Macau is a Special Administrative Region of China on the Pearl River Delta, about 60 km west of Hong Kong. Its compact peninsula and the islands of Taipa and Coloane combine a UNESCO-listed Portuguese colonial old town, Cantonese temples and street food, and the glittering casino resorts of the Cotai Strip.
Local currency: Macanese Pataca (MOP).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Macau.
- Mid-range
- MOP 1,600/day (approx USD 200)
- Luxury
- MOP 4,000+/day (approx USD 500+)
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- MOP 150-300 (approx USD 19-38) dorm bed
- Budget
- MOP 400-800 (approx USD 50-100) weekday double; weekends and holidays can double
- Midrange
- MOP 800-1,800 (approx USD 100-225)
- Luxury
- MOP 2,000-6,000+ (approx USD 250-750+)
Food
- Street
- MOP 15-40 (approx USD 2-5) pork chop bun, egg tarts, almond biscuits, fish balls
- Local
- MOP 50-110 (approx USD 6-14) noodle shop or Macanese cha chaan teng set meal
- Midrange
- MOP 150-350 (approx USD 19-44) Macanese or Cantonese restaurant meal
- Fine
- MOP 600-2,000+ (approx USD 75-250+) casino-resort fine dining or tasting menu
Transport
- Bus
- MOP 6 (approx USD 0.75) flat fare on most Macau Peninsula and Taipa routes; exact change or a Macau Pass card
- Taxi
- MOP 21 (approx USD 2.60) flag fall for the first 1.6 km, then about MOP 2 per 220 m; MOP 5 per bag in the boot
- Airport
- MOP 6 by bus (AP1 line) to MOP 50-70 (approx USD 6-9) by taxi to central Macau
- Daytrip
- MOP 70-190 (approx USD 9-24) by ferry or bus to Hong Kong or Zhuhai
Activities
- Museum
- MOP 0-30 (approx USD 0-4); many museums are free on the 15th of each month
- Sites
- MOP 0-30 (approx USD 0-4); A-Ma Temple, Ruins of St. Paul's and Senado Square are free
- Tour
- MOP 250-600 (approx USD 31-75) guided walking or food tour
- Excursion
- MOP 100-400 (approx USD 12-50) Macau Tower, gondolas, Ferris wheel, Eiffel Tower deck
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Macau costs end-to-end.
Weekend escape
A short city break covering essentials and a few highlights.
One-week tour
Comfortable pace including major attractions and day trips.
Two-week explorer
In-depth exploration covering multiple regions.
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Travel in shoulder season — fewer crowds and significantly lower accommodation rates.
Use public transport instead of taxis where possible. Day passes often pay for themselves after 3 trips.
Eat where locals eat — markets and neighbourhood eateries offer better food at a fraction of tourist-strip prices.
Book accommodation with kitchen access for longer stays so you can self-cater some meals.