Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Taitung and Almaty

For one person, living is cheaper in Taitung: $1,035 a month against $1,372 in Almaty, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Taitung
🇹🇼 Taiwan
$1,035
/mo nomad
Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,372
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Taitung and in Almaty

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

A single person spends $1,035 per month in Taitung vs $1,372 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Taitung $1,035
  • Almaty $1,372

A couple spends around $1,802 per month in Taitung vs $2,142 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Taitung $1,802
  • Almaty $2,142

A family of three spends $2,569 per month in Taitung vs $2,913 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Taitung $2,569
  • Almaty $2,913

Taitung is about 25% cheaper than Almaty, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Taitung sits 23% below the global median, while Almaty is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taitung
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.82 NT$124
$13.16 ₸5,949
-70.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.18 NT$1,562
$44.86 ₸20.3K
7.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.56 NT$180
$8.90 ₸4,022
-37.53%
Cappuccino
$3.45 NT$112
$3.25 ₸1,469
6.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 NT$30.66
$1.41 ₸639
-32.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 NT$22.00
$0.88 ₸399
-22.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.88 NT$93.3
$3.35 ₸1,513
-14.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 NT$122
$4.04 ₸1,827
-6.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taitung
Almaty
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.09 NT$100
$1.69 ₸762
82.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.87 NT$60.7
$0.86 ₸390
117.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.12 NT$101
$2.03 ₸917
53.69%
Eggs
$2.33 NT$75.4
$2.43 ₸1,100
-4.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.49 NT$632
$12.46 ₸5,632
56.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.89 NT$126
$6.71 ₸3,033
-42.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.88 NT$709
$10.85 ₸4,905
101.66%
Apples (1kg)
$1.92 NT$62.1
$1.80 ₸813
6.67%
Banana (1kg)
$2.92 NT$94.6
$2.25 ₸1,018
29.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 NT$62.5
$2.91 ₸1,314
-33.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.50 NT$146
$2.75 ₸1,243
63.64%
Potato (1kg)
$2.73 NT$88.4
$0.75 ₸337
264.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 NT$76.5
$0.55 ₸248
329.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 NT$57.7
$1.62 ₸732
9.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 NT$35.94
$1.05 ₸474
5.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00 NT$130
$2.58 ₸1,167
55.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.07 NT$456
$11.15 ₸5,042
26.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 NT$53.3
$1.21 ₸547
35.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 NT$73.8
$2.44 ₸1,104
-6.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Taitung
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.65 NT$20.95
$0.26 ₸117
150.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.43 NT$1,181
$22.03 ₸9,957
65.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.72 NT$88.3
$1.35 ₸611
101.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 NT$25.14
$0.64 ₸288
21.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.18 NT$298
$11.16 ₸5,044
-17.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 NT$29.33
$0.72 ₸324
25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K NT$1.1M
$22.5K ₸10.2M
47.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K NT$781.5K
$30.3K ₸13.7M
-20.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taitung
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.6 NT$2,777
$91.8 ₸41.5K
-6.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.66 NT$573
$10.66 ₸4,820
65.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.09 NT$878
$17.86 ₸8,072
51.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taitung
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.70 NT$1,190
$70.3 ₸31.8K
-47.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.60 ₸12.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.25 NT$300
$6.78 ₸3,064
36.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taitung
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$677 NT$21.9K
$449 ₸202.9K
50.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.0K NT$550.6K
$12.1K ₸5.5M
40.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taitung
Almaty
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.52 NT$925
$89.9 ₸40.7K
-68.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.68 NT$508
$47.02 ₸21.3K
-66.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$49.43 NT$1,603
$142 ₸64.1K
-65.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 NT$3,410
$133 ₸60.0K
-20.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taitung
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$412 NT$13.4K
$805 ₸363.7K
-48.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$251 NT$8,133
$500 ₸225.9K
-49.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$983 NT$31.9K
$1,429 ₸645.9K
-31.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$747 NT$24.2K
$904 ₸408.8K
-17.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,734 NT$250.8K
$2,503 ₸1.1M
208.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,021 NT$162.8K
$1,559 ₸704.7K
222.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taitung
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$637 NT$20.7K
$870 ₸393.3K
-26.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.4
20.65
-88.38%

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

Last update for Taitung: October 12, 2026

Last update for Almaty: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Taitung
$346
Almaty
$250 27.7% $96
Accommodation & Living
Taitung
$251
Almaty
$500 99.3% $249
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taitung
$130
Almaty
$120 7.7% $10
Eating Out
Taitung
$117
Almaty
$205 75.1% $88
Clothing & Footwear
Taitung
$89
Almaty
$185 107% $96
Sport & Entertainment
Taitung
$55
Almaty
$84 52% $29
Getting Around
Taitung
$46
Almaty
$28 39.5% $18

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $412 in Taitung versus $805 in Almaty. 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 37% higher in Almaty, 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 Taitung versus $45.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $346 vs $250 – making Almaty the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇼 Taitung
🇰🇿 Almaty
🕒 Local time
01:36 1:36 AM
23:36 11:36 PM
2 h behind Taitung
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
106,368
1,475,400
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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

New Taiwan Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 32.43 TWD (100 TWD = 3.08 USD). 1 EUR = 36.46 TWD (100 TWD = 2.74 EUR).

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 452 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.21 USD). 1 EUR = 508 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.97 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Taitung Almaty 4,640 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Taitung
  • Almaty

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
Taitung vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Almaty cheaper than Taitung?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 33%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,552 per month in Taitung and $2,058 in Almaty. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Taitung, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Taitung or in Almaty?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Taitung and $45.00 in Almaty. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Taitung and in Almaty?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,035 in Taitung and $1,372 in Almaty. That's a gap of about 33%.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Taitung or in Almaty?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Taitung, where all-in costs run around $1,035, than in Almaty at $1,372. In Taitung it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Taitung or Almaty more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Taitung – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Taitung or Almaty?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Taitung. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Almaty makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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