Cost of Living Comparison Between Almada and Taichung Cost of Living Comparison Between Almada and Taichung

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,999 per month in Almada vs $1,180 in Taichung, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,849 per month in Almada vs $1,966 in Taichung, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,698 per month in Almada vs $2,752 in Taichung, rent included.

Almada costs about 69% more than Taichung, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Almada sits 50% above the global median, while Taichung is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almada
Taichung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.68 €13.73
$4.99 NT$161
214.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.0 €49.92
$30.18 NT$974
88.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.46 €9.16
$5.31 NT$172
96.99%
Cappuccino
$2.30 €2.01
$2.91 NT$94.0
-20.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 €1.56
$1.15 NT$37.21
55.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.19
$0.84 NT$26.97
61.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.42 €3.00
$2.08 NT$67.2
64.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.42
$2.86 NT$92.4
36.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almada
Taichung
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 €0.91
$3.91 NT$126
-73.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 €1.10
$1.76 NT$56.8
-28.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 €1.46
$2.78 NT$89.6
-40.29%
Eggs
$3.27 €2.87
$3.14 NT$101
4.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.30 €10.78
$31.84 NT$1,028
-61.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.34 €6.43
$8.23 NT$266
-10.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.04 €14.04
$15.91 NT$514
0.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 €2.01
$4.68 NT$151
-50.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 €1.24
$1.73 NT$55.9
-18.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.95 €1.71
$2.23 NT$71.9
-12.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.23
$3.07 NT$99.0
-17.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 €1.60
$1.29 NT$41.68
41.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.73
$1.90 NT$61.4
3.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.82 €1.59
$2.36 NT$76.3
-22.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 €0.61
$1.24 NT$40.12
-43.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.71 €5.88
$3.99 NT$129
68.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.59 €4.90
$15.50 NT$500
-63.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 €1.14
$1.65 NT$53.4
-21.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 €2.27
$2.67 NT$86.1
-3.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Almada
Taichung
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 €1.97
$0.87 NT$28.21
158.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.06 €40.34
$28.55 NT$922
61.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.76
$2.94 NT$94.9
45.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$1.19 NT$38.28
-31.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.33 €15.18
$10.22 NT$330
69.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 €1.77
$1.06 NT$34.15
90.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.6K
$33.7K NT$1.1M
3.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8K €34.9K
$26.4K NT$852.3K
50.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almada
Taichung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 €128
$95.7 NT$3,088
53.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.59 €18.03
$24.69 NT$797
-16.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.98 €36.77
$21.22 NT$685
97.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almada
Taichung
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.34 €32.70
$35.41 NT$1,143
5.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.58 €15.40
$10.35 NT$334
69.86%
Cinema Ticket
$8.92 €7.81
$10.85 NT$350
-17.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almada
Taichung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$618 €541
$357 NT$11.5K
72.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K €13.8K
$20.8K NT$670.4K
-24.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almada
Taichung
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €88.8
$85.9 NT$2,774
17.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.14 €36.03
$34.53 NT$1,115
19.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 €75.4
$95.3 NT$3,076
-9.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 €93.1
$131 NT$4,222
-18.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almada
Taichung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,178 €1,032
$377 NT$12.2K
212.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 €899
$281 NT$9,077
265.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,351 €2,059
$1,044 NT$33.7K
125.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,577 €1,381
$727 NT$23.4K
117.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,288 €4,631
$7,208 NT$232.6K
-26.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,270 €2,864
$5,156 NT$166.4K
-36.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almada
Taichung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,354 €1,185
$1,392 NT$44.9K
-2.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.43
2.18
149.08%

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

Last update for Almada: July 12, 2026

Last update for Taichung: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,178 in Almada versus $377 in Taichung. 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 3% higher in Taichung, 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 $57.0 in Almada versus $30.00 in Taichung. Groceries tell a different story – $253 in Almada vs $400 in Taichung – so Almada wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Almada vs Taichung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Almada and in Taichung compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,999 in Almada, $1,180 in Taichung – roughly 69% apart. Almada costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Almada compared to Taichung?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,999 per month in Almada and $1,770 in Taichung. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Almada and Taichung?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Taichung, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Almada and $30.00 in Taichung. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Almada or Taichung?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,999 in Almada and $1,180 in Taichung. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Taichung, where all-in costs run around $1,180, than in Almada at $1,999. In Taichung it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almada it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Almada or Taichung?
Families tend to lean toward Taichung – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Almada or Taichung safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Almada and Taichung?
If budget matters most, go with Taichung. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Almada makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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