Cost of Living Comparison Between Hsinchu and Plzen Cost of Living Comparison Between Hsinchu and Plzen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,186 per month in Hsinchu vs $1,591 in Plzen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,933 per month in Hsinchu vs $2,308 in Plzen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,680 per month in Hsinchu vs $3,025 in Plzen, rent included.

Hsinchu is about 25% cheaper than Plzen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Hsinchu sits 11% below the global median, while Plzen is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.00 NT$126

$9.25 Kč 192

-56.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.55 NT$1,056

$45.92 Kč 956

-26.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 NT$170

$8.42 Kč 175

-35.87%

Cappuccino

$2.99 NT$94.0

$3.16 Kč 65.8

-5.38%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 NT$31.12

$1.91 Kč 39.72

-48.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 NT$21.74

$1.67 Kč 34.82

-58.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 NT$53.8

$2.77 Kč 57.6

-38.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 NT$74.1

$2.74 Kč 57.0

-14.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.17 NT$99.9

$1.18 Kč 24.52

168.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.78 NT$56.1

$1.56 Kč 32.38

14.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.51 NT$142

$2.33 Kč 48.45

93.56%

Eggs

$2.57 NT$80.8

$3.21 Kč 66.9

-19.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.11 NT$444

$12.57 Kč 262

12.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.72 NT$149

$9.14 Kč 190

-48.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.83 NT$498

$14.24 Kč 296

11.17%

Apples (1kg)

$4.34 NT$137

$1.72 Kč 35.84

152.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 NT$79.7

$1.77 Kč 36.76

42.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 NT$86.4

$2.25 Kč 46.87

21.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.76 NT$118

$3.71 Kč 77.2

1.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.90 NT$91.4

$1.31 Kč 27.25

121.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.22 NT$69.8

$1.23 Kč 25.64

80.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 NT$61.1

$1.45 Kč 30.20

33.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 NT$37.87

$0.81 Kč 16.95

48.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 NT$135

$6.95 Kč 145

-38.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.09 NT$443

$7.04 Kč 146

100.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 NT$52.7

$1.16 Kč 24.14

43.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 NT$77.7

$1.56 Kč 32.38

58.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 NT$27.24

$1.22 Kč 25.45

-28.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.69 NT$1,281

$26.44 Kč 550

53.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.85 NT$89.6

$2.06 Kč 42.79

38.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 NT$24.79

$1.22 Kč 25.41

-35.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.96 NT$188

$13.92 Kč 290

-57.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 NT$32.34

$1.73 Kč 36.05

-40.46%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.2K NT$1.1M

$28.2K Kč 587.3K

24.88%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.3K NT$797.8K

$30.1K Kč 626.5K

-15.82%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$76.8 NT$2,417

$260 Kč 5,412

-70.47%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.26 NT$795

$25.48 Kč 530

-0.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.43 NT$800

$20.43 Kč 425

24.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.52 NT$1,370

$64.0 Kč 1,331

-31.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.79 NT$749

$14.36 Kč 299

65.67%

Cinema Ticket

$10.15 NT$320

$10.23 Kč 213

-0.78%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$434 NT$13.7K

$328 Kč 6,824

32.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K NT$355.0K

$8,886 Kč 184.9K

26.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.7 NT$2,697

$83.6 Kč 1,740

2.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.21 NT$1,140

$43.33 Kč 902

-16.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.9 NT$2,797

$91.1 Kč 1,895

-2.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 NT$3,264

$114 Kč 2,362

-8.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 NT$17.2K

$671 Kč 14.0K

-18.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 NT$11.5K

$607 Kč 12.6K

-39.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,216 NT$38.3K

$876 Kč 18.2K

38.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$777 NT$24.5K

$850 Kč 17.7K

-8.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,178 NT$257.4K

$4,838 Kč 100.7K

69.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,208 NT$195.4K

$3,939 Kč 82.0K

57.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,493 NT$78.5K

$1,989 Kč 41.4K

25.33%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Plzen: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Hsinchu versus $671 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 25% 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 – $335 in Hsinchu vs $267 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

Plzen costs about 34% more than Hsinchu, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,779 per month in Hsinchu and $2,386 in Plzen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 54% less in Hsinchu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $434 per month in Hsinchu and $328 in Plzen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Hsinchu, where all-in costs run around $1,186, than in Plzen at $1,591. In Hsinchu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Plzen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

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.