Macau’s high-end residential market is still well below cities like Hong Kong and Singapore, but the territory remains prominent in global cost-of-living rankings.
Official data show that the average price per square metre of usable area was MOP 74,120 (approximately 7.800 Euros) in the third quarter of 2025, down from MOP 109,977 in the same period of 2019, indicating that the housing market has yet to fully recover. In the NAPE and Praia Grande districts, prices reached MOP 100,381 per square metre, the highest in the city.
According to Savills, Macau ranks 30th globally in the prime residential segment, far below Hong Kong (MOP 334,000 per square metre) and below Singapore (MOP 143,000). The consultancy also notes a shift in “new millionaires’” preferences, who now prioritize mobility and the ability to own multiple residences.
Although not included in some comparative tables, Macau features prominently in cost-of-living indexes. In the 2024 Mercer Cost of Living Survey, it ranked 13th worldwide and remains among the top positions in Asia, mainly due to high property prices and import dependency. The Numbeo index places the city between 15th and 25th globally, with costs rising significantly when rent is included.
While these studies mainly focus on expatriates, Macau continues to be considered a high-cost destination for companies relocating employees to the territory.
