story – $364 in Macao vs $255 in Bishops Stortford – so Bishops Stortford wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Bishops Stortford: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Macao and in Bishops Stortford compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,721 in Macao, $2,546 in Bishops Stortford – roughly 48% apart. Bishops Stortford costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Macao compared to Bishops Stortford?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,582 per month in Macao and $3,819 in Bishops Stortford. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Macao and Bishops Stortford?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Macao, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Macao or Bishops Stortford?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,721 in Macao and $2,546 in Bishops Stortford. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Macao and in Bishops Stortford?
Public transport costs about 255% less in Macao. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Macao, where all-in costs run around $1,721, than in Bishops Stortford at $2,546. In Macao it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bishops Stortford it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Macao or Bishops Stortford?
Families tend to lean toward Macao – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Macao or Bishops Stortford safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Macao and Bishops Stortford?
If budget matters most, go with Macao. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bishops Stortford makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.