Moving to Macau from Portugal

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Portugal to Macau? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Portugal to Macau. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Portugal to Macau.

Living there in 2020
2,101 ↑ 7% vs 2015

people born in Portugal live in Macau · UN DESA

Who's moving to Macau?

Top countries of origin for Macau's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Macau compared to Portugal.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

PT
0.8
MO
0.6

Macau performs significantly better than Portugal across all safety metrics.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

PT
3.3t
MO
2.5t

Macau performs significantly better than Portugal 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

PT
43.5
MO
30.0
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

PT
82.0%
MO
88.0%

Portugal generally does better on infrastructure, though Macau leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

PT
6.5%
MO
2.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

PT
$41,700
MO
$102,000

Macau performs significantly better than Portugal across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

PT
81.5 yrs
MO
85.0 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PT
2.5
MO
4.6

Macau generally does better on family life, though Portugal leads in infant mortality.

Data: Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Lisbon Rain: 29.6 in/yr (751 mm)
69° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

Macao Rain: 83.6 in/yr (2123 mm)
77° / 68°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lisbon Macao
Jan–Mar 61°/48°F (16°/9°C) 66°/57°F (19°/14°C)
Apr–Jun 71°/56°F (22°/13°C) 82°/73°F (28°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) 88°/78°F (31°/26°C)
Oct–Dec 65°/53°F (18°/12°C) 74°/64°F (23°/18°C)
View all months
Month Lisbon Macao
Jan 58°/47°F (14.5°/8.2°C) 64°/54°F (17.7°/12.2°C)
Feb 60°/48°F (15.6°/9.0°C) 64°/56°F (17.7°/13.1°C)
Mar 64°/50°F (17.6°/9.9°C) 69°/61°F (20.7°/16.2°C)
Apr 66°/52°F (19.1°/11.1°C) 76°/68°F (24.5°/20.2°C)
May 71°/55°F (21.7°/13.0°C) 83°/74°F (28.1°/23.6°C)
Jun 77°/60°F (24.8°/15.6°C) 87°/78°F (30.3°/25.7°C)
Jul 81°/63°F (27.4°/17.4°C) 89°/79°F (31.5°/26.3°C)
Aug 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.7°C) 88°/79°F (31.2°/26.0°C)
Sep 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.0°C) 86°/77°F (30.0°/24.9°C)
Oct 72°/58°F (22.4°/14.6°C) 81°/72°F (27.4°/22.3°C)
Nov 64°/52°F (17.8°/11.2°C) 74°/64°F (23.4°/17.8°C)
Dec 59°/48°F (14.8°/8.9°C) 67°/57°F (19.6°/13.8°C)

Data: Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Portugal passport

Portugal passport holder visiting Macau

Visa Free
Portugal passport holders can enter Macau without a visa.
Macau passport

Macau passport holder visiting Portugal

Visa Free
Macau passport holders can enter Portugal without a visa.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Macau?

Connectivity is usually fine (Macau: 30.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Macau offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Macau safe for expats?

Macau performs significantly better than Portugal across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Macau is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Portugal.

What's the weather like in Macau compared to Portugal?

The average high temperature in Macao is 77°F, compared to 69°F in Lisbon. Macao receives around 83.6 in of rainfall per year, while Lisbon gets 29.6 in.

What language do they speak in Macau?

The official languages in Macau are Chinese and Portuguese. In Portugal, the official language is Portuguese.

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At a Glance

PT MO
Population 10,242,081 635,293
Currency Euro (€) Macanese Pataca (MOP)
Languages Portuguese Chinese, Portuguese
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +351 +853
Time zones 2 1
Emergency number 112