Cost of Living Comparison Between Starkville, MS and Macao Cost of Living Comparison Between Starkville, MS and Macao

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,409 in Starkville, MS versus $1,744 in Macao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,006 in Starkville, MS versus $2,767 in Macao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,602 in Starkville, MS versus $3,790 in Macao.

Living in Starkville, MS is roughly 38% more expensive than Macao, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Starkville, MS 79% above, Macao 29% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.73 $16.73

$6.16 MOP 49.68

171.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.2 $50.2

$50.4 MOP 406

-0.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.85 $6.85

$6.26 MOP 50.5

9.42%

Cappuccino

$4.55 $4.55

$4.72 MOP 38.07

-3.60%

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

$2.43 $2.43

$1.26 MOP 10.17

92.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$0.81 MOP 6.53

125.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.02 $4.02

$5.92 MOP 47.75

-32.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.94 $6.94

$7.39 MOP 59.6

-6.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$2.87 MOP 23.16

-66.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.51 MOP 12.22

79.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.48 MOP 11.96

86.49%

Eggs

$4.16 $4.16

$3.17 MOP 25.60

31.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.18 $8.18

$17.46 MOP 141

-53.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.99 $8.99

$7.91 MOP 63.8

13.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.34 $15.34

$22.96 MOP 185

-33.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 $3.64

$3.90 MOP 31.45

-6.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$2.99 MOP 24.13

-45.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$3.77 MOP 30.42

-24.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$2.86 MOP 23.06

53.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 $2.12

$4.23 MOP 34.13

-49.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$3.34 MOP 26.97

-34.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.68 MOP 13.58

1.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.09 MOP 8.79

41.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.13 $8.13

$6.26 MOP 50.5

29.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.35 $12.35

$12.51 MOP 101

-1.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.42 MOP 11.47

21.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.03 MOP 16.37

57.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.75 MOP 6.06

169.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.51 MOP 182

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.97 $4.97

$2.63 MOP 21.23

88.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.17 MOP 9.47

47.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.86 $17.86

$14.76 MOP 119

21.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.79 MOP 14.48

-57.54%

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

$34.6K $34.6K

$30.8K MOP 248.3K

12.37%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$27.4K MOP 221.3K

-3.86%

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

$182 $182

$101 MOP 816

79.56%

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

$30.02 $30.02

$25.49 MOP 206

17.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.7 $65.7

$34.21 MOP 276

91.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.01 $43.01

$88.5 MOP 714

-51.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.47 MOP 28.00

Cinema Ticket

$8.07 $8.07

$14.19 MOP 115

-43.13%

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

$981 $981

$678 MOP 5,474

44.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,275 $8,275

$13.4K MOP 108.0K

-38.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.49 $43.49

$65.0 MOP 524

-33.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.47 $36.47

$29.22 MOP 236

24.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.1 $89.1

$91.6 MOP 740

-2.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$103 MOP 831

26.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$979 $979

$1,045 MOP 8,434

-6.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,333 $1,333

$763 MOP 6,161

74.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,003 $2,003

$2,003 MOP 16.2K

0.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,277 $1,277

$1,595 MOP 12.9K

-19.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,193 $2,193

$12.6K MOP 101.4K

-82.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,140 $2,140

$7,844 MOP 63.3K

-72.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,802 $2,802

$2,058 MOP 16.6K

36.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

3.28

99.70%

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

Last update for Starkville, MS: April 12, 2026

Last update for Macao: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $979 in Starkville, MS and $1,045 in Macao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Starkville, MS pays 36% 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: $50 in Starkville, MS vs $50 in Macao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $317 vs $365 per month, with Starkville, MS 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

Starkville, MS vs Macao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Macao wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Starkville, MS. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Macao the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Starkville, MS pays 36% more on average, 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: $979 in Starkville, MS versus $1,045 in Macao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Starkville, MS pay roughly 15% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,409 per month in Starkville, MS versus $1,744 in Macao – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,744 in Macao versus $2,409 in Starkville, MS, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Macao but tight or insufficient in Starkville, MS. 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, Starkville, MS 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 38% less than in Starkville, MS. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.