Cost of Living Comparison Between Macao and Cesena Cost of Living Comparison Between Macao and Cesena

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,721 in Macao versus $1,637 in Cesena.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,815 in Macao versus $2,464 in Cesena.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,908 in Macao versus $3,291 in Cesena.

Living in Macao is roughly 5% more expensive than in Cesena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Macao 29% above, Cesena 22% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Macao
Cesena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.24 MOP 50.4
$17.27 €15.11
-63.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.70 MOP 401
$81.1 €71.0
-38.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.32 MOP 51.1
$11.65 €10.20
-45.75%
Cappuccino
$4.87 MOP 39.32
$1.97 €1.72
147.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20 MOP 9.66
$2.67 €2.33
-55.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MOP 7.10
$1.18 €1.03
-25.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.67 MOP 45.78
$5.95 €5.20
-4.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.14 MOP 57.7
$4.58 €4.01
55.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Macao
Cesena
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.95 MOP 23.84
$1.40 €1.23
110.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.59 MOP 12.80
$1.13 €0.99
40.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 MOP 12.31
$2.08 €1.82
-26.44%
Eggs
$3.08 MOP 24.86
$2.27 €1.99
35.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.32 MOP 140
$14.32 €12.53
20.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.80 MOP 63.0
$10.86 €9.51
-28.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.05 MOP 186
$17.17 €15.02
34.25%
Apples (1kg)
$3.76 MOP 30.38
$1.70 €1.48
121.18%
Banana (1kg)
$3.00 MOP 24.25
$1.86 €1.63
61.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.75 MOP 30.30
$2.42 €2.12
54.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.75 MOP 22.17
$3.49 €3.05
-21.20%
Potato (1kg)
$4.26 MOP 34.39
$1.59 €1.39
167.92%
Onion (1kg)
$3.38 MOP 27.30
$1.47 €1.29
129.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 MOP 13.11
$1.13 €0.99
43.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MOP 8.77
$0.34 €0.30
220.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.19 MOP 49.95
$6.95 €6.08
-10.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.27 MOP 99.0
$6.70 €5.86
83.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 MOP 11.34
$1.27 €1.12
10.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 MOP 16.87
$1.63 €1.43
28.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Macao
Cesena
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 MOP 6.21
$2.30 €2.01
-66.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.92 MOP 177
$37.16 €32.51
-41.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.63 MOP 21.25
$8.06 €7.05
-67.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.17 MOP 9.48
$2.08 €1.82
-43.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.96 MOP 121
$34.10 €29.83
-56.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.74 MOP 14.08
$2.08 €1.82
-16.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0K MOP 250.5K
$37.0K €32.4K
-16.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K MOP 221.7K
$40.6K €35.5K
-32.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macao
Cesena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 MOP 830
$192 €168
-46.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.16 MOP 203
$12.91 €11.29
94.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.06 MOP 267
$30.99 €27.11
6.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Macao
Cesena
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$85.1 MOP 687
$56.4 €49.34
50.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.45 MOP 27.88
$14.25 €12.47
-75.79%
Cinema Ticket
$14.39 MOP 116
$10.52 €9.21
36.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Macao
Cesena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 MOP 5,599
$555 €486
24.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.6K MOP 110.0K
$6,668 €5,834
104.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Macao
Cesena
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.9 MOP 524
$87.1 €76.2
-25.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.20 MOP 236
$35.12 €30.72
-16.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.5 MOP 715
$104 €91.3
-15.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 MOP 820
$127 €112
-20.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Macao
Cesena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,061 MOP 8,567
$673 €589
57.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$771 MOP 6,222
$569 €498
35.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,955 MOP 15.8K
$1,269 €1,110
54.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,593 MOP 12.9K
$869 €760
83.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,503 MOP 68.7K
$2,965 €2,594
186.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,652 MOP 45.6K
$2,646 €2,315
113.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Macao
Cesena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,055 MOP 16.6K
$1,791 €1,567
14.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.28
4.44
-26.13%

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

Last update for Macao: July 11, 2026

Last update for Cesena: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,061 in Macao and $673 in Cesena. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Macao pays 15% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $50.0 in Macao vs $81.0 in Cesena. Groceries flip the comparison at $364 vs $278, with Cesena 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 Cesena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Macao and in Cesena?
Macao and Cesena differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($1,721 vs $1,637 including rent). Cesena is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Macao or Cesena?
Average pay runs 15% higher in Macao, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Macao and in Cesena?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,061 in Macao versus $673 in Cesena. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Cesena – a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $50.0 in Macao. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Macao or Cesena?
All in, you'll spend $1,721 per month in Macao versus $1,637 in Cesena – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,637 in Cesena versus $1,721 in Macao, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Cesena but tight or insufficient in Macao. The gap between the two cities makes Cesena the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Macao and Cesena?
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.
Is Macao or Cesena safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Macao and Cesena are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Macao or Cesena?
Expats usually find Cesena gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Macao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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