Cost of Living Comparison Between Taipa and Cartago Cost of Living Comparison Between Taipa and Cartago

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,835 in Taipa versus $1,479 in Cartago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,895 in Taipa versus $2,112 in Cartago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,956 in Taipa versus $2,744 in Cartago.

Living in Taipa is roughly 24% more expensive than in Cartago, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Taipa 37% above, Cartago 11% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.06 MOP 48.90

$8.04 ₡3,585

-24.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.1 MOP 405

$32.05 ₡14.3K

56.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.29 MOP 50.8

$8.83 ₡3,940

-28.77%

Cappuccino

$4.68 MOP 37.77

$3.95 ₡1,760

18.48%

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

$0.76 MOP 6.12

$2.04 ₡908

-62.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 MOP 3.09

$1.23 ₡549

-69.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.73 MOP 46.24

$2.02 ₡903

183.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.15 MOP 57.7

$4.63 ₡2,066

54.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 MOP 11.08

$2.06 ₡920

-33.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 MOP 12.41

$2.15 ₡960

-28.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 MOP 12.21

$2.13 ₡950

-29.11%

Eggs

$1.90 MOP 15.33

$2.97 ₡1,325

-36.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.47 MOP 141

$8.02 ₡3,577

117.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.72 MOP 62.3

$8.95 ₡3,991

-13.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.08 MOP 186

$13.53 ₡6,035

70.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 MOP 29.80

$4.38 ₡1,952

-15.75%

Banana (1kg)

$3.01 MOP 24.27

$1.17 ₡521

157.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.75 MOP 30.32

$3.92 ₡1,748

-4.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.89 MOP 15.28

$2.63 ₡1,173

-28.14%

Potato (1kg)

$4.38 MOP 35.35

$1.96 ₡873

123.47%

Onion (1kg)

$3.50 MOP 28.22

$2.03 ₡904

72.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.64 MOP 13.28

$1.01 ₡452

62.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 MOP 8.34

$2.02 ₡901

-49.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.16 MOP 49.77

$5.40 ₡2,410

14.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.52 MOP 101

$15.54 ₡6,932

-19.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 MOP 11.46

$2.52 ₡1,126

-43.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 MOP 17.00

$1.76 ₡783

19.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.07 ₡476

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$70.3 ₡31.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 MOP 20.69

$1.36 ₡605

88.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 MOP 9.96

$1.86 ₡832

-33.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.08 MOP 122

$8.12 ₡3,621

85.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 MOP 14.67

$1.45 ₡645

25.52%

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

$30.7K MOP 247.6K

$37.7K ₡16.8M

-18.65%

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

$28.0K MOP 226.2K

$32.6K ₡14.5M

-13.98%

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

$56.4 MOP 455

$47.57 ₡21.2K

18.54%

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

$25.59 MOP 207

$25.51 ₡11.4K

0.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.80 MOP 208

$56.1 ₡25.0K

-54.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.1 MOP 599

$56.9 ₡25.4K

30.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.61 MOP 29.16

$23.47 ₡10.5K

-84.62%

Cinema Ticket

$12.55 MOP 101

$6.50 ₡2,902

93.08%

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

$675 MOP 5,448

$491 ₡219.2K

37.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K MOP 108.5K

$7,083 ₡3.2M

89.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.4 MOP 512

$63.1 ₡28.1K

0.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.51 MOP 230

$51.9 ₡23.2K

-45.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.1 MOP 719

$107 ₡47.9K

-17.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100.0 MOP 807

$78.6 ₡35.1K

27.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,198 MOP 9,671

$768 ₡342.7K

55.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$973 MOP 7,857

$605 ₡270.0K

60.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,053 MOP 16.6K

$734 ₡327.4K

179.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,914 MOP 15.5K

$761 ₡339.7K

151.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$16.3K MOP 131.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$13.3K MOP 107.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,319 ₡588.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-70.00%

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

Last update for Taipa: July 11, 2026

Last update for Cartago: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,198 in Taipa and $768 in Cartago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $50.0 in Taipa vs $32.00 in Cartago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $339 vs $315 per month, with Cartago 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

Taipa vs Cartago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cartago is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,752 in Taipa and $2,218 in Cartago to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,198 in Taipa versus $768 in Cartago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Taipa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,835 per month in Taipa versus $1,479 in Cartago – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,479 in Cartago versus $1,835 in Taipa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cartago but tight or insufficient in Taipa. The gap between the two cities makes Cartago 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, Taipa and Cartago 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 Cartago gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Taipa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.