Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Taipa and Budapest

For one person, living is cheaper in Budapest: $1,621 a month against $2,021 in Taipa, rent and utilities included – about $4,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Taipa
🇲🇴 Macao (China)
$2,021
/mo nomad
Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,621
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Taipa and in Budapest

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Taipa and in Budapest actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,021 per month in Taipa vs $1,621 in Budapest, rent included.

  • Taipa $2,021
  • Budapest $1,621

A couple spends around $3,175 per month in Taipa vs $2,555 in Budapest, rent included.

  • Taipa $3,175
  • Budapest $2,555

A family of three spends $4,330 per month in Taipa vs $3,489 in Budapest, rent included.

  • Taipa $4,330
  • Budapest $3,489

Taipa costs about 25% more than Budapest, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Taipa and Budapest sit above the global median – Taipa by 51%, Budapest by 21%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taipa
Budapest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.30 MOP 50.9
$13.99 Ft 4,551
-54.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.6 MOP 458
$60.3 Ft 19.6K
-6.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.96 MOP 48.13
$9.96 Ft 3,241
-40.16%
Cappuccino
$4.87 MOP 39.38
$3.38 Ft 1,100
44.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 MOP 6.21
$2.13 Ft 692
-63.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 MOP 2.90
$1.87 Ft 608
-80.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.87 MOP 47.47
$3.75 Ft 1,221
56.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.20 MOP 58.2
$3.57 Ft 1,162
101.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taipa
Budapest
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.14 MOP 25.41
$1.13 Ft 368
177.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 MOP 14.19
$1.84 Ft 599
-4.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.73 MOP 13.97
$2.39 Ft 777
-27.62%
Eggs
$3.35 MOP 27.06
$3.83 Ft 1,245
-12.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.42 MOP 133
$11.33 Ft 3,686
44.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$19.52 MOP 158
$6.74 Ft 2,192
189.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.67 MOP 232
$14.69 Ft 4,780
95.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.66 MOP 21.49
$1.84 Ft 597
44.57%
Banana (1kg)
$2.92 MOP 23.58
$2.01 Ft 653
45.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MOP 15.32
$2.36 Ft 767
-19.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.37 MOP 19.14
$3.77 Ft 1,226
-37.14%
Potato (1kg)
$4.04 MOP 32.67
$0.96 Ft 313
320.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.83 MOP 22.91
$1.03 Ft 334
174.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.62 MOP 5.03
$1.56 Ft 509
-60.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MOP 9.54
$0.66 Ft 216
78.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.88 MOP 55.6
$7.96 Ft 2,591
-13.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.16 MOP 98.3
$6.01 Ft 1,954
102.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 MOP 14.35
$1.30 Ft 421
36.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 MOP 18.27
$2.08 Ft 676
8.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Taipa
Budapest
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.50 Ft 489
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$27.61 Ft 8,982
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.55 MOP 20.64
$3.30 Ft 1,074
-22.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.25 MOP 10.06
$1.30 Ft 424
-3.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.06 MOP 122
$19.78 Ft 6,436
-23.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.83 MOP 14.81
$1.81 Ft 591
1.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5K MOP 254.6K
$29.3K Ft 9.5M
7.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8K MOP 257.1K
$34.1K Ft 11.1M
-6.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taipa
Budapest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 MOP 984
$170 Ft 55.3K
-28.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.67 MOP 191
$23.98 Ft 7,802
-1.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.90 MOP 298
$23.42 Ft 7,621
57.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taipa
Budapest
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.7 MOP 596
$66.2 Ft 21.6K
11.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.74 MOP 30.22
$19.18 Ft 6,239
-80.50%
Cinema Ticket
$12.47 MOP 101
$9.52 Ft 3,098
30.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taipa
Budapest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,203 MOP 9,723
$537 Ft 174.6K
124.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.7K MOP 150.8K
$16.6K Ft 5.4M
12.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taipa
Budapest
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.9 MOP 565
$101 Ft 33.0K
-31.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.04 MOP 275
$42.99 Ft 14.0K
-20.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.2 MOP 754
$113 Ft 36.7K
-17.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138 MOP 1,113
$119 Ft 38.6K
16.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taipa
Budapest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,065 MOP 8,607
$805 Ft 262.0K
32.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,001 MOP 8,089
$629 Ft 204.7K
59.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,130 MOP 17.2K
$1,549 Ft 504.1K
37.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,891 MOP 15.3K
$1,167 Ft 379.7K
62.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.9K MOP 128.2K
$5,618 Ft 1.8M
182.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$13.6K MOP 109.8K
$3,968 Ft 1.3M
242.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taipa
Budapest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,626 Ft 529.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3
6.43
-53.34%

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

Last update for Taipa: October 5, 2026

Last update for Budapest: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Taipa
$1K
Budapest
$629 37.1% $372
Groceries & Markets
Taipa
$425
Budapest
$258 39.3% $167
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taipa
$182
Budapest
$217 19.2% $35
Eating Out
Taipa
$175
Budapest
$224 28.1% $49
Clothing & Footwear
Taipa
$151
Budapest
$169 12.2% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Taipa
$99
Budapest
$85 13.6% $13
Getting Around
Taipa
$8.8 *
Budapest
$43 395% $35

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,065 in Taipa versus $805 in Budapest. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Taipa versus $60.0 in Budapest. Groceries tell a different story – $425 in Taipa vs $258 in Budapest – so Budapest wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇲🇴 Taipa
🇭🇺 Budapest
🕒 Local time
10:23 10:23 AM
04:23 4:23 AM
6 h behind Taipa
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
78,497
1,686,222 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

HUF, USD, EUR to MOP – Macanese Pataca Converter

Macanese Pataca exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 8.08 MOP (1 MOP = 0.124 USD). 1 EUR = 9.06 MOP (1 MOP = 0.11 EUR).

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 325 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.07 USD). 1 EUR = 365 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.74 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Taipa Budapest 8,540 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Taipa
  • Budapest

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Taipa vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Budapest cheaper than Taipa?
Yes – Taipa is pricier by about 25%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,031 per month in Taipa and $2,432 in Budapest. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Budapest, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Taipa or in Budapest?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Taipa and $60.0 in Budapest. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Taipa and in Budapest?
Groceries cost about 65% more in Taipa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Taipa or in Budapest?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Budapest, where all-in costs run around $1,621, than in Taipa at $2,021. In Budapest it covers expenses comfortably, while in Taipa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Taipa or Budapest more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Budapest – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Taipa or Budapest?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Budapest. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Taipa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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