Cost of Living Comparison Between Mouscron and Macaé Cost of Living Comparison Between Mouscron and Macaé

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,004 in Mouscron versus $825 in Macaé.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,898 in Mouscron versus $1,345 in Macaé.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,792 in Mouscron versus $1,864 in Macaé.

Living in Mouscron is roughly 143% more expensive than Macaé, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mouscron is 49% above, Macaé is 39% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mouscron
Macaé
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.89 €11.11
$5.57 R$28.18
131.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.3 €50.2
$34.75 R$176
67.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.79 €8.44
$6.17 R$31.25
58.67%
Cappuccino
$2.84 €2.44
$1.99 R$10.08
42.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 €1.98
$1.23 R$6.23
86.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.80 R$4.04
180.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.08 €3.51
$1.82 R$9.23
124.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57 €3.08
$2.19 R$11.08
63.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mouscron
Macaé
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 €1.17
$1.06 R$5.37
28.30%
White Bread (500g)
$2.78 €2.40
$1.67 R$8.43
66.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.67 €2.30
$1.24 R$6.28
115.32%
Eggs
$4.08 €3.52
$1.95 R$9.86
109.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.57 €15.14
$8.09 R$40.94
117.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.54 €9.95
$3.63 R$18.37
217.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.25 €14.86
$6.32 R$31.99
172.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 €2.50
$2.37 R$12.00
22.36%
Banana (1kg)
$2.32 €2.00
$1.23 R$6.20
88.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.34 €2.02
$1.20 R$6.06
95.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.43 €2.95
$1.32 R$6.68
159.85%
Potato (1kg)
$2.96 €2.55
$1.09 R$5.54
171.56%
Onion (1kg)
$2.37 €2.04
$1.11 R$5.64
113.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 €1.27
$0.63 R$3.20
134.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.71
$0.43 R$2.19
90.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.74 €10.98
$1.94 R$9.82
556.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.68 €6.62
$5.84 R$29.57
31.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 €1.45
$0.86 R$4.37
95.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 €1.71
$1.16 R$5.86
71.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Mouscron
Macaé
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.88 €2.48
$0.74 R$3.74
289.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.8 €48.08
$73.9 R$374
-24.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.91 €5.09
$1.08 R$5.49
447.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.66 €2.29
$0.66 R$3.33
303.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$46.17 €39.78
$7.53 R$38.12
513.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.83 €1.58
$1.12 R$5.65
63.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9K €30.9K
$18.0K R$91.4K
98.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K €28.6K
$27.7K R$140.1K
20.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mouscron
Macaé
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$201 €173
$57.9 R$293
247.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.37 €21.86
$9.76 R$49.43
159.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.1 €44.85
$19.17 R$97.1
171.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mouscron
Macaé
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.91 €32.66
$39.71 R$201
-4.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.02 €14.67
$26.82 R$136
-36.54%
Cinema Ticket
$15.19 €13.09
$6.32 R$32.00
140.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mouscron
Macaé
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$649 €559
$537 R$2,718
20.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K €11.4K
$6,388 R$32.3K
107.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mouscron
Macaé
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111 €95.6
$45.40 R$230
144.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.32 €41.63
$29.31 R$148
64.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 €100
$71.1 R$360
63.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$229 €197
$62.2 R$315
268.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mouscron
Macaé
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$900 €776
$365 R$1,847
146.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$742 €640
$230 R$1,166
222.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,336 €1,151
$665 R$3,368
100.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,103 €950
$505 R$2,558
118.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,109 €3,540
$1,212 R$6,135
239.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,855 €2,460
$767 R$3,885
272.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mouscron
Macaé
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,139 €3,566
$767 R$3,884
439.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.27
11.25
-70.93%

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

Last update for Mouscron: June 7, 2026

Last update for Macaé: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $900 in Mouscron and $365 in Macaé. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mouscron pays 439% 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: $58.0 in Mouscron vs $35.00 in Macaé for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $343 vs $164 per month, with Macaé 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
Mouscron vs Macaé: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mouscron and Macaé?
Mouscron and Macaé differ by about 143% in total monthly costs ($2,004 vs $825 including rent). Macaé is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mouscron or Macaé?
Mouscron pays 439% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mouscron and Macaé?
Rent for a central apartment: $900 in Mouscron versus $365 in Macaé. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Macaé – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $58.0 in Mouscron. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mouscron or Macaé?
All in, you'll spend $2,004 per month in Mouscron versus $825 in Macaé – a 143% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $825 in Macaé versus $2,004 in Mouscron, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Macaé but tight or insufficient in Mouscron. The gap between the two cities makes Macaé the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mouscron and Macaé?
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.
Is Mouscron or Macaé safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mouscron and Macaé are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mouscron or Macaé?
Expats usually find Macaé gentler on the wallet – expenses run 143% less than in Mouscron. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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