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: $1,721 in Macao versus $3,507 in Singapore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,815 in Macao versus $5,136 in Singapore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,908 in Macao versus $6,764 in Singapore.

Living in Macao costs roughly 51% less than in Singapore, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Macao 29% above, Singapore 163% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.24 MOP 50.4

$10.77 SGD 13.92

-42.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.70 MOP 401

$78.1 SGD 101

-36.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.32 MOP 51.1

$7.58 SGD 9.79

-16.62%

Cappuccino

$4.87 MOP 39.32

$4.84 SGD 6.26

0.62%

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

$1.20 MOP 9.66

$1.70 SGD 2.20

-29.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MOP 7.10

$1.20 SGD 1.55

-26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.67 MOP 45.78

$7.85 SGD 10.14

-27.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.14 MOP 57.7

$9.15 SGD 11.82

-21.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.95 MOP 23.84

$3.07 SGD 3.96

-3.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 MOP 12.80

$2.38 SGD 3.07

-33.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 MOP 12.31

$2.79 SGD 3.60

-45.16%

Eggs

$3.08 MOP 24.86

$3.29 SGD 4.25

-6.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 MOP 140

$19.19 SGD 24.80

-9.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.80 MOP 63.0

$11.42 SGD 14.75

-31.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 MOP 186

$22.61 SGD 29.21

1.95%

Apples (1kg)

$3.76 MOP 30.38

$4.56 SGD 5.89

-17.54%

Banana (1kg)

$3.00 MOP 24.25

$2.98 SGD 3.85

0.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.75 MOP 30.30

$4.95 SGD 6.40

-24.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.75 MOP 22.17

$2.74 SGD 3.54

0.36%

Potato (1kg)

$4.26 MOP 34.39

$2.52 SGD 3.25

69.05%

Onion (1kg)

$3.38 MOP 27.30

$2.17 SGD 2.80

55.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 MOP 13.11

$1.95 SGD 2.52

-16.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MOP 8.77

$1.49 SGD 1.93

-26.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.19 MOP 49.95

$13.20 SGD 17.06

-53.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.27 MOP 99.0

$23.04 SGD 29.77

-46.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 MOP 11.34

$4.17 SGD 5.39

-66.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 MOP 16.87

$5.16 SGD 6.66

-59.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MOP 6.21

$1.59 SGD 2.06

-51.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.92 MOP 177

$94.0 SGD 121

-76.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 MOP 21.25

$3.68 SGD 4.76

-28.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.17 MOP 9.48

$0.72 SGD 0.94

62.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.96 MOP 121

$16.54 SGD 21.37

-9.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.74 MOP 14.08

$2.20 SGD 2.84

-20.91%

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

$31.0K MOP 250.5K

$142.5K SGD 184.1K

-78.23%

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

$27.5K MOP 221.7K

$127.5K SGD 164.7K

-78.46%

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

$103 MOP 830

$156 SGD 201

-33.92%

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

$25.16 MOP 203

$18.63 SGD 24.08

35.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.06 MOP 267

$37.75 SGD 48.77

-12.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$85.1 MOP 687

$120 SGD 155

-29.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.45 MOP 27.88

$12.10 SGD 15.63

-71.49%

Cinema Ticket

$14.39 MOP 116

$11.53 SGD 14.90

24.80%

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

$693 MOP 5,599

$1,190 SGD 1,537

-41.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.6K MOP 110.0K

$29.1K SGD 37.7K

-53.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 MOP 524

$83.5 SGD 108

-22.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.20 MOP 236

$42.55 SGD 55.0

-31.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.5 MOP 715

$108 SGD 139

-17.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 MOP 820

$128 SGD 166

-20.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,061 MOP 8,567

$3,209 SGD 4,146

-66.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$771 MOP 6,222

$2,299 SGD 2,971

-66.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,955 MOP 15.8K

$6,127 SGD 7,916

-68.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,593 MOP 12.9K

$3,793 SGD 4,901

-58.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,503 MOP 68.7K

$23.3K SGD 30.1K

-63.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,652 MOP 45.6K

$16.4K SGD 21.2K

-65.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,055 MOP 16.6K

$3,969 SGD 5,128

-48.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.28

3.19

2.82%

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

Last update for Macao: July 11, 2026

Last update for Singapore: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,061 in Macao and $3,209 in Singapore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Singapore pays 93% 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 $78.0 in Singapore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $364 vs $450 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 104% 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 93% 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: $1,061 in Macao versus $3,209 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 $50.0 versus $78.0 in Singapore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,721 per month in Macao versus $3,507 in Singapore – a 104% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,721 in Macao versus $3,507 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 104% less than in Singapore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.