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: $1,742 in Macao versus $2,458 in Starkville, MS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,814 in Macao versus $3,050 in Starkville, MS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,886 in Macao versus $3,642 in Starkville, MS.

Living in Macao costs roughly 29% less than in Starkville, MS, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Macao 30% above, Starkville, MS 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.32 MOP 51.1

$16.72 $16.72

-62.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.35 MOP 399

$50.8 $50.8

-2.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.27 MOP 50.7

$6.81 $6.81

-7.93%

Cappuccino

$4.71 MOP 38.06

$4.57 $4.57

3.06%

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

$1.22 MOP 9.85

$2.33 $2.33

-47.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 MOP 6.70

$1.91 $1.91

-56.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.89 MOP 47.53

$4.11 $4.11

43.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.01 MOP 56.6

$6.87 $6.87

2.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.93 MOP 23.67

$0.91 $0.91

221.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.61 MOP 12.97

$2.69 $2.69

-40.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 MOP 12.32

$2.77 $2.77

-45.13%

Eggs

$3.02 MOP 24.39

$4.34 $4.34

-30.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.37 MOP 140

$8.26 $8.26

110.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.02 MOP 64.8

$9.02 $9.02

-11.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.42 MOP 181

$15.70 $15.70

42.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.75 MOP 30.27

$3.71 $3.71

1.08%

Banana (1kg)

$2.98 MOP 24.11

$1.59 $1.59

87.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.73 MOP 30.09

$2.85 $2.85

30.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.80 MOP 22.62

$4.44 $4.44

-36.94%

Potato (1kg)

$4.29 MOP 34.64

$2.21 $2.21

94.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.33 MOP 26.91

$2.30 $2.30

44.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.70 MOP 13.72

$1.63 $1.63

4.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MOP 8.70

$1.58 $1.58

-31.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.04 MOP 48.78

$7.85 $7.85

-23.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.33 MOP 99.6

$12.27 $12.27

0.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 MOP 11.47

$1.72 $1.72

-17.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 MOP 16.48

$3.19 $3.19

-36.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 MOP 6.26

$1.95 $1.95

-60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.91 MOP 177

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 MOP 21.26

$5.08 $5.08

-48.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 MOP 9.81

$1.66 $1.66

-27.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.62 MOP 118

$17.80 $17.80

-17.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.77 MOP 14.26

$0.73 $0.73

142.47%

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

$30.5K MOP 246.1K

$34.9K $34.9K

-12.57%

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

$27.9K MOP 225.6K

$26.8K $26.8K

4.15%

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

$102 MOP 822

$177 $177

-42.35%

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

$24.71 MOP 200

$29.46 $29.46

-16.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.01 MOP 267

$64.1 $64.1

-48.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.8 MOP 709

$42.23 $42.23

107.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.47 MOP 28.05

Cinema Ticket

$14.00 MOP 113

$7.88 $7.88

77.66%

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

$692 MOP 5,588

$989 $989

-30.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.6K MOP 110.0K

$8,454 $8,454

61.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.6 MOP 530

$43.21 $43.21

51.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.61 MOP 231

$37.30 $37.30

-23.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 MOP 732

$87.5 $87.5

3.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 MOP 834

$129 $129

-20.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,044 MOP 8,433

$967 $967

7.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$761 MOP 6,143

$1,334 $1,334

-42.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,941 MOP 15.7K

$2,006 $2,006

-3.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 MOP 13.2K

$1,298 $1,298

25.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,262 MOP 66.7K

$2,194 $2,194

276.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,590 MOP 45.1K

$2,169 $2,169

157.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,020 MOP 16.3K

$4,181 $4,181

-51.69%

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: July 22, 2026

Last update for Starkville, MS: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,044 in Macao and $967 in Starkville, MS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Starkville, MS pays 107% 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: $49.00 in Macao vs $51.0 in Starkville, MS. Groceries flip the comparison at $364 vs $319, 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 41% 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, salaries run 107% 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: $1,044 in Macao versus $967 in Starkville, MS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Starkville, MS pay roughly 14% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,742 per month in Macao versus $2,458 in Starkville, MS – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,742 in Macao versus $2,458 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 41% less than in Starkville, MS. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.