😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,322 in Jurmala versus $1,122 in Hua-lien.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,991 in Jurmala versus $1,878 in Hua-lien.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,660 in Jurmala versus $2,634 in Hua-lien.
😐Living in Jurmala is roughly 18% more expensive than Hua-lien, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Jurmala1% lower, Hua-lien16% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jurmala
Hua-lien
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.91€11.05
$4.14NT$131
211.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.2€56.7
$34.47NT$1,091
91.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.50€6.42
$4.64NT$147
61.64%
Cappuccino
$3.48€2.98
$3.42NT$108
1.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87€1.60
$0.95NT$29.97
96.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.12
$0.61NT$19.22
114.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.36€4.59
$1.27NT$40.10
322.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82€3.27
$1.95NT$61.7
95.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jurmala
Hua-lien
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33€1.13
$3.15NT$99.7
-57.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62€1.39
$1.75NT$55.4
-7.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.34€2.00
$4.28NT$136
-45.33%
Eggs
$3.21€2.75
$2.44NT$77.3
31.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.92€6.78
$13.80NT$437
-42.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.04€6.02
$4.83NT$153
45.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.88€10.17
$16.40NT$519
-27.56%
Apples(1kg)
$1.34€1.15
$4.44NT$141
-69.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85€1.58
$2.55NT$80.8
-27.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.67€2.29
$4.06NT$128
-34.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.47€2.97
$3.83NT$121
-9.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04€0.89
$4.41NT$140
-76.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.11€0.95
$4.00NT$127
-72.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.78€1.53
$2.55NT$80.6
-30.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.76
$1.35NT$42.64
-34.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.44€4.66
$5.15NT$163
5.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.97€6.82
$14.34NT$454
-44.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85€1.58
$2.25NT$71.3
-17.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19€1.88
$2.93NT$92.7
-25.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Jurmala
Hua-lien
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85€0.72
$0.81NT$25.69
4.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.64€17.66
$39.41NT$1,247
-47.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.35€2.01
$3.35NT$106
-29.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74€0.63
$0.77NT$24.40
-3.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.29€9.67
$12.44NT$394
-9.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.55
$1.03NT$32.69
76.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2K€21.6K
$40.8KNT$1.3M
-38.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K€21.2K
$29.0KNT$919.4K
-14.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jurmala
Hua-lien
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$319€273
$75.2NT$2,380
323.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.69€10.01
$33.95NT$1,074
-65.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.02€17.14
$25.35NT$802
-21.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jurmala
Hua-lien
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.66€30.53
$36.92NT$1,169
-3.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.00€21.40
$15.09NT$477
65.67%
Cinema Ticket
$11.52€9.86
$8.83NT$279
30.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jurmala
Hua-lien
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$534€457
$806NT$25.5K
-33.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.4K€13.2K
$15.2KNT$481.2K
1.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jurmala
Hua-lien
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.7€78.5
$27.65NT$875
231.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.10€39.46
$46.69NT$1,478
-1.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.5€83.4
$70.0NT$2,216
39.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137€118
$126NT$3,990
8.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jurmala
Hua-lien
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$356€305
$433NT$13.7K
-17.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$254€217
$292NT$9,227
-12.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,099€941
$1,046NT$33.1K
5.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$459€393
$719NT$22.8K
-36.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,411€1,208
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$884€756
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jurmala
Hua-lien
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,191€1,020
$2,928NT$92.7K
-59.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.35
1.57
113.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jurmala: April 28, 2026
Last update for Hua-lien: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $356 in Jurmala and $433 in Hua-lien. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hua-lien pays 146% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $66.0 in Jurmala vs $34.00 in Hua-lien. Groceries flip the comparison at $245 vs $357, with Jurmala cheaper for home cooking.
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
Jurmala vs Hua-lien: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jurmala or Hua-lien?
Hua-lien wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Jurmala. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hua-lien the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Jurmala or Hua-lien?
On paper, Hua-lien earns 146% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Jurmala vs Hua-lien?
Rent for a central apartment: $356 in Jurmala versus $433 in Hua-lien. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Jurmala or Hua-lien?
Shoppers in Jurmala pay roughly 46% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Jurmala vs Hua-lien?
Dining out is cheaper in Hua-lien – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $66.0 in Jurmala. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Jurmala or Hua-lien?
At $1,122 in Hua-lien versus $1,322 in Jurmala, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Hua-lien but tight or insufficient in Jurmala. The gap between the two cities makes Hua-lien the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Jurmala or Hua-lien?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Jurmala compared to Hua-lien?
Safety-wise, Jurmala and Hua-lien are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Hua-lien gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Jurmala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.