Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Macao and Tartu

For one person, living is cheaper in Tartu: $1,661 a month against $2,139 in Macao, rent and utilities included – about $5,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Macao
🇲🇴 Macao (China)
$2,139
/mo nomad
Tartu
🇪🇪 Estonia
$1,661
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Macao and in Tartu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Macao and in Tartu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,139 in Macao versus $1,661 in Tartu.

  • Macao $2,139
  • Tartu $1,661

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,023 in Macao versus $2,514 in Tartu.

  • Macao $3,023
  • Tartu $2,514

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,906 in Macao versus $3,367 in Tartu.

  • Macao $3,906
  • Tartu $3,367

Living in Macao is roughly 29% more expensive than in Tartu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Macao 58% above, Tartu 23% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Macao
Tartu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.21 MOP 50.2
$17.14 €15.24
-63.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.3 MOP 447
$70.1 €62.4
-21.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.79 MOP 46.84
$11.17 €9.93
-48.16%
Cappuccino
$4.93 MOP 39.81
$4.10 €3.65
20.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 MOP 8.13
$3.29 €2.93
-69.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 MOP 7.49
$3.70 €3.29
-74.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 MOP 47.17
$6.63 €5.90
-11.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.49 MOP 60.6
$7.33 €6.52
2.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Macao
Tartu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.23 MOP 26.10
$1.20 €1.07
169.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.70 MOP 13.75
$1.96 €1.74
-13.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 MOP 14.03
$2.41 €2.14
-27.80%
Eggs
$3.39 MOP 27.38
$3.02 €2.68
12.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.91 MOP 129
$12.92 €11.50
23.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$19.45 MOP 157
$8.74 €7.77
122.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.73 MOP 232
$14.66 €13.04
95.98%
Apples (1kg)
$2.59 MOP 20.96
$2.04 €1.82
26.96%
Banana (1kg)
$2.90 MOP 23.48
$1.50 €1.33
93.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 MOP 15.70
$2.43 €2.17
-20.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.34 MOP 18.92
$2.95 €2.63
-20.68%
Potato (1kg)
$4.05 MOP 32.72
$1.05 €0.93
285.71%
Onion (1kg)
$2.81 MOP 22.73
$0.86 €0.76
226.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 MOP 5.09
$1.89 €1.68
-66.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 MOP 9.23
$1.23 €1.10
-7.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 MOP 53.5
$6.83 €6.08
-3.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.32 MOP 99.6
$10.19 €9.07
20.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 MOP 13.77
$2.06 €1.84
-17.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 MOP 18.05
$2.43 €2.16
-8.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Macao
Tartu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.73 MOP 5.87
$1.66 €1.48
-56.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.85 MOP 185
$30.69 €27.30
-25.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.54 MOP 20.53
$3.62 €3.22
-29.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.24 MOP 10.01
$1.03 €0.92
20.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.67 MOP 119
$27.05 €24.06
-45.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.85 MOP 14.94
$2.02 €1.79
-8.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K MOP 246.9K
$27.9K €24.8K
9.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K MOP 258.1K
$30.1K €26.7K
6.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macao
Tartu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 MOP 1,004
$311 €276
-60.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.42 MOP 189
$17.55 €15.61
33.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.77 MOP 297
$35.95 €31.98
2.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Macao
Tartu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.2 MOP 527
$39.75 €35.36
63.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.78 MOP 30.56
$34.29 €30.50
-88.98%
Cinema Ticket
$14.84 MOP 120
$11.79 €10.48
25.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Macao
Tartu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,197 MOP 9,679
$436 €388
174.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.0K MOP 153.9K
$11.7K €10.4K
63.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Macao
Tartu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.9 MOP 565
$112 €99.4
-37.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.93 MOP 266
$49.54 €44.06
-33.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.3 MOP 754
$107 €95.3
-12.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134 MOP 1,081
$118 €105
13.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Macao
Tartu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,132 MOP 9,153
$619 €551
82.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,077 MOP 8,702
$432 €384
149.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,106 MOP 17.0K
$1,171 €1,042
79.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,474 MOP 11.9K
$750 €667
96.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,212 MOP 66.4K
$3,474 €3,090
136.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,513 MOP 44.6K
$2,597 €2,310
112.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Macao
Tartu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,054 MOP 16.6K
$1,960 €1,743
4.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3
3.93
-23.66%

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

Last update for Macao: October 18, 2026

Last update for Tartu: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Macao
$1.1K
Tartu
$432 59.9% $645
Groceries & Markets
Macao
$422
Tartu
$286 32.3% $136
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macao
$184
Tartu
$364 97.5% $180
Eating Out
Macao
$178
Tartu
$296 66% $118
Clothing & Footwear
Macao
$148
Tartu
$174 17% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Macao
$95
Tartu
$63 33.2% $31
Getting Around
Macao
$34
Tartu
$46 33.7% $12

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,132 in Macao and $619 in Tartu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Macao pays 5% 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: $55.0 in Macao vs $70.0 in Tartu. Groceries flip the comparison at $422 vs $286, with Tartu cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇲🇴 Macao
🇪🇪 Tartu
🕒 Local time
10:27 10:27 AM
05:27 5:27 AM
5 h behind Macao
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
622,567 Capital
102,414
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to MOP – Macanese Pataca Converter

Macanese Pataca exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 8.08 MOP (1 MOP = 0.124 USD). 1 EUR = 9.09 MOP (1 MOP = 0.11 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Macao Tartu 7,740 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Macao
  • Tartu

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Tartu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Macao or Tartu?
Tartu wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Macao. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tartu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Macao or in Tartu?
Average pay runs 5% higher in Macao, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Macao compared to Tartu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,132 in Macao versus $619 in Tartu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Macao and in Tartu?
Dining out is cheaper in Tartu – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $55.0 in Macao. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Macao compared to Tartu?
All in, you'll spend $2,139 per month in Macao versus $1,661 in Tartu – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Macao or in Tartu?
At $1,661 in Tartu versus $2,139 in Macao, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Tartu but tight or insufficient in Macao. The gap between the two cities makes Tartu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Macao or Tartu?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tartu delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,661 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tartu hard to pass up.
How safe is Macao compared to Tartu?
Safety-wise, Macao and Tartu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Tartu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Macao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Macao vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?