Cost of Living Comparison Between Kaohsiung and Hsinchu Cost of Living Comparison Between Kaohsiung and Hsinchu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,172 per month in Kaohsiung vs $1,163 in Hsinchu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,912 per month in Kaohsiung vs $1,895 in Hsinchu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,652 per month in Kaohsiung vs $2,626 in Hsinchu, rent included.

Kaohsiung costs about 1% more than Hsinchu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kaohsiung and Hsinchu are more affordable than the global median – Kaohsiung 12% lower, Hsinchu 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.96 NT$125

$4.19 NT$133

-5.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.68 NT$1,066

$34.41 NT$1,088

-2.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 NT$173

$5.53 NT$175

-1.08%

Cappuccino

$3.08 NT$97.4

$3.00 NT$95.0

2.67%

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

$1.01 NT$32.01

$1.00 NT$31.55

1.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 NT$24.26

$0.73 NT$22.99

5.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 NT$52.9

$1.71 NT$54.1

-2.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 NT$83.5

$2.44 NT$77.1

8.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.58 NT$113

$3.25 NT$103

10.15%

White Bread (500g)

$2.00 NT$63.2

$1.77 NT$55.9

12.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.67 NT$84.4

$4.30 NT$136

-37.91%

Eggs

$3.38 NT$107

$2.53 NT$80.1

33.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.72 NT$497

$14.00 NT$443

12.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.24 NT$292

$4.73 NT$150

95.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.80 NT$563

$15.81 NT$500

12.59%

Apples (1kg)

$6.18 NT$195

$4.33 NT$137

42.73%

Banana (1kg)

$2.49 NT$78.7

$2.49 NT$78.9

Oranges (1kg)

$2.82 NT$89.1

$2.81 NT$89.0

0.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.08 NT$129

$3.80 NT$120

7.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.90 NT$91.6

$2.99 NT$94.5

-3.01%

Onion (1kg)

$2.14 NT$67.7

$2.23 NT$70.5

-4.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 NT$58.9

$1.93 NT$60.9

-3.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 NT$37.77

$1.20 NT$38.05

-0.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 NT$140

$4.33 NT$137

2.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.12 NT$510

$14.32 NT$453

12.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 NT$54.1

$1.67 NT$52.8

2.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 NT$77.4

$2.46 NT$78.0

-0.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 NT$27.59

$0.84 NT$26.72

3.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.87 NT$850

$41.13 NT$1,301

-34.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 NT$93.2

$2.85 NT$90.3

3.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 NT$23.59

$0.78 NT$24.55

-3.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.25 NT$198

$5.97 NT$189

4.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 NT$33.70

$1.02 NT$32.39

4.90%

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

$34.3K NT$1.1M

$34.2K NT$1.1M

0.39%

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

$25.2K NT$797.4K

$25.4K NT$803.6K

-0.76%

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

$105 NT$3,327

$75.3 NT$2,381

39.69%

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

$25.70 NT$813

$25.35 NT$802

1.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.65 NT$811

$25.31 NT$801

1.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.21 NT$1,240

$44.69 NT$1,414

-12.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.36 NT$359

$24.00 NT$759

-52.67%

Cinema Ticket

$10.04 NT$318

$10.30 NT$326

-2.52%

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

$422 NT$13.3K

$423 NT$13.4K

-0.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K NT$359.2K

$11.1K NT$350.3K

2.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$96.6 NT$3,055

$85.7 NT$2,712

12.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.74 NT$1,131

$35.05 NT$1,109

1.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 NT$2,837

$88.7 NT$2,805

1.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 NT$3,207

$103 NT$3,259

-1.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 NT$13.8K

$561 NT$17.7K

-22.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 NT$8,931

$359 NT$11.4K

-21.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$960 NT$30.4K

$1,206 NT$38.1K

-20.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$679 NT$21.5K

$788 NT$24.9K

-13.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,696 NT$148.6K

$8,306 NT$262.8K

-43.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,166 NT$100.2K

$6,198 NT$196.1K

-48.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,492 NT$47.2K

$2,509 NT$79.4K

-40.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.3

1.57

46.50%

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

Last update for Kaohsiung: June 16, 2026

Last update for Hsinchu: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $437 in Kaohsiung versus $561 in Hsinchu. 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 68% 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 Kaohsiung versus $34.00 in Hsinchu. Groceries tell a different story – $385 in Kaohsiung vs $335 in Hsinchu – 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

Kaohsiung vs Hsinchu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kaohsiung 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 $1,759 per month in Kaohsiung and $1,745 in Hsinchu. 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 53% less in Hsinchu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $422 per month in Kaohsiung and $423 in Hsinchu. 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 $1,163, than in Kaohsiung at $1,172. In Hsinchu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kaohsiung 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, Kaohsiung makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.