Cost of Living Comparison Between Algarve and Chiayi Cost of Living Comparison Between Algarve and Chiayi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,842 per month in Algarve vs $1,063 in Chiayi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,668 per month in Algarve vs $1,520 in Chiayi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,494 per month in Algarve vs $1,978 in Chiayi, rent included.

Algarve costs about 73% more than Chiayi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Algarve sits 34% above the global median, while Chiayi is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.62 €18.59

$4.85 NT$154

345.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.75 €39.33

$47.60 NT$1,508

-3.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.61 €8.26

$5.87 NT$186

63.71%

Cappuccino

$2.80 €2.41

$3.48 NT$110

-19.54%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 €1.68

$0.88 NT$27.97

122.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 €1.34

$0.65 NT$20.74

140.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.58 €3.08

$2.93 NT$92.7

22.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 €3.55

$3.85 NT$122

7.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 €1.25

$3.03 NT$96.0

-52.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 €1.20

$2.02 NT$63.9

-30.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 €1.47

$3.20 NT$101

-46.56%

Eggs

$3.56 €3.06

$2.81 NT$89.0

26.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.26 €9.68

$19.93 NT$632

-43.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.13 €6.13

$9.84 NT$312

-27.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.73 €13.52

$21.77 NT$690

-27.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 €2.47

$4.87 NT$154

-41.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 €1.19

$3.36 NT$106

-58.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 €1.53

$3.05 NT$96.6

-41.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 €1.97

$4.39 NT$139

-47.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.66 €1.43

$2.72 NT$86.1

-38.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.12 €1.83

$2.33 NT$73.9

-9.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.77 €1.52

$1.68 NT$53.2

5.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 €0.86

$1.18 NT$37.37

-15.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.13 €7.85

$3.94 NT$125

131.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.51 €5.60

$4.83 NT$153

34.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 €0.84

$1.72 NT$54.4

-43.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 €1.47

$2.27 NT$72.0

-24.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.23 €2.77

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.74 NT$404

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 €1.97

$2.63 NT$83.2

-12.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 NT$14.58

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.60 NT$304

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.08 €1.78

$1.01 NT$31.97

105.94%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.0K €30.1K

$33.6K NT$1.1M

4.23%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.6K €34.1K

$24.0K NT$761.4K

64.84%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$140 €121

$66.0 NT$2,090

112.87%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$21.40 €18.40

$17.74 NT$562

20.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 €49.97

$27.30 NT$865

112.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.64 €33.22

$31.50 NT$998

22.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.95 €24.89

Cinema Ticket

$7.59 €6.52

$9.75 NT$309

-22.15%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$686 €589

$625 NT$19.8K

9.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K €13.8K

$16.6K NT$524.5K

-3.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.5 €69.2

$63.0 NT$1,996

27.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.70 €34.13

$40.17 NT$1,273

-1.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.3 €70.8

$83.0 NT$2,630

-0.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.1 €60.3

$104 NT$3,288

-32.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 €948

$378 NT$12.0K

191.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$895 €770

$250 NT$7,928

257.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,220 €1,909

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,377 €1,184

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,921 €4,231

$3,203 NT$101.5K

53.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,199 €2,750

$1,861 NT$59.0K

71.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,219 €1,048

$2,143 NT$67.9K

-43.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.65

2.4

93.75%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Algarve: August 29, 2026

Last update for Chiayi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,103 in Algarve versus $378 in Chiayi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 76% higher in Chiayi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Algarve versus $48.00 in Chiayi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $384 – making Algarve the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Algarve vs Chiayi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Algarve costs about 73% more than Chiayi, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,762 per month in Algarve and $1,594 in Chiayi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiayi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,842 in Algarve and $1,063 in Chiayi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $686 per month in Algarve and $625 in Chiayi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiayi, where all-in costs run around $1,063, than in Algarve at $1,842. In Chiayi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Algarve it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Chiayi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiayi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Algarve makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.