Cost of Living Comparison Between Taipei and Sapporo Cost of Living Comparison Between Taipei and Sapporo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,371 per month in Taipei vs $1,413 in Sapporo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Taipei vs $2,073 in Sapporo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,104 per month in Taipei vs $2,734 in Sapporo, rent included.

Taipei is about 3% cheaper than Sapporo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Taipei and Sapporo sit above the global median – Taipei by 0%, Sapporo by 3%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.62 NT$146

$6.09 ¥948

-24.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.10 NT$1,524

$31.40 ¥4,887

53.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.87 NT$186

$6.35 ¥988

-7.56%

Cappuccino

$3.44 NT$109

$4.70 ¥732

-26.81%

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

$0.92 NT$29.18

$1.66 ¥259

-44.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 NT$20.97

$0.89 ¥138

-25.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.76 NT$87.5

$4.10 ¥638

-32.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 NT$119

$5.76 ¥897

-35.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.04 NT$96.4

$1.60 ¥249

90.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 NT$62.3

$1.34 ¥209

47.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 NT$96.0

$3.94 ¥613

-23.10%

Eggs

$2.77 NT$87.9

$1.77 ¥276

56.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.90 NT$630

$9.18 ¥1,429

116.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.95 NT$315

$6.79 ¥1,056

46.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.25 NT$674

$25.23 ¥3,927

-15.77%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 NT$160

$3.11 ¥484

62.06%

Banana (1kg)

$3.36 NT$106

$3.13 ¥487

7.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.12 NT$98.8

$3.12 ¥485

Tomato (1kg)

$4.46 NT$141

$4.42 ¥688

0.90%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 NT$88.8

$2.12 ¥331

32.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 NT$73.6

$1.66 ¥259

39.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 NT$54.3

$1.56 ¥244

9.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 NT$37.32

$0.44 ¥69.2

168.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 NT$124

$3.98 ¥619

-2.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.43 NT$457

$8.31 ¥1,294

73.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 NT$52.8

$1.86 ¥289

-10.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 NT$73.1

$3.12 ¥485

-25.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 NT$21.98

$1.60 ¥249

-56.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.23 NT$1,180

$46.54 ¥7,243

-20.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 NT$85.4

$4.13 ¥643

-34.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 NT$23.84

$1.67 ¥259

-55.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.50 NT$301

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 NT$32.12

$1.04 ¥162

-2.88%

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

$33.8K NT$1.1M

$21.8K ¥3.4M

54.66%

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

$24.1K NT$763.9K

$14.0K ¥2.2M

72.19%

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

$85.7 NT$2,716

$335 ¥52.2K

-74.43%

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

$18.27 NT$579

$25.06 ¥3,900

-27.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.88 NT$884

$46.40 ¥7,222

-39.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.07 NT$1,302

$49.59 ¥7,719

-17.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.95 NT$506

$3.14 ¥489

407.96%

Cinema Ticket

$9.66 NT$306

$11.96 ¥1,862

-19.23%

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

$633 NT$20.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.9K NT$534.5K

$10.1K ¥1.6M

66.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 NT$1,956

$36.98 ¥5,755

66.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.47 NT$1,283

$24.78 ¥3,857

63.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 NT$2,656

$46.81 ¥7,286

79.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 NT$3,398

$114 ¥17.8K

-6.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$866 NT$27.5K

$443 ¥69.0K

95.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$494 NT$15.7K

$276 ¥42.9K

79.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 NT$49.8K

$827 ¥128.8K

89.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$955 NT$30.3K

$637 ¥99.1K

50.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.7K NT$401.2K

$2,169 ¥337.6K

483.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,665 NT$242.9K

$1,583 ¥246.3K

384.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,716 NT$54.4K

$1,721 ¥267.8K

-0.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.4

2.57

-6.61%

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

Last update for Taipei: August 31, 2026

Last update for Sapporo: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $866 in Taipei versus $443 in Sapporo. 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 0% higher in Sapporo, 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 $48.00 in Taipei versus $31.00 in Sapporo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $402 vs $312 – making Sapporo 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 Sapporo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sapporo is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,056 per month in Taipei and $2,119 in Sapporo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 25% less in Taipei. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Interestingly, groceries are about 29% cheaper in Sapporo – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Taipei, where all-in costs run around $1,371, than in Sapporo at $1,413. In Taipei it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sapporo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 Taipei. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sapporo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.