Cost of Living Comparison Between Taipei and Dhahran Cost of Living Comparison Between Taipei and Dhahran

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,472 per month in Taipei vs $1,300 in Dhahran, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,373 per month in Taipei vs $1,973 in Dhahran, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Taipei vs $2,646 in Dhahran, rent included.

Taipei costs about 13% more than Dhahran, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Taipei sits 10% above the global median, while Dhahran is 2% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.95 NT$220

$5.25 SAR 19.72

32.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.71 NT$1,288

$39.43 SAR 148

3.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.66 NT$179

$7.06 SAR 26.50

-19.83%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 SAR 7.29

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 SAR 5.83

Cappuccino

$3.95 NT$125

$3.62 SAR 13.60

9.12%

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

$1.16 NT$36.77

$0.69 SAR 2.59

68.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 NT$23.06

$0.16 SAR 0.58

356.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 NT$104

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 NT$110

Milk (1 liter)

$3.25 NT$103

$1.55 SAR 5.81

109.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 NT$59.8

$1.23 SAR 4.60

53.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 NT$96.0

$2.10 SAR 7.87

44.29%

Eggs

$2.85 NT$90.0

$2.34 SAR 8.78

21.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.71 NT$624

$6.74 SAR 25.31

192.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.78 NT$310

$8.76 SAR 32.89

11.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.38 NT$645

$13.62 SAR 51.1

49.63%

Apples (1kg)

$5.15 NT$163

$2.25 SAR 8.46

128.89%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 NT$91.0

$1.36 SAR 5.12

111.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.81 NT$88.8

$1.57 SAR 5.90

78.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 NT$136

$1.31 SAR 4.92

227.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 NT$88.6

$1.21 SAR 4.55

131.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 NT$69.6

$0.91 SAR 3.43

141.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 NT$62.3

$1.11 SAR 4.16

77.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 NT$43.60

$0.62 SAR 2.34

122.58%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.87 SAR 18.27

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 SAR 7.57

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 SAR 6.10

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.18 NT$132

$9.52 SAR 35.74

-56.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.03 NT$444

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 NT$55.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 NT$76.4

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 NT$26.15

$1.08 SAR 4.06

-23.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.36 NT$1,277

$40.29 SAR 151

0.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 NT$90.0

$1.35 SAR 5.07

110.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 NT$24.98

$2.43 SAR 9.13

-67.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.98 NT$316

$13.08 SAR 49.09

-23.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 NT$32.25

$0.60 SAR 2.26

70.00%

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

$37.6K NT$1.2M

$31.9K SAR 119.9K

17.73%

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

$27.8K NT$879.7K

$23.9K SAR 89.8K

16.28%

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

$85.5 NT$2,704

$106 SAR 396

-19.05%

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

$18.78 NT$594

$36.89 SAR 138

-49.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.19 NT$797

$72.1 SAR 271

-65.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.69 NT$1,287

$185 SAR 694

-78.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.02 NT$443

$36.30 SAR 136

-61.38%

Cinema Ticket

$11.88 NT$376

$11.91 SAR 44.71

-0.25%

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

$646 NT$20.4K

$406 SAR 1,525

58.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.7K NT$592.7K

$9,892 SAR 37.1K

89.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 NT$1,881

$59.1 SAR 222

0.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.83 NT$1,039

$74.5 SAR 280

-55.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.9 NT$3,001

$85.6 SAR 321

10.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 NT$3,899

$98.4 SAR 369

25.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$794 NT$25.1K

$433 SAR 1,624

83.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$547 NT$17.3K

$376 SAR 1,411

45.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,631 NT$51.6K

$855 SAR 3,211

90.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,096 NT$34.7K

$625 SAR 2,344

75.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.4K NT$424.6K

$1,139 SAR 4,275

1078.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,313 NT$263.0K

$1,056 SAR 3,962

687.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,762 NT$55.7K

$2,885 SAR 10.8K

-38.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.19

4.42

-50.45%

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

Last update for Taipei: June 15, 2026

Last update for Dhahran: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $794 in Taipei versus $433 in Dhahran. 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 64% higher in Dhahran, 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 $41.00 in Taipei versus $39.00 in Dhahran. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $399 vs $200 – making Dhahran the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Taipei vs Dhahran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Taipei costs about 13% more than Dhahran, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,209 per month in Taipei and $1,951 in Dhahran. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dhahran, 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 $1,472 in Taipei and $1,300 in Dhahran. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 0% less in Dhahran. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dhahran, where all-in costs run around $1,300, than in Taipei at $1,472. In Dhahran it covers expenses comfortably, while in Taipei it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dhahran – 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 Dhahran. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Taipei makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.