Cost of Living Comparison Between Macao and Brownsville, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Macao and Brownsville, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,104 per month in Macao vs $2,045 in Brownsville, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,971 per month in Macao vs $3,088 in Brownsville, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,837 per month in Macao vs $4,132 in Brownsville, TX, rent included.

Macao costs about 3% more than Brownsville, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Macao and Brownsville, TX sit above the global median – Macao by 53%, Brownsville, TX by 48%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.06 MOP 48.94

$19.77 $19.77

-69.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.9 MOP 444

$75.0 $75.0

-26.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 MOP 46.79

$11.46 $11.46

-49.48%

Cappuccino

$5.12 MOP 41.37

$5.39 $5.39

-5.01%

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

$1.05 MOP 8.45

$2.60 $2.60

-59.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 MOP 7.05

$1.94 $1.94

-55.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.81 MOP 46.91

$6.10 $6.10

-4.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.49 MOP 60.5

$7.19 $7.19

4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.14 MOP 25.37

$0.84 $0.84

273.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 MOP 14.12

$2.15 $2.15

-18.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 MOP 13.95

$4.28 $4.28

-59.58%

Eggs

$3.33 MOP 26.93

$2.83 $2.83

17.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.32 MOP 132

$9.26 $9.26

76.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$19.30 MOP 156

$12.92 $12.92

49.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$28.72 MOP 232

$17.20 $17.20

66.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MOP 21.89

$5.08 $5.08

-46.65%

Banana (1kg)

$2.95 MOP 23.82

$1.47 $1.47

100.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MOP 15.31

$4.46 $4.46

-57.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 MOP 19.68

$4.79 $4.79

-49.06%

Potato (1kg)

$4.00 MOP 32.31

$2.77 $2.77

44.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.96 MOP 23.88

$3.04 $3.04

-2.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 MOP 5.37

$2.09 $2.09

-68.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MOP 9.77

$2.21 $2.21

-45.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.55 MOP 52.9

$10.60 $10.60

-38.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.43 MOP 100

$14.92 $14.92

-16.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 MOP 14.46

$2.16 $2.16

-17.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 MOP 18.01

$3.23 $3.23

-30.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 MOP 6.16

$1.89 $1.89

-59.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.27 MOP 180

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 MOP 21.19

$2.71 $2.71

-3.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 MOP 10.08

$1.70 $1.70

-26.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.66 MOP 118

$26.36 $26.36

-44.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.76 MOP 14.18

$0.80 $0.80

120.00%

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

$31.1K MOP 251.4K

$33.0K $33.0K

-5.72%

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

$32.0K MOP 258.7K

$23.6K $23.6K

35.85%

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

$124 MOP 999

$195 $195

-36.69%

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

$23.69 MOP 191

$75.7 $75.7

-68.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.54 MOP 303

$76.9 $76.9

-51.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.2 MOP 510

$42.45 $42.45

48.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.74 MOP 30.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.64 MOP 118

$14.41 $14.41

1.60%

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

$1,229 MOP 9,926

$1,442 $1,442

-14.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.0K MOP 153.2K

$23.3K $23.3K

-18.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 MOP 554

$53.6 $53.6

28.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.13 MOP 268

$47.28 $47.28

-29.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 MOP 742

$90.3 $90.3

1.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 MOP 1,093

$129 $129

4.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,139 MOP 9,198

$964 $964

18.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,070 MOP 8,642

$790 $790

35.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,124 MOP 17.2K

$1,684 $1,684

26.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,421 MOP 11.5K

$1,420 $1,420

0.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,441 MOP 68.2K

$1,881 $1,881

348.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,667 MOP 45.8K

$1,828 $1,828

210.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,990 MOP 16.1K

$3,299 $3,299

-39.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.65

-46.90%

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

Last update for Macao: September 5, 2026

Last update for Brownsville, TX: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,139 in Macao versus $964 in Brownsville, TX. 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 66% higher in Brownsville, TX, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Macao versus $75.0 in Brownsville, TX. Groceries tell a different story – $425 in Macao vs $375 in Brownsville, TX – so Brownsville, TX 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 Brownsville, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,104 in Macao, $2,045 in Brownsville, TX – roughly 3% apart. Macao costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,156 per month in Macao and $3,067 in Brownsville, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Brownsville, TX, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,104 in Macao and $2,045 in Brownsville, TX. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,229 per month in Macao and $1,442 in Brownsville, TX. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Brownsville, TX, where all-in costs run around $2,045, than in Macao at $2,104. In Brownsville, TX it covers expenses comfortably, while in Macao it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Brownsville, TX – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Brownsville, TX. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Macao makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.