Cost of Living Comparison Between Kaลกtela and Taipei Cost of Living Comparison Between Kaลกtela and Taipei

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,356 in Kaลกtela versus $1,497 in Taipei.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,132 in Kaลกtela versus $2,340 in Taipei.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,908 in Kaลกtela versus $3,184 in Taipei.

Living in Kaลกtela costs roughly 9% less than in Taipei, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kaลกtela 1% above, Taipei 11% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Kaลกtela
Taipei
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.04 โ‚ฌ13.82
$6.83 NT$216
134.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8 โ‚ฌ69.6
$39.89 NT$1,261
102.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.12 โ‚ฌ7.86
$5.74 NT$182
58.89%
Cappuccino
$2.89 โ‚ฌ2.49
$3.82 NT$121
-24.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 โ‚ฌ2.93
$1.18 NT$37.35
188.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 โ‚ฌ2.18
$0.74 NT$23.45
241.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.51 โ‚ฌ3.89
$3.43 NT$109
31.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 โ‚ฌ3.28
$3.35 NT$106
13.73%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Kaลกtela
Taipei
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 โ‚ฌ1.19
$3.15 NT$99.7
-56.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 โ‚ฌ1.36
$1.89 NT$59.8
-16.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.12 โ‚ฌ2.69
$3.14 NT$99.1
-0.64%
Eggs
$3.92 โ‚ฌ3.38
$2.83 NT$89.4
38.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.05 โ‚ฌ8.66
$20.13 NT$636
-50.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.40 โ‚ฌ8.10
$9.90 NT$313
-5.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.85 โ‚ฌ11.07
$20.51 NT$649
-37.35%
Apples (1kg)
$1.79 โ‚ฌ1.54
$5.30 NT$167
-66.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 โ‚ฌ1.46
$2.95 NT$93.4
-42.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.16 โ‚ฌ1.86
$2.81 NT$88.8
-23.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 โ‚ฌ1.96
$4.20 NT$133
-45.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 โ‚ฌ1.32
$2.91 NT$91.9
-47.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.40 โ‚ฌ1.20
$2.22 NT$70.0
-36.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 โ‚ฌ1.17
$1.97 NT$62.2
-30.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 โ‚ฌ1.08
$1.32 NT$41.82
-5.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.85 โ‚ฌ5.04
$3.97 NT$125
47.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.51 โ‚ฌ6.47
$14.26 NT$451
-47.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 โ‚ฌ1.15
$1.76 NT$55.7
-23.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 โ‚ฌ0.97
$2.40 NT$75.8
-52.92%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Kaลกtela
Taipei
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 โ‚ฌ2.03
$0.84 NT$26.53
180.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.44 โ‚ฌ32.26
$40.75 NT$1,288
-8.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 โ‚ฌ3.05
$2.93 NT$92.6
20.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.12 โ‚ฌ1.83
$0.74 NT$23.28
186.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.03 โ‚ฌ7.78
$10.29 NT$325
-12.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.79 โ‚ฌ1.54
$1.02 NT$32.25
75.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K โ‚ฌ33.1K
$37.5K NT$1.2M
2.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K โ‚ฌ22.9K
$27.1K NT$855.9K
-1.92%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaลกtela
Taipei
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$183 โ‚ฌ158
$83.9 NT$2,653
118.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.81 โ‚ฌ20.52
$18.55 NT$587
28.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.04 โ‚ฌ21.57
$24.94 NT$788
0.40%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Kaลกtela
Taipei
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.5 โ‚ฌ50.4
$41.43 NT$1,310
41.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.43 โ‚ฌ12.44
$13.55 NT$428
6.49%
Cinema Ticket
$9.35 โ‚ฌ8.06
$11.89 NT$376
-21.36%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Kaลกtela
Taipei
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$188 โ‚ฌ162
$624 NT$19.7K
-69.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,363 โ‚ฌ1,174
$18.7K NT$591.8K
-92.72%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Kaลกtela
Taipei
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.4 โ‚ฌ71.0
$59.6 NT$1,884
38.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.53 โ‚ฌ24.58
$33.93 NT$1,073
-15.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 โ‚ฌ93.5
$94.1 NT$2,975
15.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 โ‚ฌ91.2
$125 NT$3,941
-15.11%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Kaลกtela
Taipei
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 โ‚ฌ416
$782 NT$24.7K
-38.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$341 โ‚ฌ293
$552 NT$17.5K
-38.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$603 โ‚ฌ519
$1,678 NT$53.1K
-64.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$551 โ‚ฌ475
$1,088 NT$34.4K
-49.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,400 โ‚ฌ2,929
$13.7K NT$431.7K
-75.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,500 โ‚ฌ2,154
$8,549 NT$270.3K
-70.76%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Kaลกtela
Taipei
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$888 โ‚ฌ765
$1,788 NT$56.5K
-50.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.35
2.19
98.63%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kaลกtela: June 8, 2026

Last update for Taipei: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $483 in Kaลกtela and $782 in Taipei. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Taipei pays 101% 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: $81.0 in Kaลกtela vs $40.00 in Taipei. Groceries flip the comparison at $264 vs $401, with Kaลกtela 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
Kaลกtela vs Taipei: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kaลกtela and Taipei?
Kaลกtela and Taipei differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($1,356 vs $1,497 including rent). Kaลกtela is meaningfully more affordable โ€“ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Taipei earns 101% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Kaลกtela and Taipei?
Rent for a central apartment: $483 in Kaลกtela versus $782 in Taipei. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Kaลกtela and Taipei?
A monthly transit pass in Kaลกtela runs roughly 9% less than in Taipei. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kaลกtela and Taipei?
Childcare runs $188 in Kaลกtela versus $624 in Taipei. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,356 in Kaลกtela versus $1,497 in Taipei, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kaลกtela but tight or insufficient in Taipei. The gap between the two cities makes Kaลกtela the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kaลกtela and Taipei?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ€“ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Kaลกtela or Taipei safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kaลกtela and Taipei are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Kaลกtela or Taipei?
Expats usually find Kaลกtela gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 10% less than in Taipei. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Kaลกtela vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities