Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Taipei and Penshurst, NSW

For one person, living is cheaper in Taipei: $1,344 a month against $2,478 in Penshurst, NSW, rent and utilities included – about $13,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Taipei
🇹🇼 Taiwan
$1,344
/mo nomad
Penshurst, NSW
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,478
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Taipei and in Penshurst, NSW

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 Penshurst, NSW actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,344 in Taipei versus $2,478 in Penshurst, NSW.

  • Taipei $1,344
  • Penshurst, NSW $2,478

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,156 in Taipei versus $3,587 in Penshurst, NSW.

  • Taipei $2,156
  • Penshurst, NSW $3,587

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,967 in Taipei versus $4,696 in Penshurst, NSW.

  • Taipei $2,967
  • Penshurst, NSW $4,696

Living in Taipei costs roughly 46% less than in Penshurst, NSW, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Taipei is 1% below, Penshurst, NSW is 83% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taipei
Penshurst, NSW
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.54 NT$147
$17.72 A$25.50
-74.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.57 NT$1,510
$84.1 A$121
-44.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.66 NT$184
$10.31 A$14.84
-45.10%
Cappuccino
$3.37 NT$109
$4.08 A$5.87
-17.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 NT$29.95
$2.89 A$4.16
-68.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 NT$21.98
$2.24 A$3.22
-69.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.88 NT$93.5
$7.80 A$11.23
-63.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 NT$119
$7.43 A$10.70
-50.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taipei
Penshurst, NSW
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.91 NT$94.3
$1.56 A$2.25
86.54%
White Bread (500g)
$2.00 NT$65.0
$2.63 A$3.79
-23.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.97 NT$96.3
$2.22 A$3.19
33.78%
Eggs
$2.69 NT$87.4
$4.96 A$7.14
-45.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 NT$618
$9.02 A$12.99
111.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.58 NT$311
$9.17 A$13.20
4.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.37 NT$693
$14.85 A$21.37
43.91%
Apples (1kg)
$4.78 NT$155
$3.85 A$5.53
24.16%
Banana (1kg)
$3.17 NT$103
$2.98 A$4.29
6.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.97 NT$96.4
$3.27 A$4.71
-9.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.42 NT$143
$4.53 A$6.52
-2.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.67 NT$86.5
$2.73 A$3.93
-2.20%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 NT$74.4
$2.40 A$3.46
-4.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.65 NT$53.6
$2.36 A$3.39
-30.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 NT$35.23
$1.55 A$2.22
-29.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.81 NT$124
$41.48 A$59.7
-90.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.64 NT$442
$14.09 A$20.28
-3.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 NT$53.4
$4.78 A$6.87
-65.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 NT$71.7
$5.13 A$7.38
-56.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Taipei
Penshurst, NSW
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 NT$19.15
$2.82 A$4.06
-79.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.39 NT$1,213
$81.9 A$118
-54.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.66 NT$86.4
$3.42 A$4.92
-22.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 NT$24.61
$1.58 A$2.27
-51.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.48 NT$307
$39.61 A$57.0
-76.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 NT$32.60
$1.35 A$1.95
-25.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K NT$1.1M
$27.1K A$39.0K
25.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K NT$764.4K
$29.2K A$42.1K
-19.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taipei
Penshurst, NSW
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.2 NT$2,764
$204 A$293
-58.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.20 NT$558
$27.94 A$40.20
-38.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.54 NT$861
$56.4 A$81.2
-52.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taipei
Penshurst, NSW
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.54 NT$1,315
$55.3 A$79.6
-26.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.86 NT$514
$17.31 A$24.91
-8.38%
Cinema Ticket
$9.61 NT$312
$14.86 A$21.39
-35.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taipei
Penshurst, NSW
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$651 NT$21.1K
$2,170 A$3,123
-69.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K NT$530.6K
$20.0K A$28.8K
-18.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taipei
Penshurst, NSW
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.6 NT$2,031
$77.5 A$112
-19.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.58 NT$1,283
$53.1 A$76.4
-25.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.1 NT$2,728
$106 A$153
-20.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 NT$3,377
$120 A$173
-13.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taipei
Penshurst, NSW
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$977 NT$31.7K
$1,365 A$1,964
-28.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$466 NT$15.1K
$1,179 A$1,697
-60.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,502 NT$48.7K
$2,117 A$3,047
-29.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$916 NT$29.7K
$1,782 A$2,565
-48.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.0K NT$388.7K
$5,918 A$8,517
102.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,082 NT$229.6K
$4,848 A$6,977
46.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taipei
Penshurst, NSW
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,728 NT$56.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.4
5.84
-58.90%

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

Last update for Taipei: October 19, 2026

Last update for Penshurst, NSW: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Taipei
$466
Penshurst, NSW
$1.2K 153% $713
Groceries & Markets
Taipei
$390
Penshurst, NSW
$364 6.6% $26
Clothing & Footwear
Taipei
$131
Penshurst, NSW
$161 22.9% $30
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taipei
$129
Penshurst, NSW
$288 123% $159
Eating Out
Taipei
$122
Penshurst, NSW
$296 143% $174
Sport & Entertainment
Taipei
$60
Penshurst, NSW
$85 42.3% $25
Getting Around
Taipei
$46
Penshurst, NSW
$105 126% $58

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $977 in Taipei and $1,365 in Penshurst, NSW. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Taipei vs $84.0 in Penshurst, NSW. Groceries flip the comparison at $390 vs $364, with Penshurst, NSW cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇹🇼 Taipei
🇦🇺 Penshurst, NSW
🕒 Local time
01:06 1:06 AM
04:06 4:06 AM
3 h ahead of Taipei
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,635,286 Capital
12,673
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

New Taiwan Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 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 20, 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 Penshurst, NSW 7,260 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Taipei
  • Penshurst, NSW

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 Penshurst, NSW: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Penshurst, NSW cheaper than Taipei?
Taipei is cheaper overall, especially in clothing, eating out, and leisure. The 84% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,016 in Taipei and $3,717 in Penshurst, NSW to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Taipei and Penshurst, NSW?
Rent for a central apartment: $977 in Taipei versus $1,365 in Penshurst, NSW. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Taipei and in Penshurst, NSW?
All in, you'll spend $1,344 per month in Taipei versus $2,478 in Penshurst, NSW – a 84% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Taipei runs roughly 119% less than in Penshurst, NSW. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Taipei or in Penshurst, NSW?
At $1,344 in Taipei versus $2,478 in Penshurst, NSW, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Taipei but tight or insufficient in Penshurst, NSW. The gap between the two cities makes Taipei the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Taipei or in Penshurst, NSW?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Taipei or Penshurst, NSW?
Safety-wise, Taipei and Penshurst, NSW are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Taipei gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% less than in Penshurst, NSW. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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