Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Taipei and Muswellbrook

For one person, living is cheaper in Taipei: $1,368 a month against $2,384 in Muswellbrook, rent and utilities included – about $12,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Taipei
🇹🇼 Taiwan
$1,368
/mo nomad
Muswellbrook
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,384
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Taipei and in Muswellbrook

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Taipei and in Muswellbrook actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Taipei vs $2,384 in Muswellbrook, rent included.

  • Taipei $1,368
  • Muswellbrook $2,384

A couple spends around $2,202 per month in Taipei vs $3,409 in Muswellbrook, rent included.

  • Taipei $2,202
  • Muswellbrook $3,409

A family of three spends $3,036 per month in Taipei vs $4,435 in Muswellbrook, rent included.

  • Taipei $3,036
  • Muswellbrook $4,435

Taipei is about 43% cheaper than Muswellbrook, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Taipei and Muswellbrook sit above the global median – Taipei by 1%, Muswellbrook by 77%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taipei
Muswellbrook
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.60 NT$149
$17.16 A$24.69
-73.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.13 NT$1,528
$85.1 A$122
-44.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.58 NT$181
$10.53 A$15.15
-47.01%
Cappuccino
$3.45 NT$112
$3.51 A$5.06
-1.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 NT$30.61
$2.80 A$4.03
-66.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 NT$21.73
$2.18 A$3.14
-69.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.86 NT$92.7
$6.95 A$10.00
-58.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 NT$120
$6.82 A$9.81
-45.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taipei
Muswellbrook
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.12 NT$101
$1.15 A$1.65
171.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.97 NT$64.0
$2.84 A$4.09
-30.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.16 NT$103
$2.22 A$3.19
42.34%
Eggs
$2.68 NT$86.9
$4.11 A$5.91
-34.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.90 NT$645
$10.54 A$15.17
88.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.85 NT$319
$9.29 A$13.37
6.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.51 NT$698
$15.80 A$22.74
36.14%
Apples (1kg)
$4.85 NT$157
$3.03 A$4.37
60.07%
Banana (1kg)
$3.25 NT$105
$2.43 A$3.50
33.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.03 NT$98.2
$2.70 A$3.89
12.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 NT$147
$4.50 A$6.48
0.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.79 NT$90.4
$2.38 A$3.43
17.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 NT$75.9
$2.58 A$3.71
-9.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.68 NT$54.5
$2.83 A$4.08
-40.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 NT$35.62
$1.77 A$2.55
-37.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.80 NT$123
$41.79 A$60.1
-90.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.17 NT$460
$14.10 A$20.29
0.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 NT$53.0
$4.35 A$6.26
-62.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 NT$74.3
$4.63 A$6.67
-50.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Taipei
Muswellbrook
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.65 NT$21.04
$3.19 A$4.59
-79.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.88 NT$1,228
$73.0 A$105
-48.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 NT$86.8
$3.65 A$5.25
-26.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 NT$26.55
$1.59 A$2.29
-48.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.17 NT$297
$35.51 A$51.1
-74.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 NT$32.93
$1.38 A$1.98
-26.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K NT$1.1M
$39.2K A$56.4K
-16.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K NT$795.1K
$24.8K A$35.7K
-1.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taipei
Muswellbrook
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.7 NT$2,843
$138 A$199
-36.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.28 NT$560
$31.29 A$45.03
-44.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.38 NT$888
$51.0 A$73.3
-46.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taipei
Muswellbrook
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.32 NT$1,308
$55.6 A$80.1
-27.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.94 NT$517
$18.27 A$26.29
-12.75%
Cinema Ticket
$9.83 NT$319
$12.99 A$18.69
-24.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taipei
Muswellbrook
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$663 NT$21.5K
$2,172 A$3,126
-69.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K NT$538.4K
$22.9K A$32.9K
-27.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taipei
Muswellbrook
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 NT$2,025
$69.2 A$99.6
-9.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.51 NT$1,281
$60.5 A$87.0
-34.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.5 NT$2,740
$142 A$205
-40.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 NT$3,424
$107 A$154
-1.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taipei
Muswellbrook
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$999 NT$32.4K
$1,397 A$2,010
-28.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$473 NT$15.3K
$1,176 A$1,693
-59.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,565 NT$50.8K
$2,131 A$3,066
-26.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$948 NT$30.7K
$1,629 A$2,345
-41.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$11.9K NT$385.6K
$6,387 A$9,191
86.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,306 NT$236.9K
$4,679 A$6,732
56.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taipei
Muswellbrook
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,760 NT$57.1K
$6,210 A$8,936
-71.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.4
5.23
-54.11%

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

Last update for Taipei: October 11, 2026

Last update for Muswellbrook: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Taipei
$473
Muswellbrook
$1.2K 149% $703
Groceries & Markets
Taipei
$400
Muswellbrook
$358 10.6% $42
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taipei
$132
Muswellbrook
$220 66.6% $88
Clothing & Footwear
Taipei
$131
Muswellbrook
$171 29.8% $39
Eating Out
Taipei
$123
Muswellbrook
$279 127% $156
Sport & Entertainment
Taipei
$60
Muswellbrook
$82 36% $22
Getting Around
Taipei
$47
Muswellbrook
$97 106% $50

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $999 in Taipei versus $1,397 in Muswellbrook. 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 253% higher in Muswellbrook, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Taipei versus $85.0 in Muswellbrook. Groceries tell a different story – $400 in Taipei vs $358 in Muswellbrook – so Muswellbrook wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇼 Taipei
🇦🇺 Muswellbrook
🕒 Local time
00:56 12:56 AM
03:56 3:56 AM
3 h ahead of Taipei
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,635,286 Capital
16,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to TWD – New Taiwan Dollar Converter

New Taiwan Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 32.43 TWD (100 TWD = 3.08 USD). 1 EUR = 36.46 TWD (100 TWD = 2.74 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.695 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.618 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Taipei Muswellbrook 7,090 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Taipei
  • Muswellbrook

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Muswellbrook: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Taipei and in Muswellbrook compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,368 in Taipei, $2,384 in Muswellbrook – roughly 74% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Taipei compared to Muswellbrook?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Taipei and $3,576 in Muswellbrook. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Taipei and Muswellbrook?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Taipei, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Taipei or Muswellbrook?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,368 in Taipei and $2,384 in Muswellbrook. That's a gap of about 74%.
How do commuting costs compare in Taipei and in Muswellbrook?
Public transport costs about 93% less in Taipei. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Taipei, where all-in costs run around $1,368, than in Muswellbrook at $2,384. In Taipei it covers expenses comfortably, while in Muswellbrook it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Taipei or Muswellbrook?
Families tend to lean toward Taipei – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Taipei or Muswellbrook safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Taipei and Muswellbrook?
If budget matters most, go with Taipei. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Muswellbrook makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Taipei vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?