Cost of Living Comparison Between Taichung and Pingtung city Cost of Living Comparison Between Taichung and Pingtung city

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,116 per month in Taichung vs $897 in Pingtung city, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Taichung vs $1,476 in Pingtung city, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,619 per month in Taichung vs $2,054 in Pingtung city, rent included.

Taichung costs about 24% more than Pingtung city, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Taichung and Pingtung city are more affordable than the global median – Taichung 18% lower, Pingtung city 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.69 NT$149

$5.50 NT$175

-14.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.50 NT$1,003

$31.63 NT$1,007

-0.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.71 NT$150

$4.74 NT$151

-0.63%

Cappuccino

$2.84 NT$90.4

$2.83 NT$90.2

0.35%

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

$0.98 NT$31.26

$0.99 NT$31.57

-1.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 NT$24.66

$0.72 NT$22.76

6.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 NT$49.97

$1.55 NT$49.50

1.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 NT$88.8

$2.51 NT$79.7

11.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.31 NT$105

White Bread (500g)

$1.72 NT$54.9

$2.26 NT$71.9

-23.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.64 NT$84.2

$2.90 NT$92.5

-8.97%

Eggs

$2.63 NT$83.6

$2.59 NT$82.3

1.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$28.72 NT$914

$15.16 NT$483

89.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.70 NT$245

$8.00 NT$255

-3.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.71 NT$532

$15.16 NT$482

10.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.24 NT$135

$4.44 NT$141

-4.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 NT$61.0

$1.96 NT$62.5

-2.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 NT$59.3

$1.79 NT$57.0

3.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 NT$70.2

$3.13 NT$99.8

-29.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 NT$39.85

$1.24 NT$39.36

0.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 NT$62.6

$1.95 NT$62.0

1.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 NT$78.2

$2.43 NT$77.4

1.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 NT$29.15

$0.90 NT$28.73

2.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.75 NT$120

$3.76 NT$120

-0.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.82 NT$504

$16.00 NT$509

-1.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 NT$52.3

$1.63 NT$51.8

0.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 NT$81.5

$2.15 NT$68.3

19.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 NT$23.24

$0.46 NT$14.59

58.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.76 NT$1,011

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 NT$85.7

$2.61 NT$83.0

3.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 NT$31.20

$0.76 NT$24.25

28.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.64 NT$307

$6.13 NT$195

57.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 NT$33.59

$1.04 NT$33.11

1.92%

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

$33.7K NT$1.1M

$33.9K NT$1.1M

-0.78%

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

$23.2K NT$738.9K

$23.9K NT$760.2K

-2.80%

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

$108 NT$3,429

$110 NT$3,510

-2.31%

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

$14.98 NT$477

$14.77 NT$470

1.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.66 NT$689

$26.72 NT$851

-18.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.20 NT$1,025

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.29 NT$423

Cinema Ticket

$9.69 NT$308

$9.99 NT$318

-3.00%

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

$343 NT$10.9K

$347 NT$11.0K

-1.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.2K NT$546.1K

$14.1K NT$447.6K

22.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.9 NT$2,193

$68.7 NT$2,187

0.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.40 NT$1,159

$34.58 NT$1,101

5.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.3 NT$2,650

$86.0 NT$2,737

-3.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 NT$3,577

$100 NT$3,194

11.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$405 NT$12.9K

$247 NT$7,876

63.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$280 NT$8,918

$155 NT$4,931

80.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,190 NT$37.9K

$730 NT$23.2K

63.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$763 NT$24.3K

$374 NT$11.9K

104.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,101 NT$226.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,181 NT$164.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,407 NT$44.8K

$1,962 NT$62.5K

-28.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.27

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

Last update for Taichung: September 13, 2026

Last update for Pingtung city: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $405 in Taichung versus $247 in Pingtung city. 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 39% higher in Pingtung city, 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 $32.00 in Taichung versus $32.00 in Pingtung city. Groceries tell a different story – $371 in Taichung vs $338 in Pingtung city – so Pingtung city 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 Pingtung city: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,116 in Taichung, $897 in Pingtung city – roughly 24% apart. Taichung costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,674 per month in Taichung and $1,346 in Pingtung city. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pingtung city, 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 $1,116 in Taichung and $897 in Pingtung city. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $343 per month in Taichung and $347 in Pingtung city. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pingtung city, where all-in costs run around $897, than in Taichung at $1,116. In Pingtung city it covers expenses comfortably, while in Taichung it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Pingtung city – 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 Pingtung city. 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.