Cost of Living Comparison Between Paros and Macao Cost 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: Paros 30% above, Macao 32% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Paros
Macao
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.78 €11.86
$6.19 MOP 49.95
122.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.5 €49.45
$49.59 MOP 400
15.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.54 €9.93
$6.05 MOP 48.87
90.74%
Cappuccino
$3.84 €3.30
$4.86 MOP 39.22
-20.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 €1.72
$1.20 MOP 9.71
65.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 €0.49
$0.81 MOP 6.57
-30.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.64 €4.85
$5.86 MOP 47.27
-3.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$7.23 MOP 58.3
-20.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Paros
Macao
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 €1.48
$2.94 MOP 23.76
-41.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 €1.24
$1.60 MOP 12.89
-10.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.66 €2.29
$1.53 MOP 12.39
73.86%
Eggs
$5.08 €4.37
$3.17 MOP 25.62
60.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.03 €13.79
$17.37 MOP 140
-7.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.56 €9.94
$7.56 MOP 61.1
52.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.43 €12.41
$23.17 MOP 187
-37.72%
Apples (1kg)
$2.22 €1.91
$3.84 MOP 30.96
-42.19%
Banana (1kg)
$2.19 €1.88
$3.11 MOP 25.14
-29.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.43 €1.23
$3.83 MOP 30.88
-62.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.87 €1.61
$2.80 MOP 22.61
-33.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 €1.10
$4.37 MOP 35.24
-70.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.25 €1.08
$3.50 MOP 28.21
-64.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 €0.76
$1.71 MOP 13.78
-47.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 €0.62
$1.09 MOP 8.80
-33.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 €4.46
$6.14 MOP 49.60
-15.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.10 €6.96
$12.17 MOP 98.2
-33.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 €1.81
$1.36 MOP 11.01
54.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 €1.53
$2.06 MOP 16.60
-13.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Paros
Macao
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 €1.95
$0.77 MOP 6.25
193.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$70.7 €60.8
$22.17 MOP 179
219.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.61 €3.97
$2.65 MOP 21.36
73.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.19 MOP 9.57
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.77 €10.13
$15.12 MOP 122
-22.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 €1.88
$1.74 MOP 14.08
25.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9K €18.8K
$31.0K MOP 250.2K
-29.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K €22.7K
$28.2K MOP 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
$103 MOP 835
58.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.13 €19.90
$25.14 MOP 203
-8.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.43 €31.34
$34.23 MOP 276
6.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Paros
Macao
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.39 €30.44
$85.3 MOP 689
-58.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.84 €22.23
$3.51 MOP 28.35
636.18%
Cinema Ticket
$9.48 €8.15
$14.28 MOP 115
-33.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Paros
Macao
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$423 €364
$674 MOP 5,436
-37.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,100 €3,527
$13.3K MOP 107.0K
-69.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Paros
Macao
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.9 €85.0
$65.1 MOP 525
51.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.81 €27.36
$29.06 MOP 235
9.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.5 €68.4
$88.3 MOP 713
-9.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 €101
$102 MOP 823
15.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Paros
Macao
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$779 €670
$1,064 MOP 8,588
-26.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$707 €608
$778 MOP 6,277
-9.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,441 €1,240
$1,966 MOP 15.9K
-26.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$607 €522
$1,621 MOP 13.1K
-62.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,053 €2,626
$12.7K MOP 102.8K
-76.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,505 €2,155
$8,010 MOP 64.6K
-68.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Paros
Macao
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,141 €982
$1,983 MOP 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.

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