For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $426 a month against $2,107 in Macao, rent and utilities included – about $20,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Macao and in Dhaka actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,107 in Macao versus $426 in Dhaka.
Macao $2,107
Dhaka $426
Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,021 in Macao versus $735 in Dhaka.
Macao $3,021
Dhaka $735
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,935 in Macao versus $1,043 in Dhaka.
Macao $3,935
Dhaka $1,043
🌍
Living in Macao is roughly 394% more expensive than in Dhaka, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Macao is 57% above, Dhaka is 68% below.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Macao
Dhaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.31MOP 51.0
$2.49৳306
153.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.9MOP 444
$13.06৳1,605
320.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.91MOP 47.73
$4.83৳594
22.36%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.93৳606
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.10৳504
-
Cappuccino
$4.89MOP 39.49
$2.34৳287
108.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06MOP 8.56
$0.30৳37.39
253.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93MOP 7.55
$0.16৳19.96
481.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.63MOP 45.49
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.23MOP 58.4
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Macao
Dhaka
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.09MOP 24.98
$0.80৳98.1
286.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.67MOP 13.50
$0.65৳79.3
156.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73MOP 13.97
$0.71৳87.3
143.66%
Eggs
$3.40MOP 27.46
$1.21৳149
180.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.05MOP 130
$8.67৳1,065
85.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$19.07MOP 154
$3.21৳395
494.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$29.25MOP 236
$6.70৳823
336.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MOP 21.87
$2.73৳335
-0.73%
Banana(1kg)
$2.86MOP 23.14
$0.88৳109
225.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97MOP 15.90
$2.37৳291
-16.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MOP 19.06
$0.65৳79.6
263.08%
Potato(1kg)
$3.85MOP 31.10
$0.24৳29.20
1504.17%
Onion(1kg)
$2.95MOP 23.86
$0.49৳60.7
502.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66MOP 5.30
$0.32৳38.88
106.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MOP 9.74
$0.30৳37.31
300.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$12.07৳1,483
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$5.51৳677
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.66৳819
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.64MOP 53.7
$3.23৳396
105.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.14MOP 98.1
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77MOP 14.34
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31MOP 18.66
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Macao
Dhaka
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.76MOP 6.13
$0.42৳52.1
80.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.62MOP 183
$22.54৳2,770
0.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.57MOP 20.78
$1.19৳147
115.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.24MOP 9.99
$0.40৳48.60
210.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.00MOP 121
$3.35৳411
347.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76MOP 14.22
$1.15৳141
53.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.1KMOP 251.3K
$30.3K৳3.7M
2.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8KMOP 256.7K
$33.0K৳4.1M
-3.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macao
Dhaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124MOP 1,002
$46.32৳5,692
167.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.44MOP 189
$4.33৳532
441.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.46MOP 295
$10.63৳1,306
242.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Macao
Dhaka
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.3MOP 511
$16.37৳2,012
286.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.78MOP 30.57
$16.14৳1,983
-76.58%
Cinema Ticket
$14.73MOP 119
$4.13৳508
256.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Macao
Dhaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,193MOP 9,642
$90.7৳11.1K
1215.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.3KMOP 156.2K
$2,649৳325.5K
629.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Macao
Dhaka
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.0MOP 566
$16.48৳2,025
324.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.25MOP 269
$21.00৳2,580
58.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.4MOP 747
$50.3৳6,175
83.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134MOP 1,084
$36.46৳4,480
267.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Macao
Dhaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,130MOP 9,136
$152৳18.6K
645.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,070MOP 8,651
$73.6৳9,044
1354.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,092MOP 16.9K
$436৳53.6K
379.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,461MOP 11.8K
$214৳26.3K
583.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,347MOP 67.5K
$1,622৳199.3K
414.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,538MOP 44.8K
$761৳93.5K
627.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Macao
Dhaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,053MOP 16.6K
$249৳30.6K
724.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3
10.48
-71.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Macao: October 3, 2026
Last update for Dhaka: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Macao
$1.1K 50.3%
Dhaka
$74 17.1% ↓ 93.1%$997
🛒Groceries & Markets
Macao
$422 19.8%
Dhaka
$123 28.5% ↓ 71%$299
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macao
$184 8.6%
Dhaka
$61 14.3% ↓ 66.7%$123
🍽Eating Out
Macao
$177 8.3%
Dhaka
$64 15% ↓ 63.8%$113
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Macao
$148 7%
Dhaka
$56 13% ↓ 62.3%$92
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Macao
$93 4.4%
Dhaka
$25 5.7% ↓ 73.4%$68
🚌Getting Around
Macao
$34 1.6%
Dhaka
$27 6.4% ↓ 20.3%$7
🏠Accommodation & Living
Macao
$1.5K 37.6%
Dhaka
$214 21% ↓ 85.4%$1.2K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Macao
$1K 25.9%
Dhaka
$302 29.6% ↓ 70%$704
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macao
$207 5.3%
Dhaka
$66 6.4% ↓ 68.4%$142
🍽Eating Out
Macao
$621 16%
Dhaka
$193 18.9% ↓ 68.9%$428
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Macao
$330 8.5%
Dhaka
$124 12.2% ↓ 62.3%$206
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Macao
$189 4.9%
Dhaka
$65 6.4% ↓ 65.4%$124
🚌Getting Around
Macao
$70 1.8%
Dhaka
$56 5.5% ↓ 20.8%$15
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,130 in Macao and $152 in Dhaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Macao pays 725% 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: $55.0 in Macao vs $13.00 in Dhaka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $422 vs $123 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 Dhaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dhaka cheaper than Macao?
Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 394% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Macao or Dhaka?
Average pay runs 725% higher in Macao, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Macao and Dhaka?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,130 in Macao versus $152 in Dhaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Macao and in Dhaka?
All in, you'll spend $2,107 per month in Macao versus $426 in Dhaka – a 394% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Dhaka runs roughly 0% less than in Macao. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Macao or in Dhaka?
At $426 in Dhaka versus $2,107 in Macao, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dhaka but tight or insufficient in Macao. The gap between the two cities makes Dhaka the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Macao or in Dhaka?
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.
Which city is safer, Macao or Dhaka?
Safety-wise, Macao and Dhaka are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Dhaka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 394% less than in Macao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.