Cost of Living Comparison Between Macao and Kawasaki Cost of Living Comparison Between Macao and Kawasaki

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,764 per month in Macao vs $1,670 in Kawasaki, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,775 per month in Macao vs $2,426 in Kawasaki, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,787 per month in Macao vs $3,182 in Kawasaki, rent included.

Macao costs about 6% more than Kawasaki, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Macao and Kawasaki sit above the global median – Macao by 32%, Kawasaki by 25%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Macao
Kawasaki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.19 MOP 49.95
$8.16 ¥1,305
-24.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.59 MOP 400
$48.19 ¥7,708
2.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.05 MOP 48.87
$5.49 ¥878
10.20%
Cappuccino
$4.86 MOP 39.22
$3.06 ¥490
58.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20 MOP 9.71
$1.25 ¥199
-4.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 MOP 6.57
$0.82 ¥131
-1.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.86 MOP 47.27
$3.52 ¥563
66.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.23 MOP 58.3
$3.17 ¥508
128.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Macao
Kawasaki
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.94 MOP 23.76
$1.55 ¥248
89.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 MOP 12.89
$1.59 ¥254
0.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 MOP 12.39
$5.06 ¥810
-69.76%
Eggs
$3.17 MOP 25.62
$2.36 ¥377
34.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.37 MOP 140
$16.29 ¥2,606
6.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.56 MOP 61.1
$7.42 ¥1,186
1.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.17 MOP 187
$22.37 ¥3,578
3.58%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 MOP 30.96
$5.82 ¥931
-34.02%
Banana (1kg)
$3.11 MOP 25.14
$2.66 ¥425
16.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.83 MOP 30.88
$5.97 ¥955
-35.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.80 MOP 22.61
$5.89 ¥942
-52.46%
Potato (1kg)
$4.37 MOP 35.24
$3.40 ¥543
28.53%
Onion (1kg)
$3.50 MOP 28.21
$2.80 ¥448
25.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.71 MOP 13.78
$1.43 ¥230
19.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MOP 8.80
$1.18 ¥188
-7.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.14 MOP 49.60
$4.22 ¥675
45.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.17 MOP 98.2
$9.51 ¥1,522
27.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 MOP 11.01
$2.77 ¥443
-50.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 MOP 16.60
$2.92 ¥467
-29.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Macao
Kawasaki
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 MOP 6.25
$1.44 ¥231
-46.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.17 MOP 179
$56.3 ¥9,004
-60.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.65 MOP 21.36
$3.48 ¥557
-23.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.19 MOP 9.57
$3.01 ¥482
-60.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.12 MOP 122
$20.98 ¥3,356
-27.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.74 MOP 14.08
$1.19 ¥190
46.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0K MOP 250.2K
$23.2K ¥3.7M
33.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K MOP 227.9K
$16.9K ¥2.7M
67.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macao
Kawasaki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 MOP 835
$141 ¥22.6K
-26.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.14 MOP 203
$26.64 ¥4,262
-5.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.23 MOP 276
$33.97 ¥5,434
0.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Macao
Kawasaki
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$85.3 MOP 689
$61.2 ¥9,792
39.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.51 MOP 28.35
$11.11 ¥1,778
-68.41%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 MOP 115
$12.93 ¥2,069
10.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Macao
Kawasaki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$674 MOP 5,436
$464 ¥74.2K
45.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K MOP 107.0K
$11.3K ¥1.8M
17.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Macao
Kawasaki
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.1 MOP 525
$62.1 ¥9,930
4.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.06 MOP 235
$31.50 ¥5,039
-7.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.3 MOP 713
$65.3 ¥10.4K
35.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 MOP 823
$91.5 ¥14.6K
11.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Macao
Kawasaki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,064 MOP 8,588
$829 ¥132.5K
28.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$778 MOP 6,277
$635 ¥101.7K
22.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,966 MOP 15.9K
$1,373 ¥219.6K
43.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 MOP 13.1K
$846 ¥135.4K
91.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.7K MOP 102.8K
$4,643 ¥742.8K
174.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,010 MOP 64.6K
$3,141 ¥502.4K
155.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Macao
Kawasaki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,983 MOP 16.0K
$2,522 ¥403.5K
-21.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.28
1.72
90.70%

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

Last update for Macao: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kawasaki: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,064 in Macao versus $829 in Kawasaki. 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 27% higher in Kawasaki, 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 $50.0 in Macao versus $48.00 in Kawasaki. Groceries tell a different story – $366 in Macao vs $387 in Kawasaki – so Macao 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 Kawasaki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Macao or Kawasaki?
Macao costs about 6% more than Kawasaki, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Macao vs Kawasaki?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,646 per month in Macao and $2,505 in Kawasaki. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Macao or Kawasaki?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kawasaki, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Macao vs Kawasaki?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Macao and $48.00 in Kawasaki. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Macao compared to Kawasaki?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,764 in Macao and $1,670 in Kawasaki. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Macao or Kawasaki?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kawasaki, where all-in costs run around $1,670, than in Macao at $1,764. In Kawasaki it covers expenses comfortably, while in Macao it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Macao or Kawasaki?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kawasaki costs $1,670 versus $1,764 in Macao. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Macao compared to Kawasaki?
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.
Should I move to Macao or Kawasaki?
If budget matters most, go with Kawasaki. 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.

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