🙂A single person spends $1,175 per month in Taichung vs $1,987 in Almada, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,977 per month in Taichung vs $2,870 in Almada, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,779 per month in Taichung vs $3,754 in Almada, rent included.
🙂Taichung is about 41% cheaper than Almada, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Taichung sits 12% below the global median, while Almada is 48% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taichung
Almada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.17NT$163
$16.09€13.84
-67.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.14NT$949
$57.3€49.28
-47.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.48NT$172
$10.39€8.94
-47.26%
Cappuccino
$3.03NT$95.5
$2.29€1.97
32.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16NT$36.61
$1.77€1.53
-34.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86NT$27.02
$1.42€1.22
-39.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.19NT$68.9
$3.41€2.93
-35.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93NT$92.4
$3.90€3.36
-24.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taichung
Almada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.86NT$122
$1.08€0.93
257.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74NT$54.9
$1.23€1.06
41.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.82NT$88.7
$1.66€1.43
69.88%
Eggs
$3.27NT$103
$3.27€2.81
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$31.67NT$997
$12.22€10.51
159.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.26NT$260
$7.37€6.34
12.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.07NT$506
$15.49€13.33
3.74%
Apples(1kg)
$4.64NT$146
$2.30€1.98
101.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.76NT$55.5
$1.46€1.26
20.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.26NT$71.0
$1.94€1.67
16.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.97NT$93.6
$2.51€2.16
18.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.27NT$40.12
$1.86€1.60
-31.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97NT$62.1
$2.05€1.76
-3.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.36NT$74.3
$1.89€1.63
24.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30NT$40.95
$0.70€0.60
85.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96NT$125
$6.45€5.55
-38.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.23NT$511
$5.53€4.76
193.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71NT$53.8
$1.33€1.15
28.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66NT$83.7
$2.58€2.22
3.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Taichung
Almada
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.94NT$29.57
$2.30€1.98
-59.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.86NT$908
$45.85€39.44
-37.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.92NT$92.1
$4.06€3.49
-28.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.24NT$38.97
$0.82€0.70
51.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.25NT$323
$17.35€14.92
-40.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05NT$33.02
$1.94€1.67
-45.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5KNT$1.1M
$34.6K€29.8K
-0.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0KNT$816.9K
$38.8K€33.3K
-33.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taichung
Almada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$96.6NT$3,042
$144€124
-32.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.51NT$771
$21.02€18.08
16.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.07NT$695
$42.96€36.95
-48.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taichung
Almada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.44NT$1,147
$36.72€31.58
-0.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.09NT$318
$17.40€14.97
-42.01%
Cinema Ticket
$10.52NT$331
$8.78€7.55
19.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taichung
Almada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$355NT$11.2K
$615€529
-42.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.9KNT$656.8K
$15.8K€13.6K
31.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taichung
Almada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.1NT$2,646
$105€89.9
-19.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.06NT$1,072
$40.64€34.96
-16.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.9NT$3,049
$86.3€74.2
12.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130NT$4,092
$108€92.6
20.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taichung
Almada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$379NT$11.9K
$1,179€1,014
-67.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$292NT$9,184
$1,021€878
-71.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,056NT$33.2K
$2,309€1,986
-54.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$731NT$23.0K
$1,561€1,343
-53.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,297NT$229.7K
$5,314€4,571
37.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,260NT$165.6K
$3,402€2,927
54.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taichung
Almada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,420NT$44.7K
$1,390€1,195
2.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.18
5.43
-59.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Taichung: June 1, 2026
Last update for Almada: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $379 in Taichung versus $1,179 in Almada. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 2% higher in Taichung, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Taichung versus $57.0 in Almada. Groceries tell a different story – $402 in Taichung vs $252 in Almada – so Almada 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
Taichung vs Almada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Taichung and Almada compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,175 in Taichung, $1,987 in Almada – roughly 69% apart. Almada costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Taichung compared to Almada?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,762 per month in Taichung and $2,980 in Almada. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Taichung and Almada?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Taichung, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Taichung and $57.0 in Almada. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Taichung or Almada?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,175 in Taichung and $1,987 in Almada. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Taichung, where all-in costs run around $1,175, than in Almada at $1,987. In Taichung it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almada it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Taichung or Almada?
Families tend to lean toward Taichung – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Taichung or Almada safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Taichung and Almada?
If budget matters most, go with Taichung. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Almada makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.