Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Taiwan Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Taiwan

🙂 Solo nomad: China is 39% cheaper than Taiwan without rent, and 36.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: China is 38.3% cheaper than Taiwan without rent, and 37.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Taiwan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 ¥20.46
$5.11 NT$151
-44.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.97 ¥172
$33.36 NT$984
-28.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.96 ¥35.61
$5.57 NT$164
-10.95%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ¥22.47
$3.29 NT$96.9
-4.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.18
$1.05 NT$31.03
-58.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥2.1
$0.76 NT$22.47
-61.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 ¥6.83
$2.07 NT$61.1
-54.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 ¥15.32
$2.75 NT$81.3
-22.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Taiwan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 ¥13.23
$3.22 NT$95.1
-42.55%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 ¥12.06
$1.93 NT$57.1
-12.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ¥6.81
$3.17 NT$93.6
-70.03%
Eggs
$1.55 ¥11.11
$2.9 NT$85.6
-46.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 ¥95.1
$17.83 NT$526
-25.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.28 ¥23.52
$9.39 NT$277
-65.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ¥77.8
$20.45 NT$603
-46.94%
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 ¥12.66
$4.84 NT$143
-63.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ¥9.01
$2.57 NT$76
-50.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.5 ¥10.73
$2.88 NT$85
-47.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 ¥8.5
$3.6 NT$106
-66.94%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.4
$2.92 NT$86
-74.32%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ¥6.15
$2.34 NT$68.9
-63.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ¥4.37
$2.2 NT$64.8
-72.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥4.14
$1.3 NT$38.4
-55.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 ¥24.74
$4.18 NT$123
-17.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.3 ¥81.1
$13.77 NT$406
-17.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥6
$1.73 NT$51
-51.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ¥12.05
$2.37 NT$70
-29.11%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Taiwan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.86
$0.88 NT$26.04
-54.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.83 ¥149
$40.29 NT$1,188
-48.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.74
$3.03 NT$89.3
-55.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.55
$0.74 NT$21.97
-52.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.8 ¥48.75
$10.22 NT$301
-33.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.05
$1.02 NT$29.96
9.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥137.7K
$37.7K NT$1.1M
-49.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K ¥119.8K
$26.3K NT$776.1K
-36.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Taiwan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.4 ¥369
$85.9 NT$2,533
-40.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.77 ¥70.1
$24.4 NT$720
-59.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.34 ¥81.3
$23.49 NT$693
-51.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Taiwan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.55 ¥284
$38.64 NT$1,140
2.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.89 ¥107
$11.75 NT$347
26.72%
Cinema Ticket
$6.23 ¥44.71
$10.7 NT$316
-41.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Taiwan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$417 ¥2,989
$564 NT$16.6K
-26.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K ¥126.8K
$15.7K NT$464.2K
12.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Taiwan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.65 ¥327
$68.2 NT$2,013
-33.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.49 ¥240
$33.95 NT$1,001
-1.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 ¥515
$90.6 NT$2,673
-20.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9 ¥523
$118 NT$3,470
-38.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Taiwan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$445 ¥3,194
$529 NT$15.6K
-15.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$255 ¥1,830
$375 NT$11.1K
-32.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ¥6,566
$1,200 NT$35.4K
-23.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$543 ¥3,895
$843 NT$24.9K
-35.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,142 ¥44.1K
$10.7K NT$315.4K
-42.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,860 ¥20.5K
$6,802 NT$200.6K
-57.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Taiwan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$942 ¥6,755
$1,712 NT$50.5K
-45.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
2.14
89.72%

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

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

Last update for Taiwan: October 27, 2025

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