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

😐 Solo nomad: Taichung is 17.4% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 2.7% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Taichung is 13.7% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 18.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taichung
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.16 NT$162
$4.59 ฿147
12.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.33 NT$954
$46.83 ฿1,497
-35.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.57 NT$175
$8.70 ฿278
-35.98%
Cappuccino
$3.03 NT$95.2
$2.92 ฿93.5
3.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 NT$36.12
$0.68 ฿21.86
69.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 NT$26.18
$0.40 ฿12.66
107.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 NT$68.9
$2.51 ฿80.2
-12.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 NT$92.6
$3.80 ฿122
-22.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taichung
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.84 NT$121
$2.16 ฿69.1
77.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.72 NT$54.0
$1.88 ฿60.1
-8.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.77 NT$87.1
$2.16 ฿69.0
28.24%
Eggs
$3.17 NT$99.9
$2.22 ฿71.0
42.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$31.24 NT$983
$19.57 ฿626
59.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 NT$262
$3.80 ฿122
119.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.65 NT$493
$13.41 ฿429
16.70%
Apples (1kg)
$4.69 NT$148
$3.26 ฿104
43.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 NT$57.0
$1.61 ฿51.5
12.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 NT$68.8
$2.31 ฿73.8
-5.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 NT$96.7
$2.06 ฿65.8
49.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 NT$40.78
$1.61 ฿51.3
-19.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.96 NT$61.8
$1.44 ฿46.13
36.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 NT$72.1
$1.03 ฿32.91
122.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 NT$40.40
$0.48 ฿15.34
166.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 NT$129
$4.50 ฿144
-8.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.89 NT$500
$19.18 ฿613
-17.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 NT$52.3
$1.82 ฿58.3
-8.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 NT$79.5
$2.69 ฿86.0
-5.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Taichung
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 NT$27.69
$1.38 ฿44.04
-36.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.32 NT$923
$11.76 ฿376
149.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.95 NT$92.9
$3.11 ฿99.3
-5.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.19 NT$37.48
$1.00 ฿32.09
19.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.12 NT$319
$13.74 ฿439
-26.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 NT$31.72
$1.30 ฿41.49
-22.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K NT$1.1M
$27.4K ฿874.5K
24.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K NT$829.9K
$33.0K ฿1.1M
-20.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taichung
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.3 NT$2,966
$125 ฿3,993
-24.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.30 NT$765
$13.74 ฿439
76.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.75 NT$685
$18.61 ฿595
16.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taichung
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.14 NT$1,137
$60.6 ฿1,936
-40.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.08 NT$317
$17.15 ฿548
-41.22%
Cinema Ticket
$10.60 NT$334
$9.01 ฿288
17.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taichung
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$358 NT$11.3K
$698 ฿22.3K
-48.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.8K NT$654.5K
$16.1K ฿515.1K
29.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taichung
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.7 NT$2,634
$59.2 ฿1,893
41.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.37 NT$1,081
$34.86 ฿1,115
-1.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.8 NT$2,951
$114 ฿3,651
-17.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 NT$4,049
$85.8 ฿2,743
49.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taichung
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$379 NT$11.9K
$619 ฿19.8K
-38.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$291 NT$9,161
$437 ฿14.0K
-33.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,053 NT$33.1K
$2,075 ฿66.3K
-49.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$735 NT$23.1K
$1,509 ฿48.2K
-51.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,082 NT$222.9K
$3,764 ฿120.3K
88.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,358 NT$168.6K
$2,694 ฿86.1K
98.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taichung
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,494 NT$47.0K
$528 ฿16.9K
182.63%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026

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

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