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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,178 per month in Hsinchu vs $1,844 in Plzen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,976 per month in Hsinchu vs $2,549 in Plzen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,773 per month in Hsinchu vs $3,254 in Plzen, rent included.

Hsinchu is about 36% cheaper than Plzen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Hsinchu sits 14% below the global median, while Plzen is 34% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.12 NT$130
$10.94 Kč 227
-62.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.61 NT$907
$53.4 Kč 1,110
-46.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.87 NT$154
$9.79 Kč 203
-50.26%
Cappuccino
$2.97 NT$94.1
$3.31 Kč 68.8
-10.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 NT$28.51
$2.13 Kč 44.18
-57.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 NT$21.85
$1.86 Kč 38.61
-62.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.93 NT$61.2
$2.97 Kč 61.7
-35.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 NT$73.6
$2.94 Kč 61.0
-21.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.94 NT$93.2
$1.21 Kč 25.10
142.98%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 NT$55.8
$1.75 Kč 36.41
0.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.86 NT$90.6
$3.23 Kč 67.1
-11.46%
Eggs
$2.75 NT$87.1
$4.32 Kč 89.9
-36.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$37.00 NT$1,173
$14.59 Kč 303
153.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.98 NT$221
$10.45 Kč 217
-33.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.86 NT$661
$17.04 Kč 354
22.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.67 NT$84.5
$2.32 Kč 48.21
15.09%
Banana (1kg)
$2.59 NT$82.2
$1.97 Kč 41.05
31.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.36 NT$107
$2.44 Kč 50.7
37.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.01 NT$95.5
$3.68 Kč 76.4
-18.21%
Potato (1kg)
$2.31 NT$73.0
$1.30 Kč 27.09
77.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 NT$73.2
$1.38 Kč 28.59
67.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 NT$64.9
$1.72 Kč 35.83
19.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 NT$44.08
$0.81 Kč 16.75
71.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 NT$126
$7.12 Kč 148
-44.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.52 NT$397
$7.33 Kč 152
70.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 NT$61.4
$1.47 Kč 30.56
31.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 NT$75.9
$1.82 Kč 37.89
31.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.62 NT$19.53
$1.38 Kč 28.70
-55.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.51 NT$1,284
$29.30 Kč 609
38.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.21 NT$102
$2.11 Kč 43.88
52.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 NT$10.51
$1.46 Kč 30.38
-77.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.29 NT$326
$14.36 Kč 298
-28.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 NT$31.35
$1.87 Kč 38.85
-47.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K NT$1.0M
$32.1K Kč 667.8K
2.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K NT$842.1K
$31.9K Kč 662.4K
-16.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 NT$3,211
$284 Kč 5,908
-64.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.67 NT$623
$18.35 Kč 381
7.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.97 NT$696
$17.39 Kč 361
26.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.0 NT$1,680
$63.7 Kč 1,325
-16.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.67 Kč 326
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.94 NT$315
$12.12 Kč 252
-17.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$758 NT$24.0K
$339 Kč 7,056
123.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.9K NT$535.9K
$11.0K Kč 228.8K
53.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 NT$1,833
$84.9 Kč 1,764
-31.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.18 NT$1,115
$46.21 Kč 960
-23.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.4 NT$2,515
$90.7 Kč 1,884
-12.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 NT$3,357
$117 Kč 2,435
-9.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$431 NT$13.6K
$768 Kč 16.0K
-43.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$259 NT$8,206
$741 Kč 15.4K
-65.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,115 NT$35.3K
$982 Kč 20.4K
13.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$757 NT$24.0K
$959 Kč 19.9K
-21.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,077 NT$255.9K
$5,264 Kč 109.4K
53.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,109 NT$193.6K
$4,188 Kč 87.0K
45.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,483 NT$78.7K
$1,955 Kč 40.6K
26.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.13
4.71
-54.78%

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

Last update for Hsinchu: August 31, 2026

Last update for Plzen: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $431 in Hsinchu versus $768 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 27% 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 $29.00 in Hsinchu versus $53.0 in Plzen. Groceries tell a different story – $411 in Hsinchu vs $307 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 56% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Hsinchu and in Plzen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,767 per month in Hsinchu and $2,766 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 38% 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 $758 per month in Hsinchu and $339 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 $1,178, than in Plzen at $1,844. 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.

Hsinchu vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities