Cost of Living Comparison Between Hsinchu and PlzenCost of Living Comparison Between Hsinchu and Plzen
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $1,167 per month in Hsinchu vs $1,631 in Plzen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,892 per month in Hsinchu vs $2,286 in Plzen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,618 per month in Hsinchu vs $2,940 in Plzen, rent included.
🙂Hsinchu is about 28% cheaper than Plzen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Hsinchu sits 13% below the global median, while Plzen is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.04NT$131
$9.54Kč 202
-57.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.30NT$1,110
$46.28Kč 980
-25.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.26NT$170
$8.33Kč 176
-36.85%
Cappuccino
$2.95NT$95.5
$3.02Kč 64.0
-2.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91NT$29.36
$2.01Kč 42.58
-54.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74NT$24.07
$1.68Kč 35.46
-55.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.65NT$53.5
$2.73Kč 57.7
-39.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35NT$75.9
$2.86Kč 60.5
-17.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.15NT$102
$1.17Kč 24.87
169.23%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76NT$57.0
$1.59Kč 33.66
10.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.32NT$140
$2.44Kč 51.6
77.05%
Eggs
$2.46NT$79.5
$3.26Kč 69.0
-24.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.03NT$454
$12.66Kč 268
10.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.75NT$154
$8.99Kč 190
-47.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.15NT$523
$14.39Kč 305
12.23%
Apples(1kg)
$4.33NT$140
$1.77Kč 37.38
144.63%
Banana(1kg)
$2.43NT$78.6
$1.74Kč 36.76
39.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.72NT$88.1
$2.16Kč 45.81
25.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.81NT$123
$3.62Kč 76.7
5.25%
Potato(1kg)
$3.01NT$97.6
$1.25Kč 26.54
140.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18NT$70.5
$1.22Kč 25.83
78.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.89NT$61.1
$1.51Kč 32.06
25.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20NT$38.70
$0.82Kč 17.32
46.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.49NT$145
$6.91Kč 146
-35.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.85NT$448
$7.06Kč 150
96.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75NT$56.6
$1.12Kč 23.69
56.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50NT$80.9
$1.62Kč 34.39
54.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.87NT$28.12
$1.23Kč 26.01
-29.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.24NT$1,302
$26.32Kč 557
52.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.84NT$91.9
$2.07Kč 43.82
37.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77NT$25.02
$1.26Kč 26.71
-38.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.20NT$201
$14.28Kč 302
-56.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02NT$33.00
$1.66Kč 35.14
-38.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KNT$1.1M
$28.3KKč 600.0K
19.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7KNT$832.9K
$29.9KKč 634.0K
-14.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.2NT$2,401
$254Kč 5,371
-70.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.45NT$824
$25.33Kč 536
0.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.89NT$806
$20.43Kč 432
21.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.17NT$1,430
$63.1Kč 1,336
-30.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.80NT$770
$14.14Kč 299
68.32%
Cinema Ticket
$10.07NT$326
$10.38Kč 220
-2.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$434NT$14.0K
$326Kč 6,911
32.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.4KNT$368.1K
$8,778Kč 185.8K
29.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.3NT$2,826
$81.5Kč 1,724
7.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.28NT$1,142
$43.59Kč 923
-19.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.0NT$2,913
$90.8Kč 1,923
-0.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101NT$3,255
$113Kč 2,389
-10.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$551NT$17.8K
$645Kč 13.7K
-14.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$359NT$11.6K
$606Kč 12.8K
-40.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,198NT$38.8K
$885Kč 18.7K
35.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$792NT$25.6K
$841Kč 17.8K
-5.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,190NT$265.1K
$5,107Kč 108.1K
60.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,001NT$194.2K
$4,091Kč 86.6K
46.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,433NT$78.8K
$1,934Kč 40.9K
25.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.57
5.47
-71.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hsinchu: July 13, 2026
Last update for Plzen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $551 in Hsinchu versus $645 in Plzen. 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 26% higher in Hsinchu, 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 $34.00 in Hsinchu versus $46.00 in Plzen. Groceries tell a different story – $333 in Hsinchu vs $268 in Plzen – so Plzen 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 Plzen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hsinchu or Plzen?
Plzen costs about 40% more than Hsinchu, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 and in Plzen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,751 per month in Hsinchu and $2,447 in Plzen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hsinchu or Plzen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hsinchu, 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 compared to Plzen?
Public transport costs about 53% less in Hsinchu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Hsinchu and in Plzen?
Kindergarten costs $434 per month in Hsinchu and $326 in Plzen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Hsinchu or in Plzen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Hsinchu, where all-in costs run around $1,167, than in Plzen at $1,631. In Hsinchu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Plzen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Hsinchu – 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 Plzen?
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 to Plzen?
If budget matters most, go with Hsinchu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Plzen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.