😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in San Fernando versus $1,074 in Zhubei City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in San Fernando versus $1,858 in Zhubei City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,787 in San Fernando versus $2,643 in Zhubei City.
🌍Living in San Fernando is roughly 18% more expensive than in Zhubei City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: San Fernando8% lower, Zhubei City22% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Fernando
Zhubei City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.20TTD 68.0
$4.71NT$149
116.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.1TTD 393
$28.93NT$918
104.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.08TTD 53.8
$5.24NT$166
54.20%
Cappuccino
$3.78TTD 25.15
$3.05NT$96.8
23.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02TTD 6.77
$0.95NT$30.16
7.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75TTD 5.02
$0.61NT$19.28
22.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81TTD 12.02
$1.88NT$59.6
-3.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64TTD 17.61
$2.50NT$79.3
5.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Fernando
Zhubei City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.05TTD 13.62
$2.87NT$90.9
-28.57%
White Bread(500g)
$2.23TTD 14.86
$1.84NT$58.2
21.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.82TTD 18.76
$4.44NT$141
-36.49%
Eggs
$3.81TTD 25.40
$2.76NT$87.6
38.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.63TTD 44.18
$25.11NT$797
-73.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.18TTD 67.8
$8.66NT$275
17.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.18TTD 61.2
$26.23NT$832
-65.00%
Apples(1kg)
$5.50TTD 36.61
$4.16NT$132
32.21%
Banana(1kg)
$2.60TTD 17.34
$2.46NT$78.0
5.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.82TTD 25.45
$2.71NT$86.0
40.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.20TTD 27.97
$3.27NT$104
28.44%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76TTD 5.06
$3.03NT$96.2
-74.92%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71TTD 4.70
$2.06NT$65.4
-65.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.50TTD 10.00
$2.07NT$65.8
-27.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22TTD 8.10
$1.34NT$42.53
-8.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.79TTD 38.58
$3.85NT$122
50.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.72TTD 118
$9.18NT$291
93.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58TTD 10.50
$1.42NT$45.08
11.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10TTD 20.64
$2.01NT$63.7
54.23%
🚌 Getting Around
San Fernando
Zhubei City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.46TTD 3.07
$0.61NT$19.36
-24.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.41TTD 302
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.92TTD 6.15
$3.24NT$103
-71.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.93TTD 6.17
$0.61NT$19.25
52.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.99TTD 99.8
$9.21NT$292
62.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12TTD 7.46
$1.03NT$32.65
8.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8KTTD 251.6K
$34.1KNT$1.1M
10.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.5KTTD 276.7K
$25.4KNT$807.4K
63.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Fernando
Zhubei City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.80TTD 298
$101NT$3,197
-55.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.25TTD 281
$19.66NT$624
114.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.99TTD 306
$22.98NT$729
100.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Fernando
Zhubei City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9TTD 352
$31.44NT$998
68.35%
Cinema Ticket
$9.03TTD 60.1
$10.17NT$323
-11.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Fernando
Zhubei City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$409TTD 2,726
$665NT$21.1K
-38.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8KTTD 72.0K
$16.8KNT$531.6K
-35.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Fernando
Zhubei City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9TTD 372
$58.1NT$1,842
-3.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.92TTD 246
$31.09NT$986
18.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.7TTD 591
$92.0NT$2,919
-3.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.7TTD 597
$98.7NT$3,132
-9.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Fernando
Zhubei City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$528TTD 3,518
$500NT$15.9K
5.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$395TTD 2,628
$212NT$6,716
86.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$900TTD 5,995
$1,110NT$35.2K
-18.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$756TTD 5,037
$795NT$25.2K
-4.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,015TTD 13.4K
$16.6KNT$526.1K
-87.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,499TTD 9,985
$9,756NT$309.5K
-84.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Fernando
Zhubei City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037TTD 6,909
$2,420NT$76.8K
-57.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.75
2.4
139.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for San Fernando: August 31, 2026
Last update for Zhubei City: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $528 in San Fernando and $500 in Zhubei City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Zhubei City pays 133% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $59.0 in San Fernando vs $29.00 in Zhubei City. Groceries flip the comparison at $321 vs $403, with San Fernando 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
San Fernando vs Zhubei City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zhubei City cheaper than San Fernando?
Zhubei City is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: San Fernando or Zhubei City?
On paper, salaries run 133% lower in Zhubei City. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between San Fernando and Zhubei City?
Rent for a central apartment: $528 in San Fernando versus $500 in Zhubei City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $409 in San Fernando versus $665 in Zhubei City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in San Fernando or in Zhubei City?
Dining out is cheaper in Zhubei City – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $59.0 in San Fernando. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in San Fernando or in Zhubei City?
At $1,074 in Zhubei City versus $1,264 in San Fernando, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zhubei City but tight or insufficient in San Fernando. The gap between the two cities makes Zhubei City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in San Fernando or in Zhubei City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, San Fernando or Zhubei City?
Safety-wise, San Fernando and Zhubei City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Zhubei City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in San Fernando. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
San Fernando vs other spots: cost of living compared