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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,384 per month in Taipei vs $1,343 in Dhahran, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,233 per month in Taipei vs $1,701 in Dhahran, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Taipei vs $2,060 in Dhahran, rent included.

Taipei costs about 3% more than Dhahran, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Taipei sits 1% above the global median, while Dhahran is 2% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.61 NT$147

$5.42 SAR 20.36

-14.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.83 NT$1,492

$40.35 SAR 152

16.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.54 NT$177

$6.17 SAR 23.18

-10.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.82 SAR 6.82

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 SAR 5.83

Cappuccino

$3.46 NT$110

$3.93 SAR 14.75

-11.96%

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

$0.92 NT$29.46

$0.72 SAR 2.70

27.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 NT$19.84

$0.20 SAR 0.75

210.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 NT$88.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 NT$122

Milk (1 liter)

$3.11 NT$99.1

$1.63 SAR 6.11

90.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 NT$62.7

$1.01 SAR 3.78

95.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.17 NT$101

$1.92 SAR 7.20

65.10%

Eggs

$2.81 NT$89.6

$3.93 SAR 14.75

-28.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.49 NT$621

$8.77 SAR 32.92

122.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.00 NT$319

$11.24 SAR 42.22

-11.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.90 NT$698

$13.99 SAR 52.5

56.54%

Apples (1kg)

$4.80 NT$153

$2.15 SAR 8.06

123.26%

Banana (1kg)

$3.25 NT$103

$1.38 SAR 5.18

135.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.99 NT$95.1

$1.79 SAR 6.73

67.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 NT$139

$1.74 SAR 6.52

150.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 NT$86.0

$1.54 SAR 5.79

75.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 NT$72.7

$0.99 SAR 3.72

130.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.70 NT$54.3

$1.91 SAR 7.17

-10.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 NT$37.24

$0.93 SAR 3.50

25.81%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.76 SAR 17.86

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 SAR 6.11

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 SAR 9.31

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.02 NT$128

$5.77 SAR 21.66

-30.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.29 NT$455

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 NT$52.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 NT$70.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 NT$19.39

$0.78 SAR 2.91

-21.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.17 NT$1,216

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 NT$87.1

$1.31 SAR 4.90

108.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 NT$25.62

$3.23 SAR 12.15

-75.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.18 NT$292

$9.42 SAR 35.38

-2.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 NT$33.61

$0.65 SAR 2.44

63.08%

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

$34.0K NT$1.1M

$52.0K SAR 195.1K

-34.61%

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

$24.4K NT$778.1K

$20.2K SAR 75.7K

21.12%

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

$83.2 NT$2,650

$59.5 SAR 224

39.78%

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

$17.73 NT$565

$42.58 SAR 160

-58.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.05 NT$893

$66.4 SAR 249

-57.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.43 NT$1,319

$197 SAR 738

-78.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.34 NT$520

$94.8 SAR 356

-82.77%

Cinema Ticket

$9.51 NT$303

$10.81 SAR 40.61

-12.03%

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

$615 NT$19.6K

$65.3 SAR 245

841.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.1K NT$544.4K

$13.5K SAR 50.9K

26.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 NT$1,996

$50.7 SAR 190

23.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.32 NT$1,284

$43.44 SAR 163

-7.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.7 NT$2,697

$77.0 SAR 289

9.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 NT$3,339

$87.5 SAR 329

19.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$898 NT$28.6K

$354 SAR 1,328

153.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$490 NT$15.6K

$444 SAR 1,669

10.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,550 NT$49.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$971 NT$30.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.2K NT$389.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,708 NT$245.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,714 NT$54.6K

$2,811 SAR 10.6K

-39.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.4

4.5

-46.67%

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

Last update for Taipei: September 13, 2026

Last update for Dhahran: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $898 in Taipei versus $354 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 $47.00 in Taipei versus $40.00 in Dhahran. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $401 vs $234 – 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 3% 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 $2,077 per month in Taipei and $2,015 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 $1,384 in Taipei and $1,343 in Dhahran. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $615 per month in Taipei and $65.3 in Dhahran. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dhahran, where all-in costs run around $1,343, than in Taipei at $1,384. 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.