🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,646 in Spain versus $1,797 in Macao (China).
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,401 in Spain versus $2,831 in Macao (China).
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,155 in Spain versus $3,864 in Macao (China).
🙂Living in Spain costs about 8% less than in Macao (China) on average.
📊Both countries sit above the global median: Spain23% above, Macao (China)34% above.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Spain: monthly costs span $1,133 to $3,262, compared to $1,764–$1,830 in Macao (China). City choice carries more weight in Spain.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
Macao (China)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€14.03
$6.04MOP 48.74
167.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.3€49.69
$54.9MOP 443
4.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.62€9.21
$6.28MOP 50.6
69.11%
Cappuccino
$2.38€2.07
$4.74MOP 38.28
-49.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59€2.25
$0.97MOP 7.82
167.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91€1.66
$0.75MOP 6.03
154.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.03
$5.82MOP 46.99
-40.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.49
$7.28MOP 58.7
-44.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
Macao (China)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.08
$2.77MOP 22.37
-55.23%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59€1.38
$1.58MOP 12.75
0.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59€1.38
$1.48MOP 11.91
7.43%
Eggs
$3.05€2.65
$2.85MOP 23.02
7.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.55€12.62
$18.99MOP 153
-23.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.42€7.30
$7.68MOP 62.0
9.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.47
$23.15MOP 187
-32.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.54€2.20
$3.71MOP 29.94
-31.54%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01€1.74
$3.08MOP 24.83
-34.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$3.82MOP 30.79
-45.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.53€2.20
$2.75MOP 22.20
-8.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85€1.60
$4.39MOP 35.44
-57.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89€1.64
$3.52MOP 28.40
-46.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35€1.17
$1.65MOP 13.30
-18.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74€0.64
$1.08MOP 8.74
-31.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.35€5.51
$6.08MOP 49.08
4.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.66€4.91
$12.18MOP 98.3
-53.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25€1.08
$1.42MOP 11.49
-11.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.79
$2.09MOP 16.82
-1.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
Macao (China)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.69€1.47
$0.71MOP 5.71
138.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.10€30.45
$22.48MOP 181
56.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.42€3.83
$2.53MOP 20.42
74.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34€1.16
$1.18MOP 9.51
13.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.32€22.83
$14.64MOP 118
79.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.59
$1.78MOP 14.35
3.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.7K
$30.5KMOP 246.0K
27.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6K€27.4K
$28.0KMOP 225.7K
13.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
Macao (China)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€131
$93.4MOP 753
61.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.56€17.84
$25.67MOP 207
-19.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.49€29.92
$34.24MOP 276
0.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
Macao (China)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.96€41.60
$78.3MOP 632
-38.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.05€13.92
$2.83MOP 22.83
467.14%
Cinema Ticket
$8.99€7.80
$14.27MOP 115
-37.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
Macao (China)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$509€441
$683MOP 5,506
-25.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,884€8,574
$13.5KMOP 108.8K
-26.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
Macao (China)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.5€75.0
$64.7MOP 522
33.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.14€32.22
$28.78MOP 232
29.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.0€79.8
$89.6MOP 723
2.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109€94.4
$102MOP 825
6.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
Macao (China)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,045€907
$1,144MOP 9,226
-8.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$834€723
$857MOP 6,910
-2.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,689€1,466
$2,059MOP 16.6K
-17.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,074
$1,760MOP 14.2K
-29.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,378€3,798
$11.1KMOP 89.6K
-60.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,747€2,383
$8,298MOP 67.0K
-66.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
Macao (China)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,073€1,799
$1,980MOP 16.0K
4.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.51
3.21
9.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Spain: May 30, 2026
Last update for Macao (China): June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $898 in Spain, $1,143 in Macao (China). Capital cities: $1,566 in Madrid vs $1,064 in Macao.
💰National salary averages: $2,030 in Spain, $1,983 in Macao (China). Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 27% higher in Macao (China).
⭐Public transport is 200% more expensive in Spain.
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
Spain vs Macao (China): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Macao (China) and Spain?
At $1,797 per month in Macao (China) and $2,198 in Spain, there's a 22% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Macao (China) is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Spain beats Macao (China) across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Macao (China) or Spain?
In Macao (China), $2,500 covers most cities easily. In Spain, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Macao (China) or Spain?
It depends on what you're after. Macao (China) wins on affordability; Spain may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.