🙂A single person spends $2,122 per month in Macao vs $2,627 in Bishops Stortford, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,990 per month in Macao vs $3,682 in Bishops Stortford, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,858 per month in Macao vs $4,736 in Bishops Stortford, rent included.
🙂Macao is about 19% cheaper than Bishops Stortford, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Macao and Bishops Stortford sit above the global median – Macao by 54%, Bishops Stortford by 91%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Macao
Bishops Stortford
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.30MOP 50.9
$20.88£15.44
-69.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.2MOP 445
$59.6£44.02
-7.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.89MOP 47.52
$9.24£6.83
-36.26%
Cappuccino
$5.17MOP 41.72
$4.82£3.56
7.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02MOP 8.21
$3.24£2.40
-68.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87MOP 7.01
$1.73£1.28
-49.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.87MOP 47.41
$6.95£5.14
-15.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.48MOP 60.4
$6.19£4.58
20.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Macao
Bishops Stortford
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.15MOP 25.42
$1.30£0.96
142.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76MOP 14.22
$2.07£1.53
-14.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.68MOP 13.55
$1.61£1.19
4.35%
Eggs
$3.38MOP 27.32
$4.21£3.11
-19.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.02MOP 129
$8.62£6.37
85.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$19.37MOP 156
$9.49£7.01
104.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.90MOP 233
$16.75£12.38
72.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.69MOP 21.72
$3.09£2.29
-12.94%
Banana(1kg)
$2.87MOP 23.17
$1.50£1.11
91.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88MOP 15.16
$2.01£1.48
-6.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46MOP 19.89
$3.29£2.43
-25.23%
Potato(1kg)
$3.92MOP 31.65
$1.43£1.06
174.13%
Onion(1kg)
$2.92MOP 23.55
$1.89£1.40
54.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61MOP 4.96
$1.48£1.10
-58.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MOP 9.77
$1.25£0.92
-3.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.88MOP 55.6
$21.80£16.11
-68.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.29MOP 99.3
$10.70£7.91
14.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MOP 13.92
$2.28£1.69
-24.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20MOP 17.75
$2.52£1.86
-12.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Macao
Bishops Stortford
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.77MOP 6.23
$6.61£4.88
-88.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.27MOP 180
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.52MOP 20.36
$5.56£4.11
-54.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.23MOP 9.91
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.91MOP 120
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.85MOP 14.96
$1.96£1.45
-5.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0KMOP 250.6K
$39.5K£29.2K
-21.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8KMOP 256.6K
$41.9K£31.0K
-24.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macao
Bishops Stortford
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120MOP 969
$293£216
-58.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.91MOP 193
$13.30£9.83
79.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.83MOP 297
$35.84£26.49
2.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Macao
Bishops Stortford
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$65.0MOP 525
$63.3£46.82
2.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.81MOP 30.76
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.53MOP 117
$12.75£9.42
13.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Macao
Bishops Stortford
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,217MOP 9,830
$2,139£1,581
-43.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.8KMOP 151.5K
$29.5K£21.8K
-36.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Macao
Bishops Stortford
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.2MOP 559
$55.0£40.65
25.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.86MOP 273
$54.2£40.03
-37.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.1MOP 744
$89.7£66.3
2.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136MOP 1,101
$93.3£69.0
46.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Macao
Bishops Stortford
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,127MOP 9,104
$1,619£1,196
-30.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,084MOP 8,756
$1,351£999
-19.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,086MOP 16.8K
$2,297£1,698
-9.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,472MOP 11.9K
$2,263£1,673
-34.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,369MOP 67.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,647MOP 45.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Macao
Bishops Stortford
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,984MOP 16.0K
$2,798£2,069
-29.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3
5.4
-44.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Macao: August 30, 2026
Last update for Bishops Stortford: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,127 in Macao versus $1,619 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 41% 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 $55.0 in Macao versus $60.0 in Bishops Stortford. Groceries tell a different story – $424 in Macao vs $296 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: $2,122 in Macao, $2,627 in Bishops Stortford – roughly 24% 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 $3,183 per month in Macao and $3,941 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 $2,122 in Macao and $2,627 in Bishops Stortford. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Macao and Bishops Stortford?
Kindergarten costs $1,217 per month in Macao and $2,139 in Bishops Stortford. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
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 $2,122, than in Bishops Stortford at $2,627. 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.