Cost of Living Comparison Between Hsinchu and Taichung Cost of Living Comparison Between Hsinchu and Taichung

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,191 per month in Hsinchu vs $1,203 in Taichung, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,918 per month in Hsinchu vs $1,954 in Taichung, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,645 per month in Hsinchu vs $2,704 in Taichung, rent included.

Hsinchu is about 1% cheaper than Taichung, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hsinchu and Taichung are more affordable than the global median – Hsinchu 11% lower, Taichung 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.09 NT$129

$4.99 NT$157

-18.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.87 NT$1,069

$29.95 NT$946

13.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.30 NT$167

$5.46 NT$172

-2.93%

Cappuccino

$3.07 NT$96.9

$2.93 NT$92.5

4.78%

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

$0.99 NT$31.32

$1.16 NT$36.54

-14.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 NT$21.66

$0.86 NT$27.14

-19.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 NT$52.7

$2.16 NT$68.2

-22.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 NT$73.8

$2.83 NT$89.4

-17.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.28 NT$104

$3.79 NT$120

-13.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 NT$58.5

$1.75 NT$55.4

5.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.50 NT$142

$2.77 NT$87.6

62.45%

Eggs

$2.49 NT$78.7

$3.29 NT$104

-24.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.70 NT$433

$31.49 NT$994

-56.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 NT$157

$8.10 NT$256

-38.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.07 NT$507

$15.61 NT$493

2.95%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 NT$142

$4.72 NT$149

-4.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.54 NT$80.3

$1.82 NT$57.5

39.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.87 NT$90.6

$2.28 NT$72.0

25.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 NT$125

$3.07 NT$96.9

28.66%

Potato (1kg)

$3.05 NT$96.2

$1.35 NT$42.48

125.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 NT$69.6

$1.88 NT$59.2

17.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 NT$61.0

$2.35 NT$74.2

-17.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 NT$36.06

$1.28 NT$40.54

-10.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.49 NT$142

$4.14 NT$131

8.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.38 NT$454

$15.69 NT$495

-8.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 NT$54.9

$1.65 NT$52.0

5.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 NT$81.5

$2.62 NT$82.7

-1.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 NT$28.33

$0.86 NT$27.18

4.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.39 NT$1,275

$29.22 NT$922

38.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.91 NT$91.9

$2.96 NT$93.5

-1.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 NT$23.38

$1.23 NT$38.80

-39.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.21 NT$196

$10.33 NT$326

-39.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 NT$32.62

$1.00 NT$31.71

3.00%

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

$34.2K NT$1.1M

$34.4K NT$1.1M

-0.42%

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

$25.0K NT$788.1K

$26.4K NT$833.3K

-5.43%

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

$74.2 NT$2,344

$97.3 NT$3,072

-23.70%

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

$25.03 NT$790

$24.15 NT$762

3.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.51 NT$805

$21.53 NT$680

18.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.10 NT$1,392

$35.96 NT$1,135

22.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.28 NT$735

$10.14 NT$320

129.59%

Cinema Ticket

$10.02 NT$316

$10.66 NT$337

-6.00%

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

$423 NT$13.4K

$356 NT$11.2K

18.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K NT$358.3K

$21.0K NT$663.1K

-45.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.9 NT$2,806

$85.7 NT$2,705

3.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.16 NT$1,110

$34.47 NT$1,088

2.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.7 NT$2,862

$93.9 NT$2,964

-3.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 NT$3,266

$131 NT$4,126

-20.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$551 NT$17.4K

$385 NT$12.2K

42.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 NT$11.6K

$281 NT$8,871

30.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,238 NT$39.1K

$1,025 NT$32.3K

20.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$796 NT$25.1K

$714 NT$22.5K

11.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,354 NT$263.7K

$7,104 NT$224.3K

17.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,175 NT$194.9K

$5,345 NT$168.8K

15.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,621 NT$82.8K

$1,415 NT$44.7K

85.25%

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 Taichung: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $551 in Hsinchu versus $385 in Taichung. 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 85% 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 $30.00 in Taichung. Groceries tell a different story – $340 in Hsinchu vs $398 in Taichung – 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 Taichung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Taichung costs about 1% 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 $1,786 per month in Hsinchu and $1,804 in Taichung. 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 38% less in Hsinchu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $423 per month in Hsinchu and $356 in Taichung. 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 $1,191, than in Taichung at $1,203. In Hsinchu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Taichung 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, Taichung makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.