Cost of Living Comparison Between Paros and MacaoCost of Living Comparison Between Paros and Macao
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,744 in Paros versus $1,764 in Macao.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,385 in Paros versus $2,775 in Macao.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,027 in Paros versus $3,787 in Macao.
🙂Living in Paros costs roughly 1% less than in Macao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Paros30% above, Macao32% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Paros
Macao
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.78€11.86
$6.19MOP 49.95
122.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.5€49.45
$49.59MOP 400
15.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.54€9.93
$6.05MOP 48.87
90.74%
Cappuccino
$3.84€3.30
$4.86MOP 39.22
-20.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$1.20MOP 9.71
65.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56€0.49
$0.81MOP 6.57
-30.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.64€4.85
$5.86MOP 47.27
-3.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$7.23MOP 58.3
-20.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Paros
Macao
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72€1.48
$2.94MOP 23.76
-41.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44€1.24
$1.60MOP 12.89
-10.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.66€2.29
$1.53MOP 12.39
73.86%
Eggs
$5.08€4.37
$3.17MOP 25.62
60.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.03€13.79
$17.37MOP 140
-7.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.56€9.94
$7.56MOP 61.1
52.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.43€12.41
$23.17MOP 187
-37.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.22€1.91
$3.84MOP 30.96
-42.19%
Banana(1kg)
$2.19€1.88
$3.11MOP 25.14
-29.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43€1.23
$3.83MOP 30.88
-62.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.87€1.61
$2.80MOP 22.61
-33.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28€1.10
$4.37MOP 35.24
-70.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.25€1.08
$3.50MOP 28.21
-64.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89€0.76
$1.71MOP 13.78
-47.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72€0.62
$1.09MOP 8.80
-33.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18€4.46
$6.14MOP 49.60
-15.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.10€6.96
$12.17MOP 98.2
-33.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10€1.81
$1.36MOP 11.01
54.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78€1.53
$2.06MOP 16.60
-13.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Paros
Macao
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.26€1.95
$0.77MOP 6.25
193.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$70.7€60.8
$22.17MOP 179
219.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.61€3.97
$2.65MOP 21.36
73.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.19MOP 9.57
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.77€10.13
$15.12MOP 122
-22.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.19€1.88
$1.74MOP 14.08
25.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9K€18.8K
$31.0KMOP 250.2K
-29.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K€22.7K
$28.2KMOP 227.9K
-6.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Paros
Macao
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$164€141
$103MOP 835
58.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.13€19.90
$25.14MOP 203
-8.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.43€31.34
$34.23MOP 276
6.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Paros
Macao
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.39€30.44
$85.3MOP 689
-58.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.84€22.23
$3.51MOP 28.35
636.18%
Cinema Ticket
$9.48€8.15
$14.28MOP 115
-33.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Paros
Macao
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$423€364
$674MOP 5,436
-37.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,100€3,527
$13.3KMOP 107.0K
-69.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Paros
Macao
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.9€85.0
$65.1MOP 525
51.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.81€27.36
$29.06MOP 235
9.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.5€68.4
$88.3MOP 713
-9.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117€101
$102MOP 823
15.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Paros
Macao
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$779€670
$1,064MOP 8,588
-26.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$707€608
$778MOP 6,277
-9.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,441€1,240
$1,966MOP 15.9K
-26.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$607€522
$1,621MOP 13.1K
-62.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,053€2,626
$12.7KMOP 102.8K
-76.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,505€2,155
$8,010MOP 64.6K
-68.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Paros
Macao
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,141€982
$1,983MOP 16.0K
-42.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.44
3.28
35.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Paros: June 1, 2026
Last update for Macao: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $779 in Paros and $1,064 in Macao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Macao pays 74% 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: $57.0 in Paros vs $50.0 in Macao. Groceries flip the comparison at $300 vs $366, with Paros 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
Paros vs Macao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Paros or Macao?
Paros wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Macao. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Paros the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Paros or Macao?
On paper, Macao earns 74% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Paros vs Macao?
Rent for a central apartment: $779 in Paros versus $1,064 in Macao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Paros vs Macao?
Dining out is cheaper in Paros – a meal for two runs $57.0 versus $50.0 in Macao. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Paros compared to Macao?
All in, you'll spend $1,744 per month in Paros versus $1,764 in Macao – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Paros or Macao?
At $1,744 in Paros versus $1,764 in Macao, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Paros but tight or insufficient in Macao. The gap between the two cities makes Paros the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Paros or Macao?
Both work as nomad bases, but Paros delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,744 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Paros hard to pass up.
How safe is Paros compared to Macao?
Safety-wise, Paros and Macao 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 Paros gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Macao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.