Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Taiwan Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Taiwan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $388 in India versus $1,143 in Taiwan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $617 in India versus $1,900 in Taiwan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $846 in India versus $2,656 in Taiwan.

Living in India costs about 66% less than in Taiwan on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: India 71% lower, Taiwan 15% lower.

India ($264$888) and Taiwan ($899$1,494) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
India
Taiwan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.49 ₹237
$5.10 NT$161
-51.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.20 ₹1,353
$33.68 NT$1,060
-57.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.98 ₹379
$5.37 NT$169
-25.88%
Cappuccino
$1.88 ₹179
$3.24 NT$102
-41.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ₹41.98
$1.05 NT$33.00
-58.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 ₹18.57
$0.75 NT$23.61
-74.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 ₹192
$2.00 NT$63.0
1.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 ₹329
$2.66 NT$83.9
29.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Taiwan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.72 ₹68.3
$3.18 NT$100
-77.36%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 ₹49.26
$1.92 NT$60.3
-72.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.72 ₹68.7
$3.26 NT$103
-77.91%
Eggs
$0.93 ₹88.8
$2.99 NT$94.3
-68.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.24 ₹499
$17.67 NT$556
-70.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 ₹292
$9.11 NT$287
-66.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$20.26 NT$638
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 ₹207
$4.95 NT$156
-56.16%
Banana (1kg)
$0.76 ₹72.2
$2.57 NT$81.0
-70.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 ₹100
$2.86 NT$90.0
-63.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 ₹50.7
$3.76 NT$118
-85.90%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 ₹37.53
$2.95 NT$92.7
-86.78%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 ₹46.81
$2.32 NT$73.0
-78.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 ₹49.35
$2.17 NT$68.2
-76.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₹31.13
$1.32 NT$41.47
-75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.05 ₹386
$4.22 NT$133
-4.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.39 ₹704
$14.28 NT$450
-48.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ₹175
$1.72 NT$54.1
6.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₹277
$2.45 NT$77.2
18.37%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.65 ₹538
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Taiwan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₹34.59
$0.83 NT$26.19
-56.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.74 ₹928
$39.97 NT$1,258
-75.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.95 ₹90.6
$3.00 NT$94.4
-68.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 ₹28.64
$0.78 NT$24.49
-61.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.73 ₹165
$10.07 NT$317
-82.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ₹117
$1.01 NT$31.77
21.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K ₹1.3M
$36.6K NT$1.2M
-62.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K ₹2.2M
$26.7K NT$841.9K
-15.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Taiwan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.88 ₹3,894
$84.7 NT$2,665
-51.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.91 ₹372
$24.12 NT$759
-83.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.81 ₹744
$24.17 NT$761
-67.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Taiwan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.15 ₹1,538
$39.05 NT$1,229
-58.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.49 ₹713
$11.63 NT$366
-35.60%
Cinema Ticket
$3.42 ₹326
$10.94 NT$344
-68.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Taiwan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$69.9 ₹6,660
$551 NT$17.3K
-87.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,793 ₹170.8K
$15.8K NT$497.8K
-88.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Taiwan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.83 ₹2,460
$67.0 NT$2,109
-61.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.61 ₹2,535
$33.52 NT$1,055
-20.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.24 ₹4,309
$91.7 NT$2,886
-50.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.68 ₹3,208
$118 NT$3,727
-71.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Taiwan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$178 ₹17.0K
$528 NT$16.6K
-66.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$115 ₹10.9K
$365 NT$11.5K
-68.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$407 ₹38.8K
$1,199 NT$37.7K
-66.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$264 ₹25.1K
$854 NT$26.9K
-69.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,240 ₹118.1K
$9,308 NT$293.0K
-86.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$631 ₹60.1K
$6,104 NT$192.1K
-89.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Taiwan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$432 ₹41.2K
$1,740 NT$54.8K
-75.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.02
2.14
321.50%

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

Last update for India: June 2, 2026

Last update for Taiwan: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $127 in India, $452 in Taiwan. Capital cities: $239 in Delhi vs $789 in Taipei.

National salary averages: $398 in India, $1,916 in Taiwan. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 256% higher in Taiwan.

Dining out costs 182% more in Taiwan.

Public transport is 322% more expensive in Taiwan.

Salaries are 381% higher in Taiwan, giving Taiwan stronger purchasing power.

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
India vs Taiwan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Taiwan?
At $576 per month in India and $1,197 in Taiwan, there's a 108% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
India is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Taiwan beats India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or Taiwan?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Taiwan, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or Taiwan?
It depends on what you're after. India wins on affordability; Taiwan may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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