Cost of Living Comparison Between Macao and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Macao and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,721 in Macao versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,815 in Macao versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,908 in Macao versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Macao is roughly 22% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Macao 29% above, Ubud, Bali 5% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.24 MOP 50.4

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

80.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.70 MOP 401

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

53.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.32 MOP 51.1

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

30.58%

Cappuccino

$4.87 MOP 39.32

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

77.09%

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

$1.20 MOP 9.66

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

-13.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MOP 7.10

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

17.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.67 MOP 45.78

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

89.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.14 MOP 57.7

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

85.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.95 MOP 23.84

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

69.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 MOP 12.80

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

-35.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 MOP 12.31

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

30.77%

Eggs

$3.08 MOP 24.86

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

26.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 MOP 140

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

19.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.80 MOP 63.0

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

79.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.05 MOP 186

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

92.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.76 MOP 30.38

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

1.08%

Banana (1kg)

$3.00 MOP 24.25

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

84.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.75 MOP 30.30

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

36.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.75 MOP 22.17

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

22.77%

Potato (1kg)

$4.26 MOP 34.39

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

121.88%

Onion (1kg)

$3.38 MOP 27.30

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

48.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 MOP 13.11

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

52.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MOP 8.77

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

51.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.19 MOP 49.95

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

88.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.27 MOP 99.0

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

-47.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 MOP 11.34

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

-49.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 MOP 16.87

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

-23.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MOP 6.21

$0.27 Rp 4,778

185.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.92 MOP 177

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

170.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 MOP 21.25

$0.48 Rp 8,659

447.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.17 MOP 9.48

$0.42 Rp 7,532

178.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.96 MOP 121

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

140.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.74 MOP 14.08

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

114.81%

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

$31.0K MOP 250.5K

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

16.60%

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

$27.5K MOP 221.7K

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

-14.70%

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

$103 MOP 830

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

31.16%

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

$25.16 MOP 203

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

518.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.06 MOP 267

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

35.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$85.1 MOP 687

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-13.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.45 MOP 27.88

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

-45.58%

Cinema Ticket

$14.39 MOP 116

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

260.65%

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

$693 MOP 5,599

$305 Rp 5.5M

127.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.6K MOP 110.0K

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

105.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 MOP 524

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

19.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.20 MOP 236

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

-22.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.5 MOP 715

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

1.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 MOP 820

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

33.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,061 MOP 8,567

$992 Rp 17.8M

6.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$771 MOP 6,222

$673 Rp 12.1M

14.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,955 MOP 15.8K

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

-42.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,593 MOP 12.9K

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

-22.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,503 MOP 68.7K

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

203.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,652 MOP 45.6K

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

153.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,055 MOP 16.6K

$167 Rp 3.0M

1130.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.28

13.28

-75.30%

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

Last update for Macao: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,061 in Macao and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Macao pays 1131% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $364 vs $297 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

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 Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 22% lower than in Macao. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 1131% higher in Macao, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,061 in Macao versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $50.0 in Macao. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,721 per month in Macao versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,721 in Macao, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Macao. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,408 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Macao and Ubud, Bali 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 Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Macao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.