Cost of living in Taiwan
Summary of cost of living in Taiwan
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: 107,501 NT$
- Single person estimated monthly costs: 51,243 NT$ WARNING! These estimates are based on data that may have some inconsistencies at the moment. They already provide a decent estimate but they are not currently bullet-proof.
Food | |||
---|---|---|---|
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 164 NT$ | ||
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 154 NT$ | ||
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 75 NT$ | ||
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 104 NT$ | ||
12 eggs, large | 91 NT$ | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 100 NT$ | ||
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 493 NT$ | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 128 NT$ | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 112 NT$ | ||
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 52 NT$ | ||
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 761 NT$ | ||
2 liters of coca-cola | 57 NT$ | ||
Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 35 NT$ | ||
Housing | |||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 42,310 NT$ | ||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 22,702 NT$ | ||
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 2,768 NT$ | ||
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 30,288 NT$ | ||
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 10,761 NT$ | ||
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 1,448 NT$ | ||
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 706 NT$ | ||
40” flat screen tv | 13,215 NT$ | ||
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 3,854 NT$ | ||
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 365 NT$ | ||
Hourly rate for cleaning help | 2,723 NT$ | ||
Clothes | |||
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 3,000 NT$ | ||
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 1,134 NT$ | ||
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 2,762 NT$ | ||
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 3,000 NT$ | ||
Transportation | |||
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 958,771 NT$ | ||
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 31 NT$ | ||
Monthly ticket public transport | 876 NT$ | ||
Personal Care | |||
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 200 NT$ | ||
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 600 NT$ | ||
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 1,500 NT$ | ||
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 327 NT$ | ||
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 183 NT$ | ||
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 289 NT$ | ||
4 rolls of toilet paper | 61 NT$ | ||
Tube of toothpaste | 69 NT$ | ||
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 761 NT$ | ||
Entertainment | |||
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 700 NT$ | ||
2 tickets to the movies | 638 NT$ | ||
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 6,000 NT$ | ||
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 872 NT$ | ||
1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 322 NT$ | ||
Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 180 NT$ | ||
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 227 NT$ | ||
Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 12,917 NT$ | ||
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 5.05 NT$ | ||
1 month of gym membership in business district | 1,024 NT$ | ||
1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 121 NT$ |
Moving to Taiwan with your children?
International Schools in Taiwan
Map of Cost of Living in Taiwan

This map shows only the top cities in Taiwan. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan:
List of all the cities available in Expatistan
The color of each marker corresponds with the cost of living in the city red markers show more expensive cities green ones show cheaper cities
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.
What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a
central reference city (that happens to be Prague).
Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the
database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
List of all cities available in Taiwan
Hsinchu City | Hualian | Kao-hsiung |
Kaohsiung City | Taichung City | Tainan City |
Taipei | Yun-lin |
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Taipei is 14% more expensive than in Shanghai
- Cost of living in Taipei is 50% cheaper than in Singapore
- Cost of living in Taipei is 19% cheaper than in Graz
- Cost of living in Taipei is 29% more expensive than in Beijing
- Cost of living in Taipei is 22% cheaper than in Seoul
- Cost of living in Taipei is 61% more expensive than in Jakarta
- Cost of living in Taipei is 46% cheaper than in Hong Kong
- Cost of living in Taipei is 46% more expensive than in Mumbai
- Cost of living in Taipei is 11% more expensive than in Caracas
- Cost of living in Taipei is 49% cheaper than in Mountain View, California
- Cost of living in Taipei is 117% more expensive than in Rohtak
- Cost of living in Taipei is 14% more expensive than in Tirana
- Cost of living in Taipei is 19% cheaper than in Greensboro, North Carolina
- Cost of living in Taipei is 89% more expensive than in Asunción
- Cost of living in Taipei is 68% cheaper than in New York City
- Cost of living in Taipei is 31% more expensive than in Batumi
- Cost of living in Taipei is 8% more expensive than in Istanbul
- Cost of living in Taipei is about the same as in Kuwait City
- Cost of living in Taipei is 48% cheaper than in Los Angeles, California
- Cost of living in Taipei is 11% more expensive than in Bangkok