Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kinmen and Hsinchu

For one person, living is cheaper in Kinmen: $1,069 a month against $1,140 in Hsinchu, rent and utilities included – about $850 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Kinmen, Taiwan
Hsinchu, Taiwan
Kinmen
🇹🇼 Taiwan
$1,069
/mo nomad
Hsinchu
🇹🇼 Taiwan
$1,140
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kinmen and in Hsinchu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kinmen and in Hsinchu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,069 per month in Kinmen vs $1,140 in Hsinchu, rent included.

  • Kinmen $1,069
  • Hsinchu $1,140

A couple spends around $1,808 per month in Kinmen vs $1,917 in Hsinchu, rent included.

  • Kinmen $1,808
  • Hsinchu $1,917

A family of three spends $2,548 per month in Kinmen vs $2,693 in Hsinchu, rent included.

  • Kinmen $2,548
  • Hsinchu $2,693

Kinmen is about 6% cheaper than Hsinchu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Kinmen and Hsinchu are more affordable than the global median – Kinmen 21% lower, Hsinchu 16% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kinmen
Hsinchu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.72 NT$154
$3.67 NT$120
28.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.66 NT$1,000
$27.83 NT$907
10.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.97 NT$162
$4.75 NT$155
4.63%
Cappuccino
$2.94 NT$96.0
$2.99 NT$97.3
-1.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 NT$29.15
$0.90 NT$29.37
-1.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 NT$22.87
$0.66 NT$21.37
6.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 NT$56.4
$1.89 NT$61.7
-8.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 NT$78.3
$2.24 NT$73.1
7.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kinmen
Hsinchu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.94 NT$95.9
$2.75 NT$89.7
6.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.78 NT$58.0
$1.62 NT$52.9
9.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.83 NT$92.1
$4.35 NT$142
-34.94%
Eggs
$2.68 NT$87.5
$2.76 NT$90.1
-2.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.11 NT$623
$35.37 NT$1,153
-45.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.93 NT$259
$6.92 NT$226
14.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.63 NT$673
$20.54 NT$670
0.44%
Apples (1kg)
$4.11 NT$134
$2.60 NT$84.7
58.08%
Banana (1kg)
$2.40 NT$78.2
$2.43 NT$79.2
-1.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.89 NT$94.3
$3.24 NT$106
-10.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.17 NT$103
$3.10 NT$101
2.26%
Potato (1kg)
$2.65 NT$86.4
$2.36 NT$76.9
12.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 NT$66.1
$2.31 NT$75.4
-12.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.16 NT$70.3
$1.96 NT$63.9
10.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 NT$33.58
$1.36 NT$44.32
-24.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.79 NT$124
$3.90 NT$127
-2.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.63 NT$379
$12.08 NT$394
-3.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 NT$51.9
$1.88 NT$61.4
-15.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 NT$72.0
$2.29 NT$74.6
-3.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Kinmen
Hsinchu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 NT$19.21
$0.51 NT$16.76
15.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.25 NT$1,084
$38.54 NT$1,257
-13.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.66 NT$86.7
$2.99 NT$97.6
-11.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 NT$24.08
$0.30 NT$9.64
146.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.47 NT$309
$9.82 NT$320
-3.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 NT$33.54
$1.01 NT$32.98
1.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K NT$1.2M
$34.7K NT$1.1M
1.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K NT$752.0K
$23.6K NT$769.1K
-2.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kinmen
Hsinchu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.0 NT$2,836
$102 NT$3,315
-14.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.11 NT$558
$19.11 NT$623
-10.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.39 NT$730
$20.66 NT$674
8.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kinmen
Hsinchu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.98 NT$1,173
$51.0 NT$1,664
-29.48%
Cinema Ticket
$10.13 NT$330
$10.28 NT$335
-1.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kinmen
Hsinchu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$565 NT$18.4K
$735 NT$24.0K
-23.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K NT$538.6K
$16.3K NT$531.6K
1.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kinmen
Hsinchu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.8 NT$2,016
$56.1 NT$1,829
10.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.20 NT$1,017
$34.95 NT$1,140
-10.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.6 NT$2,660
$75.7 NT$2,467
7.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 NT$3,314
$103 NT$3,352
-1.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kinmen
Hsinchu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$414 NT$13.5K
$418 NT$13.6K
-1.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$253 NT$8,245
$257 NT$8,377
-1.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,053 NT$34.3K
$1,100 NT$35.9K
-4.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$722 NT$23.6K
$756 NT$24.7K
-4.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,706 NT$251.3K
$6,930 NT$226.0K
11.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,832 NT$157.6K
$4,621 NT$150.7K
4.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kinmen
Hsinchu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$2,398 NT$78.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.39
2.13
12.21%

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

Last update for Kinmen: October 26, 2026

Last update for Hsinchu: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Kinmen
$359
Hsinchu
$405 12.6% $45
Accommodation & Living
Kinmen
$253
Hsinchu
$257 1.6% $4.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kinmen
$126
Hsinchu
$141 11.8% $15
Clothing & Footwear
Kinmen
$124
Hsinchu
$121 2.4% $3
Eating Out
Kinmen
$108
Hsinchu
$100 7.6% $8.2
Sport & Entertainment
Kinmen
$56
Hsinchu
$72 27.3% $15
Getting Around
Kinmen
$42
Hsinchu
$45 7.4% $3.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $414 in Kinmen versus $418 in Hsinchu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31 in Kinmen versus $28 in Hsinchu. Groceries tell a different story – $359 in Kinmen vs $405 in Hsinchu – so Kinmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇼 Kinmen
🇹🇼 Hsinchu
🕒 Local time
07:53 7:53 AM
07:53 7:53 AM
Same time as Kinmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
12,568
453,120
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to TWD – New Taiwan Dollar Converter

New Taiwan Dollar exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 32.61 TWD (100 TWD = 3.07 USD). 1 EUR = 36.41 TWD (100 TWD = 2.75 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kinmen Hsinchu 280 km
From you
  • Kinmen
  • Hsinchu

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
Kinmen vs Hsinchu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kinmen or Hsinchu?
Hsinchu costs about 7% more than Kinmen, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kinmen and in Hsinchu?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,603 per month in Kinmen and $1,711 in Hsinchu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kinmen compared to Hsinchu?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $414 in Kinmen and $418 in Hsinchu. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How expensive is transport in Kinmen compared to Hsinchu?
Public transport costs about 14% less in Kinmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Kinmen and in Hsinchu?
Kindergarten costs $565 per month in Kinmen and $735 in Hsinchu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Kinmen or in Hsinchu?
$1,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,069 in Kinmen and $1,140 in Hsinchu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How safe is Kinmen compared to Hsinchu?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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