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: $1,830 in Taipa versus $1,512 in Cartago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,886 in Taipa versus $2,121 in Cartago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,941 in Taipa versus $2,730 in Cartago.

Living in Taipa is roughly 21% more expensive than Cartago, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Taipa 37% above, Cartago 13% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.09 MOP 49.12

$7.95 ₡3,615

-23.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.44 MOP 399

$31.47 ₡14.3K

57.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.16 MOP 49.72

$9.17 ₡4,172

-32.82%

Cappuccino

$4.66 MOP 37.61

$3.82 ₡1,738

21.99%

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

$0.77 MOP 6.25

$1.93 ₡880

-60.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 MOP 2.85

$1.23 ₡558

-71.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.90 MOP 47.66

$2.01 ₡913

193.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.02 MOP 56.6

$4.75 ₡2,159

47.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 MOP 10.76

$1.96 ₡894

-32.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 MOP 12.39

$2.19 ₡996

-29.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 MOP 11.77

$2.15 ₡976

-32.09%

Eggs

$1.94 MOP 15.69

$2.91 ₡1,325

-33.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.61 MOP 142

$7.84 ₡3,566

124.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.66 MOP 61.8

$9.30 ₡4,228

-17.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.26 MOP 188

$13.63 ₡6,199

70.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.88 MOP 31.33

$4.43 ₡2,014

-12.42%

Banana (1kg)

$3.11 MOP 25.07

$1.17 ₡534

165.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 MOP 31.33

$4.03 ₡1,832

-3.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 MOP 15.82

$2.64 ₡1,201

-25.76%

Potato (1kg)

$4.44 MOP 35.83

$1.96 ₡890

126.53%

Onion (1kg)

$3.52 MOP 28.38

$1.98 ₡899

77.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.65 MOP 13.31

$1.04 ₡471

58.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MOP 8.77

$1.94 ₡884

-43.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.36 MOP 51.3

$5.11 ₡2,326

24.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 ₡6,960

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 MOP 11.09

$2.45 ₡1,112

-44.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 MOP 16.25

$1.80 ₡820

11.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 ₡461

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$69.0 ₡31.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 MOP 20.66

$1.37 ₡622

86.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.18 MOP 9.54

$1.86 ₡848

-36.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.10 MOP 122

$7.91 ₡3,599

90.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.80 MOP 14.51

$1.41 ₡643

27.66%

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

$31.5K MOP 254.0K

$37.4K ₡17.0M

-15.91%

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

$27.4K MOP 221.3K

$32.3K ₡14.7M

-15.22%

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

$56.9 MOP 460

$49.02 ₡22.3K

16.16%

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

$25.50 MOP 206

$25.60 ₡11.6K

-0.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.36 MOP 213

$57.9 ₡26.3K

-54.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.8 MOP 595

$57.3 ₡26.0K

28.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.75 MOP 30.24

$24.06 ₡10.9K

-84.41%

Cinema Ticket

$12.42 MOP 100

$6.47 ₡2,944

91.96%

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

$676 MOP 5,456

$491 ₡223.1K

37.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K MOP 106.2K

$7,189 ₡3.3M

83.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 MOP 516

$61.5 ₡28.0K

3.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.47 MOP 230

$51.7 ₡23.5K

-44.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.4 MOP 714

$109 ₡49.4K

-18.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 MOP 836

$80.4 ₡36.6K

28.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,222 MOP 9,861

$760 ₡345.6K

60.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$996 MOP 8,038

$602 ₡273.6K

65.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 MOP 16.5K

$734 ₡333.9K

177.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,904 MOP 15.4K

$770 ₡350.1K

147.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$16.3K MOP 131.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$13.3K MOP 107.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,312 ₡596.8K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Cartago: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,222 in Taipa and $760 in Cartago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $49.00 in Taipa vs $31.00 in Cartago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $317 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 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,746 in Taipa and $2,268 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: $1,222 in Taipa versus $760 in Cartago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Taipa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,830 per month in Taipa versus $1,512 in Cartago – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,512 in Cartago versus $1,830 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 21% less than in Taipa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.