Cost of Living Comparison Between Macao and Singapore Cost of Living Comparison Between Macao and Singapore

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,122 in Macao versus $3,476 in Singapore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,990 in Macao versus $5,218 in Singapore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,858 in Macao versus $6,959 in Singapore.

Living in Macao costs roughly 39% less than in Singapore, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Macao 54% above, Singapore 153% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.30 MOP 50.9

$11.77 SGD 14.97

-46.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.2 MOP 446

$67.3 SGD 85.6

-18.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.89 MOP 47.53

$8.59 SGD 10.92

-31.43%

Cappuccino

$5.17 MOP 41.72

$5.19 SGD 6.60

-0.39%

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

$1.02 MOP 8.21

$1.84 SGD 2.34

-44.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 MOP 7.01

$1.17 SGD 1.48

-25.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.87 MOP 47.42

$8.24 SGD 10.48

-28.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.48 MOP 60.4

$10.04 SGD 12.76

-25.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.15 MOP 25.43

$3.05 SGD 3.88

3.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.76 MOP 14.22

$2.50 SGD 3.17

-29.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 MOP 13.55

$2.72 SGD 3.46

-38.24%

Eggs

$3.38 MOP 27.33

$3.74 SGD 4.75

-9.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.02 MOP 129

$21.17 SGD 26.92

-24.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$19.37 MOP 156

$9.85 SGD 12.53

96.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$28.90 MOP 233

$25.51 SGD 32.43

13.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 MOP 21.72

$4.50 SGD 5.73

-40.22%

Banana (1kg)

$2.87 MOP 23.18

$3.02 SGD 3.83

-4.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 MOP 15.16

$4.83 SGD 6.14

-61.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 MOP 19.90

$2.27 SGD 2.89

8.37%

Potato (1kg)

$3.92 MOP 31.66

$2.54 SGD 3.22

54.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 MOP 23.56

$2.37 SGD 3.02

23.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 MOP 4.96

$1.78 SGD 2.26

-65.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MOP 9.77

$1.42 SGD 1.80

-14.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.88 MOP 55.6

$14.34 SGD 18.23

-52.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.29 MOP 99.3

$23.77 SGD 30.22

-48.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 MOP 13.92

$4.55 SGD 5.78

-62.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 MOP 17.76

$4.45 SGD 5.66

-50.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MOP 6.23

$1.58 SGD 2.01

-51.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.27 MOP 180

$99.0 SGD 126

-77.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 MOP 20.37

$3.53 SGD 4.49

-28.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 MOP 9.92

$0.81 SGD 1.03

51.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.91 MOP 120

$16.62 SGD 21.13

-10.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.85 MOP 14.97

$2.47 SGD 3.14

-25.10%

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

$31.0K MOP 250.6K

$156.1K SGD 198.5K

-80.13%

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

$31.8K MOP 256.7K

$145.8K SGD 185.3K

-78.20%

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

$120 MOP 970

$162 SGD 206

-26.00%

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

$23.91 MOP 193

$12.73 SGD 16.19

87.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.83 MOP 297

$27.15 SGD 34.51

35.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.0 MOP 525

$108 SGD 137

-39.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.81 MOP 30.77

$11.17 SGD 14.20

-65.89%

Cinema Ticket

$14.53 MOP 117

$11.79 SGD 14.98

23.24%

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

$1,217 MOP 9,832

$1,491 SGD 1,896

-18.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K MOP 151.5K

$29.5K SGD 37.5K

-36.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.2 MOP 559

$78.8 SGD 100

-12.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.86 MOP 273

$51.6 SGD 65.6

-34.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.1 MOP 744

$111 SGD 141

-16.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 MOP 1,102

$130 SGD 165

5.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,127 MOP 9,105

$2,949 SGD 3,749

-61.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,084 MOP 8,758

$2,156 SGD 2,741

-49.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,086 MOP 16.8K

$6,006 SGD 7,635

-65.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,472 MOP 11.9K

$3,893 SGD 4,949

-62.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,369 MOP 67.6K

$23.6K SGD 30.0K

-64.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,647 MOP 45.6K

$16.7K SGD 21.2K

-66.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,984 MOP 16.0K

$4,122 SGD 5,241

-51.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.43

23.46%

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

Last update for Macao: August 30, 2026

Last update for Singapore: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,127 in Macao and $2,949 in Singapore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Singapore pays 108% 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 $67.0 in Singapore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $424 vs $458 per month, with Macao 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 Singapore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Macao wins on cost – living expenses run 64% lower than in Singapore. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Macao the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 108% lower in Singapore. 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: $1,127 in Macao versus $2,949 in Singapore. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Macao – a meal for two runs $55.0 versus $67.0 in Singapore. 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 $3,476 in Singapore – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,122 in Macao versus $3,476 in Singapore, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Macao but tight or insufficient in Singapore. The gap between the two cities makes Macao 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 Singapore 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 Macao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Singapore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.