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: $2,104 in Macao versus $1,773 in Starkville, MS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,971 in Macao versus $2,677 in Starkville, MS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,837 in Macao versus $3,581 in Starkville, MS.

Living in Macao is roughly 19% more expensive than in Starkville, MS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Macao 53% above, Starkville, MS 29% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.06 MOP 48.94

$15.21 $15.21

-60.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.9 MOP 444

$60.3 $60.3

-8.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 MOP 46.80

$8.08 $8.08

-28.34%

Cappuccino

$5.12 MOP 41.38

$4.27 $4.27

19.91%

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

$1.05 MOP 8.45

$2.46 $2.46

-57.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 MOP 7.05

$1.92 $1.92

-54.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.81 MOP 46.91

$4.11 $4.11

41.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.49 MOP 60.5

$7.02 $7.02

6.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.14 MOP 25.37

$0.82 $0.82

282.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 MOP 14.12

$2.89 $2.89

-39.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 MOP 13.95

$2.71 $2.71

-36.16%

Eggs

$3.33 MOP 26.93

$4.53 $4.53

-26.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.32 MOP 132

$9.72 $9.72

67.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$19.30 MOP 156

$9.83 $9.83

96.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$28.72 MOP 232

$14.84 $14.84

93.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MOP 21.90

$3.89 $3.89

-30.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.95 MOP 23.83

$1.38 $1.38

113.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MOP 15.31

$3.77 $3.77

-49.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 MOP 19.68

$2.96 $2.96

-17.57%

Potato (1kg)

$4.00 MOP 32.31

$2.16 $2.16

85.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.96 MOP 23.88

$2.20 $2.20

34.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 MOP 5.37

$2.23 $2.23

-70.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MOP 9.77

$1.87 $1.87

-35.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.55 MOP 52.9

$8.56 $8.56

-23.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.43 MOP 100

$10.09 $10.09

23.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 MOP 14.46

$1.70 $1.70

5.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 MOP 18.01

$3.31 $3.31

-32.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 MOP 6.16

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.27 MOP 180

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 MOP 21.19

$4.22 $4.22

-37.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 MOP 10.08

$1.92 $1.92

-34.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.66 MOP 118

$31.92 $31.92

-54.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.76 MOP 14.19

$0.82 $0.82

114.63%

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

$31.1K MOP 251.4K

$35.0K $35.0K

-10.96%

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

$32.0K MOP 258.8K

$25.2K $25.2K

27.04%

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

$124 MOP 1,000

$169 $169

-26.69%

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

$23.69 MOP 191

$29.47 $29.47

-19.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.54 MOP 303

$52.6 $52.6

-28.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.2 MOP 510

$17.48 $17.48

261.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.74 MOP 30.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.64 MOP 118

$8.17 $8.17

79.19%

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

$1,229 MOP 9,926

$1,568 $1,568

-21.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.0K MOP 153.3K

$8,383 $8,383

126.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 MOP 554

$75.1 $75.1

-8.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.13 MOP 268

$52.7 $52.7

-37.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 MOP 742

$87.1 $87.1

5.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 MOP 1,094

$171 $171

-20.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,139 MOP 9,198

$917 $917

24.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,070 MOP 8,642

$732 $732

46.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,124 MOP 17.2K

$1,582 $1,582

34.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,421 MOP 11.5K

$1,346 $1,346

5.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,441 MOP 68.2K

$2,208 $2,208

282.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,667 MOP 45.8K

$2,206 $2,206

156.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,990 MOP 16.1K

$4,154 $4,154

-52.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.23

-51.85%

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

Last update for Macao: September 5, 2026

Last update for Starkville, MS: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,139 in Macao and $917 in Starkville, MS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Starkville, MS pays 109% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $55.0 in Macao vs $60.0 in Starkville, MS. Groceries flip the comparison at $425 vs $324, 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

Starkville, MS wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Macao. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Starkville, MS the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 109% lower in Starkville, MS. 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: $1,139 in Macao versus $917 in Starkville, MS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Macao. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,104 per month in Macao versus $1,773 in Starkville, MS – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,773 in Starkville, MS versus $2,104 in Macao, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Starkville, MS but tight or insufficient in Macao. The gap between the two cities makes Starkville, MS 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 Starkville, MS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Macao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.