Cost of Living Comparison Between Taichung and Hsinchu Cost of Living Comparison Between Taichung and Hsinchu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,203 per month in Taichung vs $1,191 in Hsinchu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,954 per month in Taichung vs $1,918 in Hsinchu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,704 per month in Taichung vs $2,645 in Hsinchu, rent included.

Taichung costs about 1% more than Hsinchu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Taichung and Hsinchu are more affordable than the global median – Taichung 10% lower, Hsinchu 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.99 NT$158

$4.09 NT$129

22.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.95 NT$948

$33.87 NT$1,072

-11.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.46 NT$173

$5.30 NT$168

3.02%

Cappuccino

$2.93 NT$92.8

$3.07 NT$97.1

-4.56%

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

$1.16 NT$36.63

$0.99 NT$31.40

17.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 NT$27.21

$0.69 NT$21.71

24.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 NT$68.4

$1.67 NT$52.8

29.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 NT$89.6

$2.34 NT$74.0

20.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.79 NT$120

$3.28 NT$104

15.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 NT$55.5

$1.85 NT$58.6

-5.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.77 NT$87.8

$4.50 NT$142

-38.44%

Eggs

$3.29 NT$104

$2.49 NT$78.9

32.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$31.49 NT$997

$13.70 NT$434

129.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.10 NT$256

$4.96 NT$157

63.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.61 NT$494

$16.07 NT$508

-2.86%

Apples (1kg)

$4.72 NT$150

$4.49 NT$142

5.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 NT$57.7

$2.54 NT$80.5

-28.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 NT$72.2

$2.87 NT$90.8

-20.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 NT$97.2

$3.95 NT$125

-22.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.35 NT$42.59

$3.05 NT$96.4

-55.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.88 NT$59.4

$2.20 NT$69.8

-14.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 NT$74.3

$1.93 NT$61.2

21.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 NT$40.64

$1.14 NT$36.15

12.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 NT$131

$4.49 NT$142

-7.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 NT$497

$14.38 NT$455

9.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 NT$52.1

$1.74 NT$55.1

-5.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 NT$82.9

$2.58 NT$81.7

1.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 NT$27.25

$0.90 NT$28.40

-4.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.22 NT$925

$40.39 NT$1,278

-27.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 NT$93.7

$2.91 NT$92.2

1.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 NT$38.90

$0.74 NT$23.44

66.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.33 NT$327

$6.21 NT$197

66.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 NT$31.79

$1.03 NT$32.71

-2.91%

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

$34.4K NT$1.1M

$34.2K NT$1.1M

0.42%

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

$26.4K NT$835.4K

$25.0K NT$790.1K

5.74%

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

$97.3 NT$3,080

$74.2 NT$2,350

31.06%

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

$24.15 NT$764

$25.03 NT$792

-3.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.53 NT$681

$25.51 NT$807

-15.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.96 NT$1,138

$44.10 NT$1,396

-18.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.14 NT$321

$23.28 NT$737

-56.44%

Cinema Ticket

$10.66 NT$337

$10.02 NT$317

6.39%

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

$356 NT$11.3K

$423 NT$13.4K

-15.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.0K NT$664.8K

$11.3K NT$359.2K

85.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.7 NT$2,712

$88.9 NT$2,813

-3.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.47 NT$1,091

$35.16 NT$1,113

-1.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.9 NT$2,972

$90.7 NT$2,870

3.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 NT$4,137

$103 NT$3,275

26.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$385 NT$12.2K

$551 NT$17.4K

-30.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 NT$8,893

$368 NT$11.6K

-23.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,025 NT$32.4K

$1,238 NT$39.2K

-17.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$714 NT$22.6K

$796 NT$25.2K

-10.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,104 NT$224.8K

$8,354 NT$264.4K

-14.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,345 NT$169.2K

$6,175 NT$195.4K

-13.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,415 NT$44.8K

$2,621 NT$83.0K

-46.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.18

1.57

38.85%

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

Last update for Taichung: April 26, 2026

Last update for Hsinchu: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $385 in Taichung versus $551 in Hsinchu. 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 85% higher in Hsinchu, 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 $34.00 in Hsinchu. Groceries tell a different story – $398 in Taichung vs $340 in Hsinchu – so Hsinchu 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 Hsinchu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Taichung costs about 1% more than Hsinchu, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,804 per month in Taichung and $1,786 in Hsinchu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 38% less in Hsinchu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $356 per month in Taichung and $423 in Hsinchu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Hsinchu, where all-in costs run around $1,191, than in Taichung at $1,203. In Hsinchu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Taichung it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hsinchu – 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 Hsinchu. 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.