Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Macao Cost of Living Comparison Between Singapore and Macao

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,476 in Singapore versus $2,122 in Macao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,218 in Singapore versus $2,990 in Macao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,959 in Singapore versus $3,858 in Macao.

Living in Singapore is roughly 64% more expensive than in Macao, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Singapore 153% above, Macao 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.77 SGD 14.97

$6.30 MOP 50.9

86.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.3 SGD 85.6

$55.2 MOP 446

22.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 SGD 10.92

$5.89 MOP 47.53

45.84%

Cappuccino

$5.19 SGD 6.60

$5.17 MOP 41.72

0.39%

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

$1.84 SGD 2.34

$1.02 MOP 8.21

80.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 SGD 1.48

$0.87 MOP 7.01

34.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.24 SGD 10.48

$5.87 MOP 47.42

40.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.04 SGD 12.76

$7.48 MOP 60.4

34.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.05 SGD 3.88

$3.15 MOP 25.43

-3.17%

White Bread (500g)

$2.50 SGD 3.17

$1.76 MOP 14.22

42.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.72 SGD 3.46

$1.68 MOP 13.55

61.90%

Eggs

$3.74 SGD 4.75

$3.38 MOP 27.33

10.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.17 SGD 26.92

$16.02 MOP 129

32.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.85 SGD 12.53

$19.37 MOP 156

-49.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.51 SGD 32.43

$28.90 MOP 233

-11.73%

Apples (1kg)

$4.50 SGD 5.73

$2.69 MOP 21.72

67.29%

Banana (1kg)

$3.02 SGD 3.83

$2.87 MOP 23.18

5.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.83 SGD 6.14

$1.88 MOP 15.16

156.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 SGD 2.89

$2.46 MOP 19.90

-7.72%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 SGD 3.22

$3.92 MOP 31.66

-35.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 SGD 3.02

$2.92 MOP 23.56

-18.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 SGD 2.26

$0.61 MOP 4.96

191.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 SGD 1.80

$1.21 MOP 9.77

17.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.34 SGD 18.23

$6.88 MOP 55.6

108.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.77 SGD 30.22

$12.29 MOP 99.3

93.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.55 SGD 5.78

$1.72 MOP 13.92

164.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 SGD 5.66

$2.20 MOP 17.76

102.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.58 SGD 2.01

$0.77 MOP 6.23

105.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$99.0 SGD 126

$22.27 MOP 180

344.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.53 SGD 4.49

$2.52 MOP 20.37

40.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 SGD 1.03

$1.23 MOP 9.92

-34.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.62 SGD 21.13

$14.91 MOP 120

11.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.47 SGD 3.14

$1.85 MOP 14.97

33.51%

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

$156.1K SGD 198.5K

$31.0K MOP 250.6K

403.18%

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

$145.8K SGD 185.3K

$31.8K MOP 256.7K

358.64%

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

$162 SGD 206

$120 MOP 970

35.14%

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

$12.73 SGD 16.19

$23.91 MOP 193

-46.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.15 SGD 34.51

$36.83 MOP 297

-26.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$108 SGD 137

$65.0 MOP 525

66.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.17 SGD 14.20

$3.81 MOP 30.77

193.18%

Cinema Ticket

$11.79 SGD 14.98

$14.53 MOP 117

-18.86%

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

$1,491 SGD 1,896

$1,217 MOP 9,832

22.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.5K SGD 37.5K

$18.8K MOP 151.5K

57.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.8 SGD 100

$69.2 MOP 559

13.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 SGD 65.6

$33.86 MOP 273

52.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 SGD 141

$92.1 MOP 744

20.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 SGD 165

$136 MOP 1,102

-4.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,949 SGD 3,749

$1,127 MOP 9,105

161.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,156 SGD 2,741

$1,084 MOP 8,758

98.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,006 SGD 7,635

$2,086 MOP 16.8K

187.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,893 SGD 4,949

$1,472 MOP 11.9K

164.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$23.6K SGD 30.0K

$8,369 MOP 67.6K

182.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.7K SGD 21.2K

$5,647 MOP 45.6K

195.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,122 SGD 5,241

$1,984 MOP 16.0K

107.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.43

-19.00%

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

Last update for Singapore: September 1, 2026

Last update for Macao: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,949 in Singapore and $1,127 in Macao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Singapore pays 108% 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: $67.0 in Singapore vs $55.0 in Macao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $458 vs $424 per month, with Macao 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

Singapore vs Macao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Macao wins on cost – living expenses run 64% lower than in Singapore. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Macao the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 108% higher in Singapore, 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: $2,949 in Singapore versus $1,127 in Macao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Macao – a meal for two runs $55.0 versus $67.0 in Singapore. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,476 per month in Singapore versus $2,122 in Macao – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,122 in Macao versus $3,476 in Singapore, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Macao but tight or insufficient in Singapore. The gap between the two cities makes Macao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Singapore 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.

Expats usually find Macao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Singapore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.