Moving to Palau from Macau

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Macau to Palau — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Macau to Palau, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Palauan. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Macau and Palau stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

MO
0.6
PW
11.2

Macau performs better than Palau across all safety metrics.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MO
2.5t
PW
82.8t

Macau performs better than Palau across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

MO
30.0
PW
6.9

Macau performs better than Palau across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MO
2.2%
PW
1.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MO
$102,000
PW
$15,800

Macau generally does better on employment & economy, though Palau leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

MO
85.0 yrs
PW
74.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MO
4.6
PW
11.3

Macau generally does better on family life, though Palau leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Macau and Palau. To live, work, or study long-term in Palau, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Palau's immigration authority.

Macau passport

Macau passport holder visiting Palau

Visa on Arrival
Macau passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Palau.
Palau passport

Palau passport holder visiting Macau

Visa on Arrival
Palau passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Macau.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Palau?

With 6.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Palau can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Macau and Palau.

Is Palau safe for expats?

Macau performs better than Palau across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Palau is 11.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.6 in Macau.

What language do they speak in Palau?

The official languages in Palau are English and Palauan. In Macau, the official languages are Chinese and Portuguese.

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At a Glance

MO PW
Population 635,293 21,695
Currency Macanese Pataca (MOP) United States Dollar ($)
Languages Chinese, Portuguese English, Palauan
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +853 +680
Time zones 1 1