😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,764 in Macao versus $1,437 in Pyeongtaek.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,775 in Macao versus $2,254 in Pyeongtaek.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,787 in Macao versus $3,071 in Pyeongtaek.
😐Living in Macao is roughly 23% more expensive than Pyeongtaek, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Macao32% above, Pyeongtaek7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Macao
Pyeongtaek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.19MOP 49.95
$6.98₩10.6K
-11.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.59MOP 400
$22.16₩33.6K
123.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.05MOP 48.87
$4.82₩7,305
25.52%
Cappuccino
$4.86MOP 39.22
$4.04₩6,115
20.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20MOP 9.71
$1.26₩1,912
-4.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81MOP 6.57
$0.90₩1,369
-10.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.86MOP 47.27
$3.60₩5,461
62.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.23MOP 58.3
$5.73₩8,683
26.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Macao
Pyeongtaek
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.94MOP 23.76
$2.32₩3,517
26.72%
White Bread(500g)
$1.60MOP 12.89
$3.44₩5,212
-53.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.53MOP 12.39
$3.08₩4,661
-50.32%
Eggs
$3.17MOP 25.62
$2.89₩4,378
9.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.37MOP 140
$10.52₩15.9K
65.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.56MOP 61.1
$8.17₩12.4K
-7.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.17MOP 187
$28.06₩42.5K
-17.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.84MOP 30.96
$8.31₩12.6K
-53.79%
Banana(1kg)
$3.11MOP 25.14
$3.15₩4,771
-1.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.83MOP 30.88
$7.56₩11.5K
-49.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.80MOP 22.61
$5.12₩7,759
-45.31%
Potato(1kg)
$4.37MOP 35.24
$5.11₩7,739
-14.48%
Onion(1kg)
$3.50MOP 28.21
$3.00₩4,547
16.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.71MOP 13.78
$2.07₩3,137
-17.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MOP 8.80
$1.16₩1,759
-6.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.14MOP 49.60
$3.33₩5,050
84.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.17MOP 98.2
$16.28₩24.7K
-25.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36MOP 11.01
$1.75₩2,650
-22.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06MOP 16.60
$3.30₩5,002
-37.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Macao
Pyeongtaek
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.77MOP 6.25
$1.10₩1,668
-30.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.17MOP 179
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.65MOP 21.36
$3.51₩5,323
-24.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.19MOP 9.57
$0.84₩1,266
41.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.12MOP 122
$16.86₩25.5K
-10.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.74MOP 14.08
$1.16₩1,763
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0KMOP 250.2K
$27.5K₩41.6M
12.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2KMOP 227.9K
$25.4K₩38.4M
11.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macao
Pyeongtaek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103MOP 835
$192₩290.4K
-46.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.14MOP 203
$17.17₩26.0K
46.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.23MOP 276
$27.71₩42.0K
23.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Macao
Pyeongtaek
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$85.3MOP 689
$47.62₩72.2K
79.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.51MOP 28.35
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.28MOP 115
$11.50₩17.4K
24.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Macao
Pyeongtaek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$674MOP 5,436
$493₩747.7K
36.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMOP 107.0K
$14.0K₩21.3M
-5.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Macao
Pyeongtaek
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.1MOP 525
$105₩158.6K
-37.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.06MOP 235
$47.48₩71.9K
-38.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.3MOP 713
$89.5₩135.6K
-1.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102MOP 823
$118₩179.4K
-13.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Macao
Pyeongtaek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,064MOP 8,588
$439₩664.9K
142.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$778MOP 6,277
$378₩572.4K
105.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,966MOP 15.9K
$1,087₩1.6M
80.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,621MOP 13.1K
$775₩1.2M
109.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$12.7KMOP 102.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$8,010MOP 64.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Macao
Pyeongtaek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,983MOP 16.0K
$1,836₩2.8M
7.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.28
4.22
-22.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Macao: June 1, 2026
Last update for Pyeongtaek: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,064 in Macao and $439 in Pyeongtaek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Macao pays 8% 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 $22.00 in Pyeongtaek. Groceries flip the comparison at $366 vs $446, with Macao 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 Pyeongtaek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Macao or Pyeongtaek?
Pyeongtaek wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Macao. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pyeongtaek the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Macao or Pyeongtaek?
Macao pays 8% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Macao vs Pyeongtaek?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,064 in Macao versus $439 in Pyeongtaek. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Macao or Pyeongtaek?
Shoppers in Macao pay roughly 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Macao compared to Pyeongtaek?
All in, you'll spend $1,764 per month in Macao versus $1,437 in Pyeongtaek – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Macao or Pyeongtaek?
At $1,437 in Pyeongtaek versus $1,764 in Macao, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Pyeongtaek but tight or insufficient in Macao. The gap between the two cities makes Pyeongtaek the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Macao or Pyeongtaek?
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.
How safe is Macao compared to Pyeongtaek?
Safety-wise, Macao and Pyeongtaek 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Pyeongtaek gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Macao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.