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 $1,742 per month in Macao vs $1,902 in Brownsville, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,814 per month in Macao vs $2,656 in Brownsville, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,886 per month in Macao vs $3,410 in Brownsville, TX, rent included.

Macao is about 8% cheaper than Brownsville, TX, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Macao and Brownsville, TX sit above the global median – Macao by 30%, Brownsville, TX by 42%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.32 MOP 51.1

$9.96 $9.96

-36.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.35 MOP 399

$56.0 $56.0

-11.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.27 MOP 50.7

$12.04 $12.04

-47.92%

Cappuccino

$4.71 MOP 38.05

$5.03 $5.03

-6.36%

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

$1.22 MOP 9.85

$1.95 $1.95

-37.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 MOP 6.69

$2.06 $2.06

-59.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.89 MOP 47.53

$5.62 $5.62

4.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.01 MOP 56.6

$7.48 $7.48

-6.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.93 MOP 23.67

$0.84 $0.84

248.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.61 MOP 12.96

$2.14 $2.14

-24.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 MOP 12.31

$2.18 $2.18

-30.28%

Eggs

$3.02 MOP 24.39

$2.84 $2.84

6.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.37 MOP 140

$9.22 $9.22

88.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.02 MOP 64.8

$11.63 $11.63

-31.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.42 MOP 181

$9.40 $9.40

138.51%

Apples (1kg)

$3.75 MOP 30.27

$2.60 $2.60

44.23%

Banana (1kg)

$2.98 MOP 24.10

$1.62 $1.62

83.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.73 MOP 30.08

$1.62 $1.62

130.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.80 MOP 22.61

$1.91 $1.91

46.60%

Potato (1kg)

$4.29 MOP 34.63

$5.67 $5.67

-24.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.33 MOP 26.90

$1.07 $1.07

211.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.70 MOP 13.72

$1.02 $1.02

66.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MOP 8.70

$1.03 $1.03

4.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.04 MOP 48.77

$9.56 $9.56

-36.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.33 MOP 99.6

$14.83 $14.83

-16.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 MOP 11.47

$1.86 $1.86

-23.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 MOP 16.48

$5.06 $5.06

-59.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 MOP 6.26

$1.97 $1.97

-60.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.91 MOP 177

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 MOP 21.26

$3.41 $3.41

-22.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 MOP 9.81

$1.63 $1.63

-25.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.62 MOP 118

$29.10 $29.10

-49.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.77 MOP 14.26

$0.76 $0.76

132.89%

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

$30.5K MOP 246.0K

$29.8K $29.8K

2.38%

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

$27.9K MOP 225.6K

$25.8K $25.8K

8.31%

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

$102 MOP 822

$337 $337

-69.81%

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

$24.71 MOP 200

$74.5 $74.5

-66.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.01 MOP 267

$76.9 $76.9

-57.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.8 MOP 709

$49.26 $49.26

78.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.47 MOP 28.05

Cinema Ticket

$14.00 MOP 113

$14.59 $14.59

-4.04%

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

$692 MOP 5,587

$599 $599

15.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.6K MOP 109.9K

$23.1K $23.1K

-41.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.6 MOP 530

$51.8 $51.8

26.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.61 MOP 231

$40.31 $40.31

-29.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 MOP 732

$87.0 $87.0

4.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 MOP 833

$112 $112

-7.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,044 MOP 8,432

$778 $778

34.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$761 MOP 6,142

$665 $665

14.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,941 MOP 15.7K

$949 $949

104.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 MOP 13.2K

$962 $962

69.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,262 MOP 66.7K

$1,815 $1,815

355.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,590 MOP 45.1K

$1,846 $1,846

202.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,020 MOP 16.3K

$3,200 $3,200

-36.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.28

5.47

-40.04%

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

Last update for Macao: July 22, 2026

Last update for Brownsville, TX: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,044 in Macao versus $778 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 58% higher in Brownsville, TX, 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 $49.00 in Macao versus $56.0 in Brownsville, TX. Groceries tell a different story – $364 in Macao vs $287 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: $1,742 in Macao, $1,902 in Brownsville, TX – roughly 9% apart. Brownsville, TX costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,614 per month in Macao and $2,852 in Brownsville, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,742 in Macao and $1,902 in Brownsville, TX. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $692 per month in Macao and $599 in Brownsville, TX. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Macao, where all-in costs run around $1,742, than in Brownsville, TX at $1,902. In Macao it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brownsville, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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