Cost of Living Comparison Between Kinmen and Tainan Cost of Living Comparison Between Kinmen and Tainan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,095 per month in Kinmen vs $1,186 in Tainan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,855 per month in Kinmen vs $2,066 in Tainan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,614 per month in Kinmen vs $2,945 in Tainan, rent included.

Kinmen is about 8% cheaper than Tainan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kinmen and Tainan are more affordable than the global median – Kinmen 21% lower, Tainan 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.64 NT$147

$4.70 NT$149

-1.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.44 NT$996

$25.49 NT$807

23.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.92 NT$156

$4.75 NT$150

3.58%

Cappuccino

$3.02 NT$95.8

$3.26 NT$103

-7.36%

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

$0.97 NT$30.73

$1.36 NT$43.02

-28.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 NT$22.74

$0.85 NT$27.02

-15.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 NT$54.0

$3.13 NT$99.3

-45.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 NT$82.0

$3.53 NT$112

-26.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.99 NT$94.7

$3.19 NT$101

-6.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.87 NT$59.4

$1.73 NT$54.9

8.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.74 NT$86.9

$2.98 NT$94.3

-8.05%

Eggs

$2.58 NT$81.8

$3.16 NT$100

-18.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.15 NT$638

$22.90 NT$725

-12.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.12 NT$257

$12.95 NT$410

-37.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.62 NT$685

$20.78 NT$658

4.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.93 NT$124

$5.44 NT$172

-27.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.52 NT$79.8

$2.81 NT$89.0

-10.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.92 NT$92.5

$4.84 NT$153

-39.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.24 NT$103

$7.14 NT$226

-54.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 NT$85.4

$4.77 NT$151

-43.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 NT$71.6

$4.49 NT$142

-49.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 NT$72.7

$3.02 NT$95.7

-23.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 NT$33.12

$1.50 NT$47.51

-30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 NT$131

$3.90 NT$124

6.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.91 NT$377

$12.17 NT$385

-2.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 NT$50.4

$2.02 NT$63.9

-21.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 NT$70.7

$2.34 NT$74.1

-4.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.66 NT$20.81

$0.66 NT$20.78

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.56 NT$1,253

$34.24 NT$1,084

15.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.66 NT$84.3

$2.65 NT$83.8

0.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 NT$25.93

$0.97 NT$30.74

-15.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.89 NT$282

$5.75 NT$182

54.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 NT$33.94

$1.03 NT$32.49

3.88%

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

$32.5K NT$1.0M

$36.9K NT$1.2M

-11.69%

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

$20.8K NT$658.9K

$25.5K NT$808.5K

-18.51%

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

$102 NT$3,232

$90.7 NT$2,872

12.55%

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

$16.95 NT$537

$17.28 NT$547

-1.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.41 NT$742

$21.61 NT$685

8.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.18 NT$1,304

$45.85 NT$1,452

-10.19%

Cinema Ticket

$11.32 NT$358

$10.79 NT$342

4.91%

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

$464 NT$14.7K

$438 NT$13.9K

5.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.2K NT$577.9K

$5,477 NT$173.5K

233.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 NT$1,786

$94.1 NT$2,980

-40.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.88 NT$1,232

$46.73 NT$1,480

-16.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.3 NT$2,892

$118 NT$3,742

-22.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 NT$3,240

$123 NT$3,908

-17.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$408 NT$12.9K

$313 NT$9,917

30.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 NT$8,078

$198 NT$6,280

28.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 NT$31.2K

$866 NT$27.4K

13.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$737 NT$23.4K

$714 NT$22.6K

3.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,355 NT$201.3K

$4,188 NT$132.6K

51.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,173 NT$163.9K

$3,165 NT$100.2K

63.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,403 NT$44.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.27

2.5

-9.20%

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

Last update for Kinmen: September 7, 2026

Last update for Tainan: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $408 in Kinmen versus $313 in Tainan. 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 $25.00 in Tainan. Groceries tell a different story – $369 in Kinmen vs $461 in Tainan – 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 Tainan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tainan is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,643 per month in Kinmen and $1,779 in Tainan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $464 per month in Kinmen and $438 in Tainan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% more in Tainan, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kinmen, where all-in costs run around $1,095, than in Tainan at $1,186. In Kinmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tainan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 Kinmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tainan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.