Cost of Living Comparison Between Hsinchu and KinmenCost of Living Comparison Between Hsinchu and Kinmen
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,191 per month in Hsinchu vs $1,127 in Kinmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,918 per month in Hsinchu vs $1,886 in Kinmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,645 per month in Hsinchu vs $2,646 in Kinmen, rent included.
😐Hsinchu costs about 6% more than Kinmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Hsinchu and Kinmen are more affordable than the global median – Hsinchu11% lower, Kinmen16% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hsinchu
Kinmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.09NT$129
$5.11NT$161
-19.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.87NT$1,069
$30.99NT$978
9.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.30NT$167
$5.34NT$169
-0.75%
Cappuccino
$3.07NT$96.9
$2.96NT$93.4
3.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99NT$31.32
$1.10NT$34.59
-10.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69NT$21.66
$0.73NT$22.91
-5.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67NT$52.7
$1.80NT$56.9
-7.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34NT$73.8
$2.76NT$87.0
-15.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hsinchu
Kinmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.28NT$104
$3.17NT$100
3.47%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85NT$58.5
$1.95NT$61.4
-5.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.50NT$142
$2.92NT$92.1
54.11%
Eggs
$2.49NT$78.7
$2.91NT$91.7
-14.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.70NT$433
$18.90NT$597
-27.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.96NT$157
$8.31NT$262
-40.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.07NT$507
$16.85NT$532
-4.63%
Apples(1kg)
$4.49NT$142
$4.52NT$143
-0.66%
Banana(1kg)
$2.54NT$80.3
$2.53NT$79.7
0.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.87NT$90.6
$2.66NT$83.9
7.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.95NT$125
$3.48NT$110
13.51%
Potato(1kg)
$3.05NT$96.2
$2.80NT$88.5
8.93%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20NT$69.6
$2.24NT$70.6
-1.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93NT$61.0
$2.06NT$64.9
-6.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14NT$36.06
$1.20NT$38.01
-5.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.49NT$142
$4.18NT$132
7.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.38NT$454
$13.93NT$440
3.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74NT$54.9
$1.70NT$53.7
2.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58NT$81.5
$2.54NT$80.3
1.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Hsinchu
Kinmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90NT$28.33
$0.83NT$26.22
8.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.39NT$1,275
$38.88NT$1,227
3.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.91NT$91.9
$2.96NT$93.4
-1.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74NT$23.38
$0.73NT$23.01
1.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.21NT$196
$10.00NT$316
-37.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03NT$32.62
$1.08NT$34.01
-4.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2KNT$1.1M
$34.8KNT$1.1M
-1.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0KNT$788.1K
$26.1KNT$824.0K
-4.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hsinchu
Kinmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.2NT$2,344
$85.0NT$2,683
-12.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.03NT$790
$24.64NT$778
1.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.51NT$805
$22.33NT$705
14.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hsinchu
Kinmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.10NT$1,392
$37.99NT$1,199
16.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.28NT$735
$14.88NT$470
56.45%
Cinema Ticket
$10.02NT$316
$10.07NT$318
-0.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hsinchu
Kinmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$423NT$13.4K
$426NT$13.4K
-0.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3KNT$358.3K
$15.3KNT$482.5K
-25.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hsinchu
Kinmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.9NT$2,806
$83.9NT$2,649
5.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.16NT$1,110
$34.07NT$1,075
3.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.7NT$2,862
$90.5NT$2,858
0.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103NT$3,266
$100NT$3,167
3.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hsinchu
Kinmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$551NT$17.4K
$437NT$13.8K
26.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368NT$11.6K
$292NT$9,219
25.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,238NT$39.1K
$1,040NT$32.8K
19.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$796NT$25.1K
$719NT$22.7K
10.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,354NT$263.7K
$7,225NT$228.1K
15.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,175NT$194.9K
$5,930NT$187.2K
4.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hsinchu
Kinmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,621NT$82.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.57
2.18
-27.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hsinchu: April 25, 2026
Last update for Kinmen: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $551 in Hsinchu versus $437 in Kinmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Hsinchu versus $31.00 in Kinmen. Groceries tell a different story – $340 in Hsinchu vs $366 in Kinmen – so Hsinchu 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
Hsinchu vs Kinmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hsinchu or Kinmen?
Hsinchu costs about 6% more than Kinmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Hsinchu vs Kinmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,786 per month in Hsinchu and $1,690 in Kinmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hsinchu or Kinmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kinmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Hsinchu vs Kinmen?
Public transport costs about 4% less in Kinmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Hsinchu and Kinmen?
Kindergarten costs $423 per month in Hsinchu and $426 in Kinmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Hsinchu or Kinmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kinmen, where all-in costs run around $1,127, than in Hsinchu at $1,191. In Kinmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hsinchu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Kinmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Hsinchu compared to Kinmen?
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.
Should I move to Hsinchu or Kinmen?
If budget matters most, go with Kinmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hsinchu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.