Cost of Living Comparison Between Macao and Starkville, MS Cost of Living Comparison Between Macao and Starkville, MS

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,764 in Macao versus $2,461 in Starkville, MS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,775 in Macao versus $3,039 in Starkville, MS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,787 in Macao versus $3,617 in Starkville, MS.

Living in Macao costs roughly 28% less than in Starkville, MS, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Macao 32% above, Starkville, MS 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.19 MOP 49.94

$16.37 $16.37

-62.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.59 MOP 400

$49.71 $49.71

-0.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.05 MOP 48.85

$6.95 $6.95

-12.95%

Cappuccino

$4.86 MOP 39.21

$4.47 $4.47

8.72%

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

$1.20 MOP 9.71

$2.42 $2.42

-50.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 MOP 6.57

$1.84 $1.84

-55.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 MOP 47.25

$4.12 $4.12

42.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.23 MOP 58.3

$7.17 $7.17

0.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.94 MOP 23.76

$0.96 $0.96

206.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 MOP 12.88

$2.66 $2.66

-39.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 MOP 12.38

$2.65 $2.65

-42.26%

Eggs

$3.17 MOP 25.61

$4.29 $4.29

-26.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.37 MOP 140

$7.98 $7.98

117.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.56 MOP 61.0

$8.98 $8.98

-15.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.17 MOP 187

$15.14 $15.14

53.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 MOP 30.95

$3.78 $3.78

1.59%

Banana (1kg)

$3.11 MOP 25.13

$1.66 $1.66

87.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 MOP 30.87

$2.87 $2.87

33.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.80 MOP 22.60

$4.48 $4.48

-37.50%

Potato (1kg)

$4.37 MOP 35.23

$2.21 $2.21

97.74%

Onion (1kg)

$3.50 MOP 28.20

$2.29 $2.29

52.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 MOP 13.77

$1.69 $1.69

1.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MOP 8.80

$1.51 $1.51

-27.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.14 MOP 49.58

$7.93 $7.93

-22.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.17 MOP 98.2

$12.40 $12.40

-1.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 MOP 11.00

$1.72 $1.72

-20.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 MOP 16.60

$3.25 $3.25

-36.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MOP 6.25

$2.03 $2.03

-62.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.17 MOP 179

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.65 MOP 21.35

$4.87 $4.87

-45.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.19 MOP 9.56

$1.69 $1.69

-29.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.12 MOP 122

$18.19 $18.19

-16.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.74 MOP 14.07

$0.80 $0.80

117.50%

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

$31.0K MOP 250.2K

$35.7K $35.7K

-13.14%

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

$28.2K MOP 227.8K

$26.4K $26.4K

7.03%

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

$103 MOP 835

$177 $177

-41.44%

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

$25.14 MOP 203

$30.31 $30.31

-17.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.23 MOP 276

$64.4 $64.4

-46.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$85.3 MOP 689

$42.22 $42.22

102.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.51 MOP 28.34

Cinema Ticket

$14.28 MOP 115

$7.77 $7.77

83.78%

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

$674 MOP 5,434

$987 $987

-31.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MOP 107.0K

$8,390 $8,390

58.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.1 MOP 525

$42.31 $42.31

53.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.06 MOP 235

$36.87 $36.87

-21.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.3 MOP 712

$88.1 $88.1

0.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 MOP 823

$129 $129

-20.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,064 MOP 8,585

$960 $960

10.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$778 MOP 6,275

$1,367 $1,367

-43.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,966 MOP 15.9K

$2,031 $2,031

-3.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 MOP 13.1K

$1,297 $1,297

25.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.7K MOP 102.8K

$2,188 $2,188

482.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,010 MOP 64.6K

$2,185 $2,185

266.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,983 MOP 16.0K

$4,201 $4,201

-52.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.28

6.55

-49.92%

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

Last update for Macao: June 1, 2026

Last update for Starkville, MS: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,064 in Macao and $960 in Starkville, MS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Starkville, MS pays 112% 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 $50.0 in Starkville, MS. Groceries flip the comparison at $366 vs $317, with Starkville, MS 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 Starkville, MS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Macao wins on cost – living expenses run 40% lower than in Starkville, MS. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Macao the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Starkville, MS earns 112% less. 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: $1,064 in Macao versus $960 in Starkville, MS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Starkville, MS pay roughly 15% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,764 per month in Macao versus $2,461 in Starkville, MS – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,764 in Macao versus $2,461 in Starkville, MS, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Macao but tight or insufficient in Starkville, MS. 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 Starkville, MS 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 40% less than in Starkville, MS. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.