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: $1,744 in Macao versus $2,409 in Starkville, MS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,767 in Macao versus $3,006 in Starkville, MS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,790 in Macao versus $3,602 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 29% above, Starkville, MS 79% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 MOP 49.68

$16.73 $16.73

-63.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.4 MOP 406

$50.2 $50.2

0.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.26 MOP 50.5

$6.85 $6.85

-8.61%

Cappuccino

$4.72 MOP 38.07

$4.55 $4.55

3.74%

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

$1.26 MOP 10.17

$2.43 $2.43

-48.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 MOP 6.53

$1.83 $1.83

-55.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 MOP 47.75

$4.02 $4.02

47.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.39 MOP 59.6

$6.94 $6.94

6.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.87 MOP 23.16

$0.95 $0.95

202.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 MOP 12.22

$2.71 $2.71

-44.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 MOP 11.96

$2.76 $2.76

-46.38%

Eggs

$3.17 MOP 25.60

$4.16 $4.16

-23.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.46 MOP 141

$8.18 $8.18

113.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.91 MOP 63.8

$8.99 $8.99

-12.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.96 MOP 185

$15.34 $15.34

49.67%

Apples (1kg)

$3.90 MOP 31.45

$3.64 $3.64

7.14%

Banana (1kg)

$2.99 MOP 24.13

$1.62 $1.62

84.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.77 MOP 30.42

$2.85 $2.85

32.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.86 MOP 23.06

$4.40 $4.40

-35.00%

Potato (1kg)

$4.23 MOP 34.13

$2.12 $2.12

99.53%

Onion (1kg)

$3.34 MOP 26.97

$2.18 $2.18

53.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 MOP 13.58

$1.70 $1.70

-1.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MOP 8.79

$1.54 $1.54

-29.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.26 MOP 50.5

$8.13 $8.13

-23.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.51 MOP 101

$12.35 $12.35

1.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 MOP 11.47

$1.73 $1.73

-17.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 MOP 16.37

$3.19 $3.19

-36.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 MOP 6.06

$2.02 $2.02

-62.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.51 MOP 182

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 MOP 21.23

$4.97 $4.97

-47.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.17 MOP 9.47

$1.72 $1.72

-31.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.76 MOP 119

$17.86 $17.86

-17.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.79 MOP 14.48

$0.76 $0.76

135.53%

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

$30.8K MOP 248.3K

$34.6K $34.6K

-11.01%

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

$27.4K MOP 221.3K

$26.4K $26.4K

4.02%

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

$101 MOP 816

$182 $182

-44.31%

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

$25.49 MOP 206

$30.02 $30.02

-15.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.21 MOP 276

$65.7 $65.7

-47.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$88.5 MOP 714

$43.01 $43.01

105.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.47 MOP 28.00

Cinema Ticket

$14.19 MOP 115

$8.07 $8.07

75.84%

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

$678 MOP 5,474

$981 $981

-30.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K MOP 108.0K

$8,275 $8,275

61.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.0 MOP 524

$43.49 $43.49

49.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.22 MOP 236

$36.47 $36.47

-19.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.6 MOP 740

$89.1 $89.1

2.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 MOP 831

$130 $130

-20.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,045 MOP 8,434

$979 $979

6.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$763 MOP 6,161

$1,333 $1,333

-42.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,003 MOP 16.2K

$2,003 $2,003

-0.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 MOP 12.9K

$1,277 $1,277

24.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.6K MOP 101.4K

$2,193 $2,193

472.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,844 MOP 63.3K

$2,140 $2,140

266.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,058 MOP 16.6K

$2,802 $2,802

-26.56%

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: April 14, 2026

Last update for Starkville, MS: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,045 in Macao and $979 in Starkville, MS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Starkville, MS pays 36% 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 in Macao vs $50 in Starkville, MS. Groceries flip the comparison at $365 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 38% 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 36% 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: $1,045 in Macao versus $979 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 $1,744 per month in Macao versus $2,409 in Starkville, MS – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,744 in Macao versus $2,409 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 38% less than in Starkville, MS. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.