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: $2,401 in Starkville, MS versus $1,721 in Macao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,003 in Starkville, MS versus $2,815 in Macao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,605 in Starkville, MS versus $3,908 in Macao.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Starkville, MS 80% above, Macao 29% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.44 $16.44

$6.24 MOP 50.4

163.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.56 $49.56

$49.70 MOP 401

-0.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.62 $6.62

$6.32 MOP 51.1

4.75%

Cappuccino

$4.61 $4.61

$4.87 MOP 39.33

-5.34%

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

$2.41 $2.41

$1.20 MOP 9.66

100.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$0.88 MOP 7.10

117.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.03 $4.03

$5.67 MOP 45.78

-28.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.03 $7.03

$7.14 MOP 57.7

-1.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$2.95 MOP 23.84

-69.49%

White Bread (500g)

$2.65 $2.65

$1.59 MOP 12.81

66.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.53 MOP 12.32

79.74%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$3.08 MOP 24.86

40.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.01 $8.01

$17.32 MOP 140

-53.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.11 $9.11

$7.80 MOP 63.0

16.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$23.05 MOP 186

-34.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.59 $3.59

$3.76 MOP 30.39

-4.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 $1.60

$3.00 MOP 24.26

-46.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$3.75 MOP 30.31

-20.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$2.75 MOP 22.17

54.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$4.26 MOP 34.40

-48.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 $2.30

$3.38 MOP 27.30

-31.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.62 MOP 13.11

1.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.09 MOP 8.77

38.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.90 $7.90

$6.19 MOP 49.96

27.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.40 $12.40

$12.27 MOP 99.1

1.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.40 MOP 11.34

17.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 $3.25

$2.09 MOP 16.87

55.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.77 MOP 6.21

166.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.92 MOP 177

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.95 $4.95

$2.63 MOP 21.25

88.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.17 MOP 9.49

48.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.25 $18.25

$14.96 MOP 121

21.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.74 MOP 14.09

-54.02%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$31.0K MOP 250.6K

11.27%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$27.5K MOP 221.7K

-3.18%

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

$178 $178

$103 MOP 830

72.81%

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

$30.25 $30.25

$25.16 MOP 203

20.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.8 $65.8

$33.06 MOP 267

99.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.48 $43.48

$85.1 MOP 687

-48.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.45 MOP 27.88

Cinema Ticket

$8.19 $8.19

$14.39 MOP 116

-43.09%

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

$999 $999

$693 MOP 5,599

44.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,470 $8,470

$13.6K MOP 110.0K

-37.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.70 $43.70

$64.9 MOP 524

-32.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.38 $37.38

$29.20 MOP 236

28.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 $87.5

$88.5 MOP 715

-1.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$102 MOP 820

27.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$982 $982

$1,061 MOP 8,568

-7.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,354 $1,354

$771 MOP 6,223

75.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,045 $2,045

$1,955 MOP 15.8K

4.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,325 $1,325

$1,593 MOP 12.9K

-16.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,165 $2,165

$8,503 MOP 68.7K

-74.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,173 $2,173

$5,652 MOP 45.6K

-61.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,193 $4,193

$2,055 MOP 16.6K

104.06%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Macao: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $982 in Starkville, MS and $1,061 in Macao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Starkville, MS pays 104% 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 $315 vs $364 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.

Average pay runs 104% higher in Starkville, MS, 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: $982 in Starkville, MS versus $1,061 in Macao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Starkville, MS pay roughly 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,401 per month in Starkville, MS versus $1,721 in Macao – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,721 in Macao versus $2,401 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.