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: $2,461 in Starkville, MS versus $1,764 in Macao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,039 in Starkville, MS versus $2,775 in Macao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,617 in Starkville, MS versus $3,787 in Macao.

Living in Starkville, MS is roughly 40% more expensive than Macao, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Starkville, MS 84% above, Macao 32% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.37 $16.37

$6.19 MOP 49.94

164.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.71 $49.71

$49.59 MOP 400

0.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.95 $6.95

$6.05 MOP 48.85

14.88%

Cappuccino

$4.47 $4.47

$4.86 MOP 39.21

-8.02%

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

$2.42 $2.42

$1.20 MOP 9.71

101.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$0.81 MOP 6.57

127.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.12 $4.12

$5.86 MOP 47.25

-29.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.17 $7.17

$7.23 MOP 58.3

-0.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$2.94 MOP 23.76

-67.35%

White Bread (500g)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.60 MOP 12.88

66.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.65 $2.65

$1.53 MOP 12.38

73.20%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$3.17 MOP 25.61

35.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.98 $7.98

$17.37 MOP 140

-54.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.98 $8.98

$7.56 MOP 61.0

18.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.14 $15.14

$23.17 MOP 187

-34.66%

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.84 MOP 30.95

-1.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$3.11 MOP 25.13

-46.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$3.83 MOP 30.87

-25.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$2.80 MOP 22.60

60.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$4.37 MOP 35.23

-49.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 $2.29

$3.50 MOP 28.20

-34.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.71 MOP 13.77

-1.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.09 MOP 8.80

38.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.93 $7.93

$6.14 MOP 49.58

29.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.40 $12.40

$12.17 MOP 98.2

1.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.36 MOP 11.00

26.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 $3.25

$2.06 MOP 16.60

57.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.77 MOP 6.25

163.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.17 MOP 179

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.87 $4.87

$2.65 MOP 21.35

83.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.19 MOP 9.56

42.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.19 $18.19

$15.12 MOP 122

20.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.74 MOP 14.07

-54.02%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$31.0K MOP 250.2K

15.13%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$28.2K MOP 227.8K

-6.57%

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

$177 $177

$103 MOP 835

70.76%

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

$30.31 $30.31

$25.14 MOP 203

20.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.4 $64.4

$34.23 MOP 276

88.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.22 $42.22

$85.3 MOP 689

-50.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.51 MOP 28.34

Cinema Ticket

$7.77 $7.77

$14.28 MOP 115

-45.59%

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

$987 $987

$674 MOP 5,434

46.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,390 $8,390

$13.3K MOP 107.0K

-36.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.31 $42.31

$65.1 MOP 525

-35.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.87 $36.87

$29.06 MOP 235

26.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 $88.1

$88.3 MOP 712

-0.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 $129

$102 MOP 823

26.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$960 $960

$1,064 MOP 8,585

-9.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,367 $1,367

$778 MOP 6,275

75.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 $2,031

$1,966 MOP 15.9K

3.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,297 $1,297

$1,621 MOP 13.1K

-20.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,188 $2,188

$12.7K MOP 102.8K

-82.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,185 $2,185

$8,010 MOP 64.6K

-72.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,201 $4,201

$1,983 MOP 16.0K

111.90%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Macao: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $960 in Starkville, MS and $1,064 in Macao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Starkville, MS pays 112% 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: $50.0 in Starkville, MS vs $50.0 in Macao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $317 vs $366 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 40% 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 112% 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: $960 in Starkville, MS versus $1,064 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 $2,461 per month in Starkville, MS versus $1,764 in Macao – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,764 in Macao versus $2,461 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 40% less than in Starkville, MS. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.