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Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Taiwan
For one person, living is cheaper in India: $399 a month against $1,146 in Taiwan, rent and utilities included – about $9,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in India and in Taiwan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $399 in India versus $1,146 in Taiwan.
India $399
Taiwan $1,146
Estimated couple costs with rent: $639 in India versus $1,885 in Taiwan.
India $639
Taiwan $1,885
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $879 in India versus $2,625 in Taiwan.
India $879
Taiwan $2,625
📏
India ($230–$813) and Taiwan ($768–$1,330) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.
🌍
Living in India costs about 65% less than in Taiwan on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: India 71% lower, Taiwan 16% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
India
Taiwan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14₹204
$4.73NT$154
-54.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.46₹996
$30.54NT$994
-65.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.80₹362
$5.32NT$173
-28.57%
Cappuccino
$1.68₹160
$2.87NT$93.3
-41.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38₹36.05
$0.95NT$31.03
-60.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15₹14.63
$0.63NT$20.64
-76.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.87₹178
$1.79NT$58.2
4.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18₹303
$2.43NT$79.0
30.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Taiwan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.62₹59.3
$3.00NT$97.7
-79.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.50₹47.84
$1.87NT$60.8
-73.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.63₹60.4
$3.04NT$99.0
-79.28%
Eggs
$0.96₹91.4
$2.51NT$81.6
-61.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.85₹462
$17.94NT$584
-72.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.84₹271
$8.54NT$278
-66.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$20.08NT$654
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.00₹191
$4.69NT$153
-57.36%
Banana(1kg)
$0.65₹61.5
$2.59NT$84.4
-74.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.97₹92.4
$2.91NT$94.6
-66.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47₹44.37
$3.68NT$120
-87.23%
Potato(1kg)
$0.34₹31.92
$2.68NT$87.3
-87.31%
Onion(1kg)
$0.42₹39.79
$2.16NT$70.2
-80.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47₹44.46
$2.12NT$69.0
-77.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31₹29.72
$1.11NT$36.25
-72.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.08₹484
$3.74NT$122
35.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.31₹696
$12.39NT$403
-41.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63₹155
$1.58NT$51.5
3.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76₹263
$2.17NT$70.7
27.19%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.11₹487
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Taiwan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26₹24.89
$0.64NT$20.77
-59.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.58₹817
$36.59NT$1,191
-76.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.00₹94.8
$2.74NT$89.2
-63.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27₹25.78
$0.80NT$25.88
-66.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.54₹146
$9.32NT$303
-83.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07₹102
$1.03NT$33.51
3.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.2K₹1.1M
$36.6KNT$1.2M
-69.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K₹1.9M
$22.9KNT$744.2K
-12.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Taiwan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$37.08₹3,532
$83.2NT$2,708
-55.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.58₹341
$17.05NT$555
-79.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.15₹681
$23.05NT$750
-68.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Taiwan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.00₹1,429
$35.90NT$1,168
-58.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.17₹683
$11.42NT$372
-37.22%
Cinema Ticket
$3.20₹304
$10.12NT$329
-68.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Taiwan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$58.8₹5,601
$557NT$18.1K
-89.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,667₹158.7K
$15.9KNT$516.8K
-89.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Taiwan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.03₹2,194
$62.6NT$2,038
-63.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.17₹2,302
$31.83NT$1,036
-24.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.20₹3,924
$82.1NT$2,674
-49.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.62₹2,821
$102NT$3,314
-70.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Taiwan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$146₹14.0K
$506NT$16.5K
-71.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$96.4₹9,178
$319NT$10.4K
-69.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$343₹32.7K
$1,092NT$35.5K
-68.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$234₹22.3K
$762NT$24.8K
-69.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,177₹112.1K
$6,711NT$218.4K
-82.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$633₹60.3K
$4,605NT$149.9K
-86.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Taiwan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$409₹38.9K
$1,709NT$55.6K
-76.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.93
2.45
264.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for India: October 25, 2026
Last update for Taiwan: October 24, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$102 25.6%
Taiwan
$368 32.1% ↑ 260%$266
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$96 24.1%
Taiwan
$319 27.8% ↑ 231%$222
🍽Eating Out
India
$67 16.7%
Taiwan
$108 9.5% ↑ 62.9%$42
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$53 13.3%
Taiwan
$125 10.9% ↑ 136%$72
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$48 12%
Taiwan
$123 10.8% ↑ 158%$75
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$21 5.4%
Taiwan
$56 4.9% ↑ 162%$35
🚌Getting Around
India
$12 3%
Taiwan
$46 4% ↑ 283%$34
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$220 25.1%
Taiwan
$860 32.8% ↑ 290%$640
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$234 26.6%
Taiwan
$762 29% ↑ 226%$528
🍽Eating Out
India
$181 20.6%
Taiwan
$367 14% ↑ 103%$186
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$118 13.4%
Taiwan
$278 10.6% ↑ 136%$160
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$51 5.9%
Taiwan
$140 5.4% ↑ 173%$89
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$50 5.7%
Taiwan
$124 4.7% ↑ 148%$74
🚌Getting Around
India
$24 2.8%
Taiwan
$93 3.5% ↑ 280%$69
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $120 in India, $426 in Taiwan. Capital cities: $277 in Delhi vs $961 in Taipei.
💰National salary averages: $412 in India, $1,861 in Taiwan. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 255% higher in Taiwan.
⭐Dining out costs 182% more in Taiwan.
⭐Public transport is 275% more expensive in Taiwan.
⭐Salaries are about 4.5 times higher in Taiwan, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Taiwan.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 $399 per month in India and $1,146 in Taiwan, India comes out about 65% cheaper. 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?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in India: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. 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 for a central one-bedroom averages $426 in Taiwan and $120 in India. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or in Taiwan?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Taiwan it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you’ll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or to Taiwan?
It depends on what you’re after: India wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.