Cost of Living Comparison Between Macao and Gwangju Cost of Living Comparison Between Macao and Gwangju

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,122 in Macao versus $1,324 in Gwangju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,017 in Macao versus $2,038 in Gwangju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,911 in Macao versus $2,751 in Gwangju.

Living in Macao is roughly 60% more expensive than in Gwangju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Macao is 55% above, Gwangju is 3% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.07 MOP 49.06

$5.90 ₩8,128

2.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.9 MOP 451

$35.02 ₩48.3K

59.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.04 MOP 48.83

$5.81 ₩8,013

3.96%

Cappuccino

$4.98 MOP 40.22

$3.08 ₩4,251

61.69%

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

$1.02 MOP 8.24

$1.53 ₩2,111

-33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MOP 7.35

$0.57 ₩792

59.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.81 MOP 46.97

$2.45 ₩3,370

137.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.37 MOP 59.6

$4.49 ₩6,191

64.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.26 MOP 26.31

$1.71 ₩2,355

90.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.77 MOP 14.27

$2.38 ₩3,287

-25.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MOP 13.89

$2.26 ₩3,112

-23.89%

Eggs

$3.52 MOP 28.45

$2.71 ₩3,732

29.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.03 MOP 130

$9.02 ₩12.4K

77.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$19.54 MOP 158

$7.99 ₩11.0K

144.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$28.40 MOP 229

$11.24 ₩15.5K

152.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 MOP 21.84

$5.29 ₩7,288

-48.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.83 MOP 22.83

$2.95 ₩4,065

-4.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MOP 15.07

$3.82 ₩5,269

-51.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.39 MOP 19.31

$3.03 ₩4,173

-21.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 MOP 31.03

$3.50 ₩4,821

9.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.85 MOP 23.06

$1.82 ₩2,514

56.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 MOP 5.08

$2.08 ₩2,870

-69.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 MOP 9.42

$1.29 ₩1,774

-9.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.50 MOP 52.5

$3.24 ₩4,471

100.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.36 MOP 99.9

$11.26 ₩15.5K

9.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 MOP 13.70

$1.46 ₩2,015

16.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 MOP 18.09

$2.20 ₩3,027

1.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 MOP 6.09

$1.03 ₩1,424

-27.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.69 MOP 183

$67.9 ₩93.6K

-66.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 MOP 20.88

$3.02 ₩4,169

-14.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.24 MOP 10.05

$0.63 ₩864

96.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.76 MOP 119

$7.93 ₩10.9K

86.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.77 MOP 14.33

$1.20 ₩1,655

47.50%

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

$30.6K MOP 247.3K

$28.0K ₩38.7M

9.13%

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

$31.8K MOP 256.9K

$35.2K ₩48.6M

-9.78%

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

$121 MOP 975

$212 ₩291.8K

-43.00%

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

$23.66 MOP 191

$43.48 ₩59.9K

-45.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.16 MOP 300

$20.49 ₩28.2K

81.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.1 MOP 526

$56.6 ₩78.0K

15.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.80 MOP 30.67

$11.73 ₩16.2K

-67.60%

Cinema Ticket

$14.40 MOP 116

$11.21 ₩15.4K

28.46%

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

$1,221 MOP 9,862

$303 ₩417.4K

303.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.2K MOP 154.8K

$17.8K ₩24.5M

7.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.5 MOP 553

$31.08 ₩42.8K

120.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.39 MOP 270

$26.41 ₩36.4K

26.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 MOP 743

$63.6 ₩87.6K

44.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 MOP 1,087

$90.0 ₩124.0K

49.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,109 MOP 8,957

$510 ₩702.7K

117.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,084 MOP 8,756

$363 ₩500.5K

198.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,054 MOP 16.6K

$1,181 ₩1.6M

73.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,459 MOP 11.8K

$716 ₩986.3K

103.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,173 MOP 66.0K

$7,891 ₩10.9M

3.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,659 MOP 45.7K

$6,431 ₩8.9M

-12.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,036 MOP 16.4K

$2,870 ₩4.0M

-29.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.6

-16.67%

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

Last update for Macao: September 13, 2026

Last update for Gwangju: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,109 in Macao and $510 in Gwangju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gwangju pays 41% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $56.0 in Macao vs $35.00 in Gwangju for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $424 vs $308 per month, with Gwangju cheaper across the board.

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 Gwangju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gwangju is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 60% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 41% lower in Gwangju. 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: $1,109 in Macao versus $510 in Gwangju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Gwangju – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $56.0 in Macao. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,122 per month in Macao versus $1,324 in Gwangju – a 60% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,324 in Gwangju versus $2,122 in Macao, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gwangju but tight or insufficient in Macao. The gap between the two cities makes Gwangju 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 Gwangju are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Gwangju gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Macao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.