Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakistan and Taiwan Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakistan and Taiwan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $450 in Pakistan versus $1,079 in Taiwan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $678 in Pakistan versus $1,780 in Taiwan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $905 in Pakistan versus $2,481 in Taiwan.

Living in Pakistan costs about 58% less than in Taiwan on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Pakistan 67% lower, Taiwan 22% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in Taiwan: monthly costs span $788 to $1,376, compared to $296$604 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Taiwan.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pakistan
Taiwan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.10 PKR 581
$4.82 NT$153
-56.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.51 PKR 4,021
$31.88 NT$1,008
-54.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 PKR 1,533
$5.47 NT$173
1.10%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 PKR 594
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 PKR 1,120
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.04 PKR 564
$3.06 NT$96.9
-33.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 PKR 105
$1.03 NT$32.42
-63.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 PKR 66.7
$0.70 NT$22.22
-65.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.92 NT$60.8
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.52 NT$79.7
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
Taiwan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 PKR 235
$3.14 NT$99.4
-72.93%
White Bread (500g)
$0.63 PKR 174
$1.96 NT$61.8
-67.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 PKR 339
$3.09 NT$97.7
-60.52%
Eggs
$1.22 PKR 337
$2.65 NT$83.8
-53.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.79 PKR 1,603
$18.41 NT$582
-68.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.90 PKR 803
$8.58 NT$271
-66.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.08 PKR 1,407
$20.39 NT$645
-75.09%
Apples (1kg)
$1.13 PKR 313
$4.83 NT$153
-76.60%
Banana (1kg)
$0.69 PKR 191
$2.77 NT$87.6
-75.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.84 PKR 232
$2.91 NT$92.0
-71.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 159
$3.84 NT$121
-85.16%
Potato (1kg)
$0.34 PKR 95.0
$2.87 NT$90.8
-88.15%
Onion (1kg)
$0.42 PKR 116
$2.37 NT$74.9
-82.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.34 PKR 95.1
$2.18 NT$69.0
-84.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 PKR 113
$1.15 NT$36.46
-64.35%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.04 PKR 566
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 PKR 299
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 PKR 644
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14 PKR 594
$4.00 NT$126
-46.50%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$12.44 NT$393
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.65 NT$52.3
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.21 NT$69.9
-
🚌 Getting Around
Pakistan
Taiwan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 PKR 48.48
$0.65 NT$20.63
-72.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.87 PKR 2,736
$38.61 NT$1,221
-74.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 PKR 252
$2.81 NT$88.7
-67.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 PKR 144
$0.80 NT$25.34
-35.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 PKR 601
$9.70 NT$307
-77.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 PKR 337
$1.01 NT$31.90
20.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K PKR 5.1M
$34.1K NT$1.1M
-46.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K PKR 7.0M
$24.7K NT$782.3K
2.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
Taiwan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$108 PKR 30.0K
$86.6 NT$2,739
25.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.35 PKR 1,481
$17.95 NT$568
-70.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.67 PKR 4,340
$24.39 NT$771
-35.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
Taiwan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.93 PKR 4,412
$37.66 NT$1,191
-57.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.70 PKR 2,964
$11.92 NT$377
-10.23%
Cinema Ticket
$4.41 PKR 1,222
$10.27 NT$325
-57.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pakistan
Taiwan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$42.68 PKR 11.8K
$555 NT$17.5K
-92.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,343 PKR 372.0K
$15.9K NT$501.8K
-91.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
Taiwan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.94 PKR 4,417
$63.6 NT$2,013
-74.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.78 PKR 6,589
$33.77 NT$1,068
-29.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.7 PKR 21.8K
$83.9 NT$2,655
-6.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.79 PKR 9,361
$105 NT$3,315
-67.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
Taiwan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$134 PKR 37.1K
$517 NT$16.4K
-74.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$77.9 PKR 21.6K
$320 NT$10.1K
-75.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$309 PKR 85.5K
$1,132 NT$35.8K
-72.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$172 PKR 47.7K
$801 NT$25.3K
-78.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,017 PKR 281.8K
$8,215 NT$259.8K
-87.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$522 PKR 144.5K
$5,646 NT$178.6K
-90.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pakistan
Taiwan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$185 PKR 51.2K
$1,738 NT$55.0K
-89.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.96
2.42
476.86%

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

Last update for Pakistan: September 7, 2026

Last update for Taiwan: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $122 in Pakistan, $433 in Taiwan. Capital cities: $270 in Islamabad vs $907 in Taipei.

National salary averages: $181 in Pakistan, $1,922 in Taiwan. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 255% higher in Taiwan.

Dining out costs 146% more in Taiwan.

Public transport is 233% more expensive in Taiwan.

Salaries are 962% higher in Taiwan, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Taiwan.

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
Pakistan vs Taiwan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Pakistan and Taiwan?
At $450 per month in Pakistan and $1,082 in Taiwan, there's a 140% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Pakistan: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Taiwan is consistently higher than in Pakistan across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Pakistan or in Taiwan?
In Pakistan, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Taiwan it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Pakistan or to Taiwan?
It depends on what you're after: Pakistan wins on affordability; Taiwan may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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