🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,148 in Kaohsiung versus $1,173 in Chiayi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,899 in Kaohsiung versus $1,961 in Chiayi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,650 in Kaohsiung versus $2,750 in Chiayi.
🙂Living in Kaohsiung costs roughly 2% less than in Chiayi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kaohsiung14% lower, Chiayi12% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Kaohsiung
Chiayi
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.11NT$130
$6.76NT$214
-39.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.83NT$1,071
$40.59NT$1,285
-16.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.43NT$172
$5.62NT$178
-3.38%
Cappuccino
$2.99NT$94.8
$2.17NT$68.8
37.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97NT$30.80
$1.13NT$35.65
-14.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72NT$22.94
$0.79NT$24.90
-8.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68NT$53.1
$1.88NT$59.5
-10.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79NT$88.2
$3.01NT$95.2
-7.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kaohsiung
Chiayi
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$3.43NT$109
$3.26NT$103
5.21%
White Bread(500g)
$2.00NT$63.3
$1.90NT$60.2
5.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.61NT$82.6
$3.18NT$101
-17.92%
Eggs
$3.30NT$105
$2.81NT$89.1
17.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.13NT$511
$20.24NT$641
-20.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45NT$299
$9.87NT$313
-4.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.56NT$556
$20.08NT$635
-12.55%
Apples(1kg)
$6.20NT$196
$5.22NT$165
18.77%
Banana(1kg)
$2.59NT$81.9
$2.97NT$93.9
-12.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.86NT$90.4
$2.86NT$90.5
-
Tomato(1kg)
$4.00NT$127
$4.30NT$136
-6.98%
Potato(1kg)
$2.91NT$92.1
$2.83NT$89.5
2.83%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23NT$70.5
$2.21NT$69.8
0.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.95NT$61.6
$1.97NT$62.4
-1.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19NT$37.74
$1.33NT$42.22
-10.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53NT$143
$4.09NT$129
10.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.61NT$494
$4.84NT$153
222.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67NT$52.8
$1.75NT$55.3
-4.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56NT$81.0
$2.39NT$75.7
7.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Kaohsiung
Chiayi
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.82NT$26.01
$0.82NT$25.95
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.95NT$853
$38.66NT$1,224
-30.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.91NT$92.1
$2.95NT$93.2
-1.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.79NT$25.16
$0.41NT$13.13
92.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.12NT$194
$10.10NT$320
-39.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03NT$32.54
$1.03NT$32.58
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9KNT$1.1M
$38.8KNT$1.2M
-10.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KNT$811.5K
$28.1KNT$888.4K
-8.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaohsiung
Chiayi
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102NT$3,239
$72.1NT$2,280
42.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.62NT$811
$18.85NT$596
35.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.09NT$794
$24.69NT$781
1.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kaohsiung
Chiayi
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.67NT$1,255
$37.78NT$1,196
5.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.12NT$352
$15.13NT$479
-26.50%
Cinema Ticket
$9.98NT$316
$11.66NT$369
-14.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kaohsiung
Chiayi
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$431NT$13.7K
$645NT$20.4K
-33.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5KNT$362.6K
$18.8KNT$594.1K
-38.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kaohsiung
Chiayi
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.4NT$3,083
$59.7NT$1,889
63.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.83NT$1,134
$34.01NT$1,077
5.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.1NT$2,788
$92.9NT$2,941
-5.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104NT$3,276
$125NT$3,952
-17.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kaohsiung
Chiayi
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$442NT$14.0K
$440NT$13.9K
0.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$279NT$8,843
$290NT$9,186
-3.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$960NT$30.4K
$1,034NT$32.7K
-7.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$686NT$21.7K
$713NT$22.6K
-3.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,630NT$146.5K
$7,483NT$236.8K
-38.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,248NT$102.8K
$5,182NT$164.0K
-37.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kaohsiung
Chiayi
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,533NT$48.5K
$2,122NT$67.1K
-27.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.3
2.19
5.02%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Kaohsiung: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Chiayi: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $442 in Kaohsiung and $440 in Chiayi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Chiayi pays 38% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Kaohsiung vs $41.00 in Chiayi. Groceries flip the comparison at $384 vs $383, with Chiayi cheaper for home cooking.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Kaohsiung vs Chiayi: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Kaohsiung or Chiayi?
Kaohsiung wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Chiayi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kaohsiung the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kaohsiung or Chiayi?
On paper, Chiayi earns 38% 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 Kaohsiung vs Chiayi?
Rent for a central apartment: $442 in Kaohsiung versus $440 in Chiayi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Kaohsiung compared to Chiayi?
All in, you'll spend $1,148 per month in Kaohsiung versus $1,173 in Chiayi – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Kaohsiung vs Chiayi?
A monthly transit pass in Kaohsiung runs roughly 43% less than in Chiayi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Kaohsiung or Chiayi?
At $1,148 in Kaohsiung versus $1,173 in Chiayi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kaohsiung but tight or insufficient in Chiayi. The gap between the two cities makes Kaohsiung the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Kaohsiung or Chiayi?
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 Kaohsiung compared to Chiayi?
Safety-wise, Kaohsiung and Chiayi 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 Kaohsiung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Chiayi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Kaohsiung vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado