Cost of Living Comparison Between Taichung and Chang-hua Cost of Living Comparison Between Taichung and Chang-hua

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,175 per month in Taichung vs $904 in Chang-hua, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,977 per month in Taichung vs $1,361 in Chang-hua, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,779 per month in Taichung vs $1,819 in Chang-hua, rent included.

Taichung costs about 30% more than Chang-hua, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Taichung and Chang-hua are more affordable than the global median – Taichung 12% lower, Chang-hua 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.17 NT$163

$3.76 NT$118

37.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.14 NT$950

$27.15 NT$855

11.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.48 NT$173

$5.64 NT$178

-2.84%

Cappuccino

$3.03 NT$95.6

$1.84 NT$57.9

64.67%

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

$1.16 NT$36.65

$0.88 NT$27.65

31.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 NT$27.04

$0.46 NT$14.55

86.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 NT$68.9

$1.45 NT$45.66

51.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 NT$92.5

$1.98 NT$62.4

47.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.86 NT$122

$2.76 NT$86.9

39.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.74 NT$54.9

$1.91 NT$60.2

-8.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.82 NT$88.8

$3.17 NT$100

-11.04%

Eggs

$3.27 NT$103

$2.91 NT$91.7

12.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$31.67 NT$998

$17.14 NT$540

84.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.26 NT$260

$7.81 NT$246

5.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.07 NT$506

$20.15 NT$635

-20.25%

Apples (1kg)

$4.64 NT$146

$5.22 NT$165

-11.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 NT$55.6

$2.89 NT$91.2

-39.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 NT$71.1

$2.75 NT$86.8

-17.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.97 NT$93.7

$3.23 NT$102

-8.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 NT$40.16

$2.75 NT$86.5

-53.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 NT$62.1

$2.19 NT$69.0

-10.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.36 NT$74.4

$1.87 NT$59.1

26.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 NT$40.98

$0.81 NT$25.49

60.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.96 NT$125

$3.95 NT$125

0.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.23 NT$511

$9.61 NT$303

68.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 NT$53.8

$1.56 NT$49.31

9.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 NT$83.8

$2.41 NT$75.9

10.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 NT$29.59

$1.72 NT$54.1

-45.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.86 NT$909

$37.34 NT$1,176

-22.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 NT$92.2

$2.95 NT$93.1

-1.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.24 NT$39.01

$0.78 NT$24.70

58.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.25 NT$323

$10.29 NT$324

-0.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 NT$33.05

$1.02 NT$32.20

2.94%

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

$34.5K NT$1.1M

$38.6K NT$1.2M

-10.44%

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

$26.0K NT$817.6K

$27.5K NT$864.8K

-5.46%

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

$96.6 NT$3,045

$34.13 NT$1,075

183.15%

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

$24.51 NT$772

$18.70 NT$589

31.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.07 NT$695

$20.26 NT$638

8.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.44 NT$1,148

$26.09 NT$822

39.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.09 NT$318

$15.35 NT$484

-34.27%

Cinema Ticket

$10.52 NT$332

$10.07 NT$317

4.47%

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

$355 NT$11.2K

$643 NT$20.3K

-44.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K NT$657.4K

$8,353 NT$263.2K

149.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.1 NT$2,648

$53.8 NT$1,694

56.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.06 NT$1,073

$16.87 NT$532

101.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.9 NT$3,052

$84.1 NT$2,649

15.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 NT$4,096

$53.8 NT$1,694

141.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$379 NT$11.9K

$312 NT$9,838

21.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$292 NT$9,192

$190 NT$5,980

53.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,056 NT$33.3K

$546 NT$17.2K

93.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$731 NT$23.0K

$189 NT$5,958

286.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,297 NT$229.9K

$3,014 NT$95.0K

142.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,260 NT$165.7K

$1,682 NT$53.0K

212.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,420 NT$44.7K

$2,015 NT$63.5K

-29.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.18

2.19

-0.46%

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

Last update for Taichung: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chang-hua: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $379 in Taichung versus $312 in Chang-hua. 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 42% higher in Chang-hua, 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 $27.00 in Chang-hua. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $402 vs $354 – making Chang-hua the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Chang-hua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Taichung costs about 30% more than Chang-hua, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,762 per month in Taichung and $1,355 in Chang-hua. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chang-hua, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,175 in Taichung and $904 in Chang-hua. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 29% less in Chang-hua. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chang-hua, where all-in costs run around $904, than in Taichung at $1,175. In Chang-hua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Taichung it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Chang-hua – 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 Chang-hua. 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.