Cost of Living Comparison Between Macao and Bowling Green, KY Cost of Living Comparison Between Macao and Bowling Green, KY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,104 in Macao versus $2,095 in Bowling Green, KY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,971 in Macao versus $3,044 in Bowling Green, KY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,837 in Macao versus $3,993 in Bowling Green, KY.

Monthly costs are close between Macao and Bowling Green, KY; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Macao 53% above, Bowling Green, KY 52% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.06 MOP 48.94

$15.08 $15.08

-59.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.9 MOP 444

$55.3 $55.3

-0.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 MOP 46.80

$10.93 $10.93

-47.03%

Cappuccino

$5.12 MOP 41.38

$5.08 $5.08

0.79%

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

$1.05 MOP 8.45

$2.41 $2.41

-56.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 MOP 7.05

$1.85 $1.85

-52.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.81 MOP 46.91

$4.09 $4.09

42.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.49 MOP 60.5

$5.02 $5.02

49.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.14 MOP 25.37

$0.77 $0.77

307.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 MOP 14.12

$2.21 $2.21

-20.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 MOP 13.95

$2.19 $2.19

-21.00%

Eggs

$3.33 MOP 26.93

$2.73 $2.73

21.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.32 MOP 132

$9.64 $9.64

69.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$19.30 MOP 156

$9.78 $9.78

97.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$28.72 MOP 232

$12.57 $12.57

128.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MOP 21.90

$3.87 $3.87

-29.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.95 MOP 23.83

$1.16 $1.16

154.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MOP 15.31

$2.73 $2.73

-30.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 MOP 19.68

$3.01 $3.01

-18.94%

Potato (1kg)

$4.00 MOP 32.31

$1.71 $1.71

133.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.96 MOP 23.88

$2.26 $2.26

30.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 MOP 5.37

$1.87 $1.87

-64.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MOP 9.77

$1.31 $1.31

-7.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.55 MOP 52.9

$8.36 $8.36

-21.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.43 MOP 100

$12.73 $12.73

-2.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 MOP 14.46

$1.71 $1.71

4.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 MOP 18.01

$1.46 $1.46

52.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 MOP 6.16

$3.40 $3.40

-77.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.27 MOP 180

$40.79 $40.79

-45.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 MOP 21.19

$4.17 $4.17

-37.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 MOP 10.08

$1.59 $1.59

-21.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.66 MOP 118

$25.35 $25.35

-42.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.76 MOP 14.19

$0.86 $0.86

104.65%

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

$31.1K MOP 251.4K

$35.2K $35.2K

-11.53%

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

$32.0K MOP 258.8K

$25.4K $25.4K

26.24%

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

$124 MOP 1,000

$152 $152

-18.54%

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

$23.69 MOP 191

$44.97 $44.97

-47.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.54 MOP 303

$69.2 $69.2

-45.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.2 MOP 510

$29.53 $29.53

113.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.74 MOP 30.20

$11.82 $11.82

-68.36%

Cinema Ticket

$14.64 MOP 118

$11.99 $11.99

22.10%

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

$1,229 MOP 9,926

$1,535 $1,535

-19.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.0K MOP 153.3K

$8,473 $8,473

123.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 MOP 554

$68.4 $68.4

0.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.13 MOP 268

$52.9 $52.9

-37.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 MOP 742

$85.4 $85.4

7.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 MOP 1,094

$168 $168

-19.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,139 MOP 9,198

$1,151 $1,151

-1.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,070 MOP 8,642

$965 $965

10.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,124 MOP 17.2K

$1,693 $1,693

25.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,421 MOP 11.5K

$1,542 $1,542

-7.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,441 MOP 68.2K

$2,014 $2,014

319.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,667 MOP 45.8K

$1,974 $1,974

187.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,990 MOP 16.1K

$2,984 $2,984

-33.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.23

-51.85%

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

Last update for Macao: September 5, 2026

Last update for Bowling Green, KY: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,139 in Macao and $1,151 in Bowling Green, KY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bowling Green, KY pays 50% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $55.0 in Macao vs $55.0 in Bowling Green, KY. Groceries flip the comparison at $425 vs $287, with Bowling Green, KY cheaper for home cooking.

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 Bowling Green, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

On paper, salaries run 50% lower in Bowling Green, KY. 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: $1,139 in Macao versus $1,151 in Bowling Green, KY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Bowling Green, KY runs roughly 83% less than in Macao. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Supermarket bills run roughly 48% higher in Macao. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $2,095 in Bowling Green, KY versus $2,104 in Macao, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bowling Green, KY but tight or insufficient in Macao. The gap between the two cities makes Bowling Green, KY 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 Bowling Green, KY are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Bowling Green, KY wins on affordability, Macao on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.