Cost of Living Comparison Between Kinmen and Taichung Cost of Living Comparison Between Kinmen and Taichung

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,124 per month in Kinmen vs $1,180 in Taichung, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,876 per month in Kinmen vs $1,966 in Taichung, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,629 per month in Kinmen vs $2,752 in Taichung, rent included.

Kinmen is about 5% cheaper than Taichung, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kinmen and Taichung are more affordable than the global median – Kinmen 16% lower, Taichung 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kinmen
Taichung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.07 NT$164
$4.99 NT$161
1.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.83 NT$996
$30.18 NT$975
2.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.54 NT$179
$5.31 NT$172
4.33%
Cappuccino
$2.92 NT$94.4
$2.91 NT$94.1
0.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 NT$33.62
$1.15 NT$37.25
-9.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 NT$23.27
$0.84 NT$27.00
-14.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.84 NT$59.3
$2.08 NT$67.2
-11.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 NT$88.6
$2.86 NT$92.5
-4.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kinmen
Taichung
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.31 NT$107
$3.91 NT$127
-15.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.95 NT$62.9
$1.76 NT$56.8
10.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.89 NT$93.5
$2.78 NT$89.7
3.96%
Eggs
$2.85 NT$92.1
$3.14 NT$102
-9.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.49 NT$598
$31.84 NT$1,029
-41.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.10 NT$262
$8.23 NT$266
-1.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.18 NT$555
$15.91 NT$514
7.98%
Apples (1kg)
$4.67 NT$151
$4.68 NT$151
-0.21%
Banana (1kg)
$2.53 NT$81.7
$1.73 NT$55.9
46.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.64 NT$85.4
$2.23 NT$72.0
18.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.45 NT$111
$3.07 NT$99.1
12.38%
Potato (1kg)
$2.77 NT$89.5
$1.29 NT$41.73
114.73%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 NT$70.2
$1.90 NT$61.5
14.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.06 NT$66.6
$2.36 NT$76.4
-12.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 NT$38.62
$1.24 NT$40.17
-3.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.05 NT$131
$3.99 NT$129
1.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.99 NT$452
$15.50 NT$501
-9.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 NT$53.8
$1.65 NT$53.5
1.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 NT$82.7
$2.67 NT$86.2
-4.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Kinmen
Taichung
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 NT$28.02
$0.87 NT$28.24
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.33 NT$1,271
$28.55 NT$923
37.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.96 NT$95.6
$2.94 NT$95.0
0.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 NT$25.78
$1.19 NT$38.32
-32.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.22 NT$330
$10.22 NT$330
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 NT$34.61
$1.06 NT$34.19
0.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K NT$1.1M
$33.7K NT$1.1M
5.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K NT$857.3K
$26.4K NT$853.2K
0.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kinmen
Taichung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.1 NT$2,781
$95.7 NT$3,091
-10.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.37 NT$787
$24.69 NT$798
-1.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.59 NT$730
$21.22 NT$686
6.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kinmen
Taichung
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.68 NT$1,185
$35.41 NT$1,144
3.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.95 NT$483
$10.35 NT$334
44.44%
Cinema Ticket
$10.06 NT$325
$10.85 NT$351
-7.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kinmen
Taichung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$424 NT$13.7K
$357 NT$11.5K
18.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K NT$509.2K
$20.8K NT$671.2K
-24.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kinmen
Taichung
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.6 NT$2,636
$85.9 NT$2,777
-5.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.43 NT$1,113
$34.53 NT$1,116
-0.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.3 NT$2,948
$95.3 NT$3,079
-4.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 NT$3,302
$131 NT$4,227
-21.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kinmen
Taichung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$424 NT$13.7K
$377 NT$12.2K
12.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$293 NT$9,474
$281 NT$9,088
4.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,042 NT$33.7K
$1,044 NT$33.7K
-0.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$734 NT$23.7K
$727 NT$23.5K
1.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,302 NT$203.6K
$7,208 NT$232.9K
-12.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,564 NT$147.5K
$5,156 NT$166.6K
-11.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kinmen
Taichung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,392 NT$45.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.18
2.18
-

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

Last update for Kinmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Taichung: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Kinmen versus $377 in Taichung. 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 $31.00 in Kinmen versus $30.00 in Taichung. Groceries tell a different story – $366 in Kinmen vs $400 in Taichung – so Kinmen 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
Kinmen vs Taichung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Taichung cheaper than Kinmen?
Yes – Taichung is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,685 per month in Kinmen and $1,770 in Taichung. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kinmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $424 per month in Kinmen and $357 in Taichung. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Kinmen and in Taichung?
Groceries cost about 9% more in Taichung, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Kinmen or in Taichung?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kinmen, where all-in costs run around $1,124, than in Taichung at $1,180. In Kinmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Taichung it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Kinmen or Taichung more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kinmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Kinmen or Taichung?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kinmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Taichung makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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