Cost of Living Comparison Between Taitung and Taipei Cost of Living Comparison Between Taitung and Taipei

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,120 per month in Taitung vs $1,466 in Taipei, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,864 per month in Taitung vs $2,363 in Taipei, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,607 per month in Taitung vs $3,259 in Taipei, rent included.

Taitung is about 24% cheaper than Taipei, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Taitung sits 16% below the global median, while Taipei is 10% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 NT$126

$6.61 NT$209

-39.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.27 NT$1,275

$41.06 NT$1,300

-1.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.80 NT$184

$5.61 NT$178

3.39%

Cappuccino

$3.76 NT$119

$3.86 NT$122

-2.59%

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

$1.18 NT$37.32

$1.12 NT$35.61

5.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 NT$23.68

$0.80 NT$25.25

-6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 NT$107

$3.32 NT$105

1.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 NT$106

$3.41 NT$108

-1.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.25 NT$103

$3.27 NT$104

-0.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 NT$59.7

$1.91 NT$60.5

-1.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.06 NT$96.8

$3.13 NT$99.2

-2.24%

Eggs

$2.38 NT$75.2

$2.93 NT$92.7

-18.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.31 NT$643

$20.24 NT$640

0.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.15 NT$131

$9.73 NT$308

-57.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.55 NT$650

$20.05 NT$635

2.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.05 NT$64.9

$5.10 NT$161

-59.80%

Banana (1kg)

$2.99 NT$94.7

Oranges (1kg)

$2.02 NT$63.9

$2.89 NT$91.6

-30.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.11 NT$130

$4.14 NT$131

-0.72%

Potato (1kg)

$2.83 NT$89.6

$2.94 NT$92.9

-3.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.25 NT$71.1

$2.16 NT$68.5

4.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 NT$62.2

$1.88 NT$59.4

4.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 NT$43.58

$1.33 NT$42.04

3.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 NT$130

$4.14 NT$131

-0.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 NT$474

$14.79 NT$468

1.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 NT$55.8

$1.83 NT$57.8

-3.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 NT$73.2

$2.41 NT$76.2

-4.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 NT$26.43

$0.81 NT$25.74

3.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.80 NT$1,228

$40.43 NT$1,280

-4.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.83 NT$89.6

$2.94 NT$92.9

-3.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 NT$24.52

$0.73 NT$23.16

5.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.34 NT$327

$10.33 NT$327

0.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 NT$32.69

$1.07 NT$33.80

-3.74%

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

$38.2K NT$1.2M

0.01%

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

$27.5K NT$869.2K

$27.5K NT$870.8K

-0.18%

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

$84.9 NT$2,686

$83.9 NT$2,655

1.18%

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

$19.04 NT$603

$18.83 NT$596

1.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.72 NT$782

$24.50 NT$775

0.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.87 NT$1,199

$41.71 NT$1,320

-9.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.08 NT$477

$13.81 NT$437

9.20%

Cinema Ticket

$10.15 NT$321

$11.98 NT$379

-15.28%

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

$630 NT$19.9K

$646 NT$20.4K

-2.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.9K NT$597.1K

$18.9K NT$596.7K

0.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.61 NT$969

$58.7 NT$1,858

-47.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.71 NT$529

$32.99 NT$1,044

-49.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.3 NT$1,687

$92.6 NT$2,930

-42.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 NT$3,846

$121 NT$3,822

0.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 NT$13.5K

$795 NT$25.2K

-46.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 NT$9,015

$538 NT$17.0K

-47.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,052 NT$33.3K

$1,652 NT$52.3K

-36.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$738 NT$23.4K

$1,106 NT$35.0K

-33.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,746 NT$213.5K

$14.2K NT$448.0K

-52.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,689 NT$148.4K

$8,454 NT$267.6K

-44.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$637 NT$20.2K

$1,657 NT$52.4K

-61.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.19

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

Last update for Taitung: April 27, 2026

Last update for Taipei: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Taitung versus $795 in Taipei. 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 160% higher in Taipei, 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 $40.00 in Taitung versus $41.00 in Taipei. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $354 vs $401 – making Taitung 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

Taitung vs Taipei: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Taipei is pricier by about 31%, 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 $1,680 per month in Taitung and $2,200 in Taipei. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,120 in Taitung and $1,466 in Taipei. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 4% less in Taitung. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Taitung, where all-in costs run around $1,120, than in Taipei at $1,466. In Taitung it covers expenses comfortably, while in Taipei it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 Taitung. 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.