😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,173 in Chiayi versus $1,148 in Kaohsiung.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,961 in Chiayi versus $1,899 in Kaohsiung.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,750 in Chiayi versus $2,650 in Kaohsiung.
😐Living in Chiayi is roughly 2% more expensive than Kaohsiung, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Chiayi12% lower, Kaohsiung14% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Chiayi
Kaohsiung
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.76NT$213
$4.11NT$130
64.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.59NT$1,282
$33.83NT$1,068
19.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.62NT$177
$5.43NT$172
3.50%
Cappuccino
$2.17NT$68.6
$2.99NT$94.5
-27.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13NT$35.56
$0.97NT$30.72
16.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79NT$24.84
$0.72NT$22.88
9.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.88NT$59.4
$1.68NT$53.0
11.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01NT$95.0
$2.79NT$88.0
7.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiayi
Kaohsiung
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$3.26NT$103
$3.43NT$108
-4.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90NT$60.0
$2.00NT$63.1
-5.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.18NT$100
$2.61NT$82.4
21.84%
Eggs
$2.81NT$88.8
$3.30NT$104
-14.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.24NT$639
$16.13NT$509
25.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.87NT$312
$9.45NT$298
4.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.08NT$634
$17.56NT$554
14.35%
Apples(1kg)
$5.22NT$165
$6.20NT$196
-15.81%
Banana(1kg)
$2.97NT$93.6
$2.59NT$81.7
14.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.86NT$90.3
$2.86NT$90.2
-
Tomato(1kg)
$4.30NT$136
$4.00NT$126
7.50%
Potato(1kg)
$2.83NT$89.3
$2.91NT$91.9
-2.75%
Onion(1kg)
$2.21NT$69.7
$2.23NT$70.3
-0.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97NT$62.2
$1.95NT$61.4
1.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33NT$42.12
$1.19NT$37.64
11.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.09NT$129
$4.53NT$143
-9.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.84NT$153
$15.61NT$493
-68.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75NT$55.2
$1.67NT$52.6
4.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39NT$75.5
$2.56NT$80.8
-6.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiayi
Kaohsiung
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.82NT$25.88
$0.82NT$25.94
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.66NT$1,221
$26.95NT$851
43.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.95NT$93.0
$2.91NT$91.8
1.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.41NT$13.10
$0.79NT$25.09
-48.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.10NT$319
$6.12NT$193
65.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03NT$32.50
$1.03NT$32.46
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8KNT$1.2M
$34.9KNT$1.1M
11.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1KNT$886.2K
$25.6KNT$809.5K
9.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiayi
Kaohsiung
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.1NT$2,275
$102NT$3,231
-29.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.85NT$595
$25.62NT$809
-26.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.69NT$780
$25.09NT$792
-1.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiayi
Kaohsiung
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.78NT$1,193
$39.67NT$1,252
-4.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.13NT$478
$11.12NT$351
36.06%
Cinema Ticket
$11.66NT$368
$9.98NT$315
16.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiayi
Kaohsiung
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$645NT$20.4K
$431NT$13.6K
49.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.8KNT$592.6K
$11.5KNT$361.7K
63.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiayi
Kaohsiung
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7NT$1,884
$97.4NT$3,075
-38.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.01NT$1,074
$35.83NT$1,131
-5.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.9NT$2,934
$88.1NT$2,781
5.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125NT$3,942
$104NT$3,268
20.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiayi
Kaohsiung
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$440NT$13.9K
$442NT$13.9K
-0.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$290NT$9,163
$279NT$8,821
3.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,034NT$32.6K
$960NT$30.3K
7.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$713NT$22.5K
$686NT$21.7K
3.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,483NT$236.2K
$4,630NT$146.2K
61.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,182NT$163.6K
$3,248NT$102.5K
59.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiayi
Kaohsiung
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,122NT$67.0K
$1,533NT$48.4K
38.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.19
2.3
-4.78%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Chiayi: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Kaohsiung: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $440 in Chiayi and $442 in Kaohsiung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Chiayi pays 38% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $41.00 in Chiayi vs $34.00 in Kaohsiung. Groceries flip the comparison at $383 vs $384, with Chiayi cheaper for home cooking.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Chiayi vs Kaohsiung: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Chiayi or Kaohsiung?
Kaohsiung wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Chiayi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kaohsiung the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Chiayi or Kaohsiung?
Chiayi pays 38% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Chiayi vs Kaohsiung?
Rent for a central apartment: $440 in Chiayi versus $442 in Kaohsiung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Chiayi compared to Kaohsiung?
All in, you'll spend $1,173 per month in Chiayi versus $1,148 in Kaohsiung – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Chiayi vs Kaohsiung?
A monthly transit pass in Kaohsiung runs roughly 43% less than in Chiayi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Chiayi or Kaohsiung?
At $1,148 in Kaohsiung versus $1,173 in Chiayi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kaohsiung but tight or insufficient in Chiayi. The gap between the two cities makes Kaohsiung the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chiayi or Kaohsiung?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Chiayi compared to Kaohsiung?
Safety-wise, Chiayi and Kaohsiung are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kaohsiung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Chiayi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.