Cost of Living Comparison Between Taichung and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Taichung and Phuket

😐 Solo nomad: Taichung is 20% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 2.5% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Taichung is 11.1% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 15.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taichung
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.98 NT$147
$4.68 ΰΈΏ151
6.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.94 NT$883
$46.4 ΰΈΏ1,502
-35.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.33 NT$157
$8.65 ΰΈΏ280
-38.38%
Cappuccino
$2.91 NT$85.9
$3.09 ΰΈΏ100
-5.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 NT$32.91
$0.73 ΰΈΏ23.53
53.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 NT$25.31
$0.37 ΰΈΏ11.95
132.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 NT$63.2
$2.39 ΰΈΏ77.4
-10.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 NT$87.3
$3.62 ΰΈΏ117
-18.23%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Taichung
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.74 NT$110
$2.24 ΰΈΏ72.5
66.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 NT$52.3
$1.8 ΰΈΏ58.2
-1.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.76 NT$81.3
$2.24 ΰΈΏ72.3
23.21%
Eggs
$3.24 NT$95.5
$2.23 ΰΈΏ72.1
45.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$31.12 NT$918
$19.31 ΰΈΏ625
61.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 NT$236
$3.77 ΰΈΏ122
111.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.12 NT$476
$13.05 ΰΈΏ422
23.52%
Apples (1kg)
$4.65 NT$137
$3.28 ΰΈΏ106
41.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 NT$53.4
$1.63 ΰΈΏ52.6
11.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 NT$64.7
$2.4 ΰΈΏ77.7
-8.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.97 NT$87.6
$1.99 ΰΈΏ64.3
49.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 NT$39.66
$1.53 ΰΈΏ49.62
-12.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 NT$57.3
$1.49 ΰΈΏ48.11
30.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.31 NT$68.1
$1.02 ΰΈΏ32.87
126.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 NT$36.88
$0.48 ΰΈΏ15.61
160.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06 NT$120
$4.32 ΰΈΏ140
-6.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.99 NT$413
$21.68 ΰΈΏ702
-35.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 NT$50.9
$1.77 ΰΈΏ57.3
-2.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 NT$78.2
$2.79 ΰΈΏ90.4
-5.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Taichung
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 NT$27.28
$1.35 ΰΈΏ43.74
-31.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.28 NT$834
$11.76 ΰΈΏ380
140.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.8 NT$82.6
$3.15 ΰΈΏ102
-11.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.23 NT$36.31
$1 ΰΈΏ32.3
23.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.19 NT$301
$13.64 ΰΈΏ442
-25.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1 NT$29.62
$1.3 ΰΈΏ42.2
-23.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K NT$1M
$27.4K ΰΈΏ885.2K
26.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K NT$762.5K
$33.9K ΰΈΏ1.1M
-23.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taichung
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.5 NT$2,875
$123 ΰΈΏ3,970
-20.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.72 NT$729
$13.93 ΰΈΏ451
77.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.97 NT$648
$18.24 ΰΈΏ590
20.45%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Taichung
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.59 NT$1,079
$60.8 ΰΈΏ1,966
-39.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.01 NT$295
$17.11 ΰΈΏ554
-41.50%
Cinema Ticket
$10.55 NT$311
$9.07 ΰΈΏ294
16.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taichung
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$353 NT$10.4K
$694 ΰΈΏ22.5K
-49.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.4K NT$601K
$15.9K ΰΈΏ514.4K
28.17%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Taichung
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.9 NT$2,504
$57.5 ΰΈΏ1,861
47.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.33 NT$1,013
$34.51 ΰΈΏ1,117
-0.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.8 NT$2,856
$115 ΰΈΏ3,727
-15.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 NT$3,817
$84.8 ΰΈΏ2,743
52.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taichung
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$387 NT$11.4K
$611 ΰΈΏ19.8K
-36.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$291 NT$8,573
$442 ΰΈΏ14.3K
-34.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,018 NT$30K
$2,014 ΰΈΏ65.2K
-49.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$733 NT$21.6K
$1,460 ΰΈΏ47.2K
-49.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,529 NT$222.1K
$4,244 ΰΈΏ137.3K
77.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,064 NT$237.9K
$2,886 ΰΈΏ93.4K
179.40%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Taichung
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,461 NT$43.1K
$697 ΰΈΏ22.5K
109.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.18
5.33
-59.10%

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

Last update for Taichung: October 28, 2025

Last update for Phuket: October 29, 2025

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