Cost of Living Comparison Between Taiwan and Canada Cost of Living Comparison Between Taiwan and Canada

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,143 per month in Taiwan vs $2,319 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,895 per month in Taiwan vs $3,378 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,647 per month in Taiwan vs $4,437 in Canada, rent included.

The cost of living in Taiwan is roughly 51% lower than in Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Taiwan sits 14% below the global median, while Canada is 74% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

The regional cost range is wider in Canada ($1,332$3,143) than in Taiwan ($887$1,497), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taiwan
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.15 NT$167
$18.63 CA$26.11
-72.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.27 NT$1,109
$74.0 CA$104
-53.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 NT$180
$10.92 CA$15.31
-49.18%
Cappuccino
$3.18 NT$103
$3.76 CA$5.28
-15.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 NT$33.98
$2.19 CA$3.07
-52.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 NT$22.51
$1.74 CA$2.43
-59.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.05 NT$66.3
$5.93 CA$8.31
-65.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 NT$89.1
$5.95 CA$8.35
-53.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taiwan
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.34 NT$108
$2.28 CA$3.20
46.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.98 NT$64.2
$2.67 CA$3.74
-25.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.30 NT$107
$3.78 CA$5.30
-12.70%
Eggs
$2.91 NT$94.1
$3.50 CA$4.90
-16.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.30 NT$560
$11.70 CA$16.40
47.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.97 NT$290
$12.30 CA$17.24
-27.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.20 NT$654
$15.44 CA$21.65
30.83%
Apples (1kg)
$4.89 NT$158
$4.28 CA$6.00
14.25%
Banana (1kg)
$2.57 NT$83.3
$1.45 CA$2.04
77.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.78 NT$90.1
$4.01 CA$5.62
-30.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.71 NT$120
$4.27 CA$5.98
-13.11%
Potato (1kg)
$2.80 NT$90.7
$2.69 CA$3.77
4.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.32 NT$75.0
$2.65 CA$3.71
-12.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.17 NT$70.4
$2.64 CA$3.70
-17.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 NT$41.00
$1.89 CA$2.65
-32.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.24 NT$137
$14.77 CA$20.71
-71.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.17 NT$459
$13.32 CA$18.67
6.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 NT$56.1
$2.96 CA$4.15
-41.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 NT$79.3
$3.28 CA$4.59
-25.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Taiwan
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 NT$28.79
$2.62 CA$3.67
-66.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.24 NT$1,335
$78.1 CA$110
-47.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.96 NT$95.9
$3.42 CA$4.79
-13.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 NT$25.36
$1.50 CA$2.10
-48.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.28 NT$333
$29.07 CA$40.76
-64.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 NT$33.11
$1.20 CA$1.68
-15.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K NT$1.2M
$25.5K CA$35.7K
43.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K NT$859.7K
$20.6K CA$28.8K
29.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taiwan
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.2 NT$2,692
$152 CA$212
-45.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.27 NT$785
$46.70 CA$65.5
-48.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.79 NT$770
$61.8 CA$86.7
-61.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taiwan
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.75 NT$1,254
$43.36 CA$60.8
-10.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.75 NT$380
$18.05 CA$25.31
-34.90%
Cinema Ticket
$10.83 NT$350
$11.51 CA$16.13
-5.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taiwan
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$549 NT$17.8K
$806 CA$1,130
-31.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K NT$505.3K
$12.1K CA$17.0K
28.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taiwan
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.2 NT$2,175
$55.4 CA$77.6
21.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.12 NT$1,072
$41.80 CA$58.6
-20.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.6 NT$2,996
$89.7 CA$126
3.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 NT$3,868
$106 CA$149
12.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taiwan
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$540 NT$17.5K
$1,329 CA$1,864
-59.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$375 NT$12.1K
$1,207 CA$1,692
-68.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,154 NT$37.4K
$2,112 CA$2,961
-45.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$860 NT$27.8K
$1,833 CA$2,570
-53.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,033 NT$260.0K
$4,639 CA$6,503
73.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,452 NT$176.5K
$3,849 CA$5,396
41.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taiwan
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,758 NT$56.9K
$2,948 CA$4,133
-40.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.14
6.33
-66.19%

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

Last update for Taiwan: July 11, 2026

Last update for Canada: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $451 in Taiwan vs $1,281 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $795 in Taipei and $1,481 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $1,888 in Taiwan vs $2,904 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 184% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 119% more in Canada.

Public transport is 67% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 54% higher in Canada, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Taiwan.

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
Taiwan vs Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Taiwan?
Taiwan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 88% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Canada, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Canada consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Taiwan, contributing to the overall 88% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Canada or in Taiwan?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Taiwan, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada or to Taiwan?
Taiwan is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Taiwan vs other spots: cost of living compared

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