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 $1,203 per month in Taichung vs $1,144 in Pingtung city, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,954 per month in Taichung vs $1,865 in Pingtung city, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,704 per month in Taichung vs $2,586 in Pingtung city, rent included.

Taichung costs about 5% more than Pingtung city, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Taichung and Pingtung city are more affordable than the global median – Taichung 10% lower, Pingtung city 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.99 NT$158

$4.97 NT$157

0.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.95 NT$948

$30.94 NT$979

-3.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.46 NT$173

$5.32 NT$169

2.63%

Cappuccino

$2.93 NT$92.8

$3.00 NT$94.9

-2.33%

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

$1.16 NT$36.63

$0.97 NT$30.80

19.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 NT$27.21

$0.78 NT$24.55

10.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 NT$68.4

$1.70 NT$54.0

27.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 NT$89.6

$2.65 NT$83.8

6.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.79 NT$120

$3.73 NT$118

1.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 NT$55.5

$2.00 NT$63.3

-12.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.77 NT$87.8

$2.71 NT$85.9

2.21%

Eggs

$3.29 NT$104

$3.23 NT$102

1.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$31.49 NT$997

$15.65 NT$495

101.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.10 NT$256

$7.98 NT$253

1.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.61 NT$494

$15.55 NT$492

0.39%

Apples (1kg)

$4.72 NT$150

$4.68 NT$148

0.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 NT$57.7

$1.76 NT$55.8

3.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 NT$72.2

$2.29 NT$72.5

-0.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 NT$97.2

$3.06 NT$97.0

0.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.35 NT$42.59

$1.28 NT$40.37

5.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.88 NT$59.4

$1.91 NT$60.4

-1.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 NT$74.3

$1.87 NT$59.2

25.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 NT$40.64

$1.16 NT$36.70

10.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 NT$131

$4.10 NT$130

0.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 NT$497

$15.77 NT$499

-0.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 NT$52.1

$1.67 NT$52.9

-1.20%

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

$0.89 NT$28.01

-3.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.22 NT$925

$38.23 NT$1,210

-23.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 NT$93.7

$2.80 NT$88.7

5.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 NT$38.90

$0.74 NT$23.51

66.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.33 NT$327

$6.25 NT$198

65.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 NT$31.79

$1.00 NT$31.70

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

$34.4K NT$1.1M

$33.3K NT$1.1M

3.07%

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

$26.4K NT$835.4K

$25.7K NT$813.1K

2.74%

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

$97.3 NT$3,080

$95.5 NT$3,021

1.94%

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

$24.15 NT$764

$24.23 NT$767

-0.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.53 NT$681

$21.51 NT$681

0.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.96 NT$1,138

$37.96 NT$1,202

-5.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.14 NT$321

$15.28 NT$484

-33.64%

Cinema Ticket

$10.66 NT$337

$10.08 NT$319

5.75%

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

$356 NT$11.3K

$358 NT$11.3K

-0.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.0K NT$664.8K

$11.3K NT$356.1K

86.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.7 NT$2,712

$86.2 NT$2,729

-0.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.47 NT$1,091

$34.32 NT$1,086

0.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.9 NT$2,972

$89.5 NT$2,831

4.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 NT$4,137

$101 NT$3,208

28.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$385 NT$12.2K

$431 NT$13.6K

-10.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 NT$8,893

$291 NT$9,199

-3.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,025 NT$32.4K

$1,031 NT$32.6K

-0.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$714 NT$22.6K

$722 NT$22.8K

-1.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,104 NT$224.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,345 NT$169.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,415 NT$44.8K

$1,953 NT$61.8K

-27.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.18

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

Last update for Taichung: April 26, 2026

Last update for Pingtung city: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $385 in Taichung versus $431 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 38% 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 $30.00 in Taichung versus $31.00 in Pingtung city. Groceries tell a different story – $398 in Taichung vs $347 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: $1,203 in Taichung, $1,144 in Pingtung city – roughly 5% apart. Taichung costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,804 per month in Taichung and $1,715 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 $1,203 in Taichung and $1,144 in Pingtung city. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 31% less in Pingtung city. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pingtung city, where all-in costs run around $1,144, than in Taichung at $1,203. 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.