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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,167 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
$4.04 NT$131
$9.54 Kč 202
-57.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.30 NT$1,110
$46.28 Kč 980
-25.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.26 NT$170
$8.33 Kč 176
-36.85%
Cappuccino
$2.95 NT$95.5
$3.02 Kč 64.0
-2.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 NT$29.36
$2.01 Kč 42.58
-54.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 NT$24.07
$1.68 Kč 35.46
-55.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.65 NT$53.5
$2.73 Kč 57.7
-39.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 NT$75.9
$2.86 Kč 60.5
-17.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.15 NT$102
$1.17 Kč 24.87
169.23%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 NT$57.0
$1.59 Kč 33.66
10.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.32 NT$140
$2.44 Kč 51.6
77.05%
Eggs
$2.46 NT$79.5
$3.26 Kč 69.0
-24.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.03 NT$454
$12.66 Kč 268
10.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.75 NT$154
$8.99 Kč 190
-47.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.15 NT$523
$14.39 Kč 305
12.23%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 NT$140
$1.77 Kč 37.38
144.63%
Banana (1kg)
$2.43 NT$78.6
$1.74 Kč 36.76
39.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.72 NT$88.1
$2.16 Kč 45.81
25.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.81 NT$123
$3.62 Kč 76.7
5.25%
Potato (1kg)
$3.01 NT$97.6
$1.25 Kč 26.54
140.80%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 NT$70.5
$1.22 Kč 25.83
78.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.89 NT$61.1
$1.51 Kč 32.06
25.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 NT$38.70
$0.82 Kč 17.32
46.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.49 NT$145
$6.91 Kč 146
-35.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.85 NT$448
$7.06 Kč 150
96.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 NT$56.6
$1.12 Kč 23.69
56.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 NT$80.9
$1.62 Kč 34.39
54.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 NT$28.12
$1.23 Kč 26.01
-29.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.24 NT$1,302
$26.32 Kč 557
52.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.84 NT$91.9
$2.07 Kč 43.82
37.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.77 NT$25.02
$1.26 Kč 26.71
-38.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.20 NT$201
$14.28 Kč 302
-56.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 NT$33.00
$1.66 Kč 35.14
-38.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K NT$1.1M
$28.3K Kč 600.0K
19.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K NT$832.9K
$29.9K Kč 634.0K
-14.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.2 NT$2,401
$254 Kč 5,371
-70.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.45 NT$824
$25.33 Kč 536
0.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.89 NT$806
$20.43 Kč 432
21.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.17 NT$1,430
$63.1 Kč 1,336
-30.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.80 NT$770
$14.14 Kč 299
68.32%
Cinema Ticket
$10.07 NT$326
$10.38 Kč 220
-2.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$434 NT$14.0K
$326 Kč 6,911
32.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K NT$368.1K
$8,778 Kč 185.8K
29.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.3 NT$2,826
$81.5 Kč 1,724
7.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.28 NT$1,142
$43.59 Kč 923
-19.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.0 NT$2,913
$90.8 Kč 1,923
-0.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 NT$3,255
$113 Kč 2,389
-10.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$551 NT$17.8K
$645 Kč 13.7K
-14.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$359 NT$11.6K
$606 Kč 12.8K
-40.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,198 NT$38.8K
$885 Kč 18.7K
35.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$792 NT$25.6K
$841 Kč 17.8K
-5.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,190 NT$265.1K
$5,107 Kč 108.1K
60.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,001 NT$194.2K
$4,091 Kč 86.6K
46.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hsinchu
Plzen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,433 NT$78.8K
$1,934 Kč 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.

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