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: $1,809 in Starkville, MS versus $2,122 in Macao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,704 in Starkville, MS versus $2,990 in Macao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,599 in Starkville, MS versus $3,858 in Macao.

Living in Starkville, MS costs roughly 15% less than in Macao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Starkville, MS 32% above, Macao 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.77 $14.77

$6.30 MOP 50.9

134.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.8 $60.8

$55.2 MOP 445

10.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 $8.12

$5.89 MOP 47.52

37.86%

Cappuccino

$4.33 $4.33

$5.17 MOP 41.72

-16.25%

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

$2.44 $2.44

$1.02 MOP 8.21

139.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 $1.90

$0.87 MOP 7.01

118.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.12 $4.12

$5.87 MOP 47.41

-29.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 $6.82

$7.48 MOP 60.4

-8.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$3.15 MOP 25.42

-72.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.76 MOP 14.22

72.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.68 MOP 13.55

61.90%

Eggs

$4.40 $4.40

$3.38 MOP 27.32

30.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 $9.21

$16.02 MOP 129

-42.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.78 $9.78

$19.37 MOP 156

-49.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.13 $15.13

$28.90 MOP 233

-47.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.69 MOP 21.72

39.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$2.87 MOP 23.17

-53.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 $3.85

$1.88 MOP 15.16

104.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.46 MOP 19.89

21.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$3.92 MOP 31.65

-43.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.92 MOP 23.55

-24.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 $2.23

$0.61 MOP 4.96

265.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.21 MOP 9.77

57.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.57 $8.57

$6.88 MOP 55.6

24.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.90 $9.90

$12.29 MOP 99.3

-19.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.72 MOP 13.92

0.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 $3.25

$2.20 MOP 17.75

47.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MOP 6.23

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.27 MOP 180

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.25 $4.25

$2.52 MOP 20.36

68.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.23 MOP 9.91

50.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.10 $33.10

$14.91 MOP 120

122.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.85 MOP 14.96

-56.76%

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

$34.6K $34.6K

$31.0K MOP 250.6K

11.42%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$31.8K MOP 256.6K

-19.35%

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

$168 $168

$120 MOP 969

39.82%

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

$29.86 $29.86

$23.91 MOP 193

24.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.7 $53.7

$36.83 MOP 297

45.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.71 $17.71

$65.0 MOP 525

-72.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.81 MOP 30.76

Cinema Ticket

$7.92 $7.92

$14.53 MOP 117

-45.49%

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

$1,554 $1,554

$1,217 MOP 9,830

27.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,543 $8,543

$18.8K MOP 151.5K

-54.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.8 $74.8

$69.2 MOP 559

8.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.9 $51.9

$33.86 MOP 273

53.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.3 $86.3

$92.1 MOP 744

-6.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$168 $168

$136 MOP 1,101

23.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$933 $933

$1,127 MOP 9,104

-17.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$742 $742

$1,084 MOP 8,756

-31.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,555 $1,555

$2,086 MOP 16.8K

-25.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,337 $1,337

$1,472 MOP 11.9K

-9.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,176 $2,176

$8,369 MOP 67.6K

-74.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,200 $2,200

$5,647 MOP 45.6K

-61.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,262 $4,262

$1,984 MOP 16.0K

114.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.23

107.67%

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

Last update for Starkville, MS: August 29, 2026

Last update for Macao: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $933 in Starkville, MS and $1,127 in Macao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Starkville, MS pays 115% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $61.0 in Starkville, MS vs $55.0 in Macao. Groceries flip the comparison at $324 vs $424, with Starkville, MS cheaper for home cooking.

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

Starkville, MS wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Macao. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Starkville, MS the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 115% 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: $933 in Starkville, MS versus $1,127 in Macao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Macao. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,809 per month in Starkville, MS versus $2,122 in Macao – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,809 in Starkville, MS versus $2,122 in Macao, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Starkville, MS but tight or insufficient in Macao. The gap between the two cities makes Starkville, MS 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 Starkville, MS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Macao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.