Cost of Living Comparison Between Taipei and Chiayi Cost of Living Comparison Between Taipei and Chiayi

😐 Solo nomad: Taipei is 10.4% more expensive than Chiayi without rent, and 25.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Taipei is 3.9% more expensive than Chiayi without rent, and 15% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taipei
Chiayi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.68 NT$197
$6.71 NT$198
-0.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.44 NT$1,222
$40.76 NT$1,202
1.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.88 NT$173
$5.65 NT$167
4.07%
Cappuccino
$3.86 NT$114
$2.23 NT$65.9
73.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 NT$34.64
$1.17 NT$34.42
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 NT$22.83
$0.75 NT$22.11
2.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.3 NT$97.4
$1.82 NT$53.6
81.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 NT$102
$3.07 NT$90.6
13.03%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Taipei
Chiayi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.14 NT$92.5
$3.1 NT$91.5
1.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.92 NT$56.6
$1.9 NT$56
1.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.04 NT$89.6
$3.15 NT$93
-3.49%
Eggs
$2.9 NT$85.6
$2.92 NT$86.1
-0.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.8 NT$584
$20.27 NT$598
-2.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.81 NT$289
$10.14 NT$299
-3.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.94 NT$588
$20.1 NT$593
-0.80%
Apples (1kg)
$5.2 NT$153
$5.2 NT$153
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.96 NT$87.3
$2.99 NT$88.2
-1.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.87 NT$84.6
$2.88 NT$84.9
-0.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.12 NT$121
$4.23 NT$125
-2.60%
Potato (1kg)
$2.8 NT$82.7
$2.91 NT$85.9
-3.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 NT$67.1
$2.18 NT$64.4
4.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.91 NT$56.3
$1.97 NT$58.3
-3.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 NT$38.79
$1.34 NT$39.42
-2.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.11 NT$121
$4.04 NT$119
1.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.3 NT$451
$4.97 NT$147
207.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 NT$51.4
$1.74 NT$51.4
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 NT$72
$2.43 NT$71.7
0.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Taipei
Chiayi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 NT$25.91
$0.87 NT$25.6
1.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.9 NT$1,177
$39.56 NT$1,167
0.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 NT$85.8
$2.81 NT$82.8
3.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 NT$21.74
$0.45 NT$13.25
64.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.28 NT$303
$10.21 NT$301
0.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 NT$30.4
$1 NT$29.5
3.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K NT$1.1M
$38.7K NT$1.1M
-0.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9K NT$823.3K
$27.8K NT$819.1K
0.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taipei
Chiayi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.8 NT$2,530
$72.1 NT$2,126
19.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.22 NT$567
$19.19 NT$566
0.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.94 NT$736
$25.18 NT$743
-0.95%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Taipei
Chiayi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.04 NT$1,240
$37.77 NT$1,114
11.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.65 NT$403
$14.96 NT$441
-8.76%
Cinema Ticket
$11.66 NT$344
$11.8 NT$348
-1.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taipei
Chiayi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$624 NT$18.4K
$634 NT$18.7K
-1.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.6K NT$548.2K
$19K NT$559.1K
-1.95%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Taipei
Chiayi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 NT$1,734
$57.5 NT$1,696
2.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.93 NT$1,001
$33 NT$973
2.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92 NT$2,713
$93.9 NT$2,770
-2.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 NT$3,608
$120 NT$3,552
1.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taipei
Chiayi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$794 NT$23.4K
$431 NT$12.7K
84.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$549 NT$16.2K
$287 NT$8,471
91.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,665 NT$49.1K
$1,018 NT$30K
63.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,082 NT$31.9K
$724 NT$21.3K
49.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.2K NT$419.8K
$7,081 NT$208.9K
100.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,248 NT$243.3K
$5,144 NT$151.7K
60.35%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Taipei
Chiayi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,690 NT$49.9K
$2,224 NT$65.6K
-24.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.19
2.19
-

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

Last update for Taipei: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chiayi: October 28, 2025

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