Cost of Living Comparison Between Taiwan and India Cost of Living Comparison Between Taiwan and India

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,143 in Taiwan versus $388 in India.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,900 in Taiwan versus $617 in India.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,656 in Taiwan versus $846 in India.

Living in Taiwan is roughly 195% more expensive than India on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Taiwan 15% lower, India 71% lower.

Taiwan ($899$1,494) and India ($264$888) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taiwan
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.10 NT$161
$2.49 ₹237
104.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.68 NT$1,060
$14.20 ₹1,353
137.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.37 NT$169
$3.98 ₹379
34.92%
Cappuccino
$3.24 NT$102
$1.88 ₹179
72.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 NT$33.00
$0.44 ₹41.98
138.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 NT$23.61
$0.19 ₹18.57
294.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.00 NT$63.0
$2.02 ₹192
-0.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 NT$83.9
$3.45 ₹329
-22.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taiwan
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.18 NT$100
$0.72 ₹68.3
341.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.92 NT$60.3
$0.52 ₹49.26
269.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 NT$103
$0.72 ₹68.7
352.78%
Eggs
$2.99 NT$94.3
$0.93 ₹88.8
221.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.67 NT$556
$5.24 ₹499
237.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.11 NT$287
$3.07 ₹292
196.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.26 NT$638
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.95 NT$156
$2.17 ₹207
128.11%
Banana (1kg)
$2.57 NT$81.0
$0.76 ₹72.2
238.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.86 NT$90.0
$1.05 ₹100
172.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.76 NT$118
$0.53 ₹50.7
609.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.95 NT$92.7
$0.39 ₹37.53
656.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.32 NT$73.0
$0.49 ₹46.81
373.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.17 NT$68.2
$0.52 ₹49.35
317.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 NT$41.47
$0.33 ₹31.13
300.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22 NT$133
$4.05 ₹386
4.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.28 NT$450
$7.39 ₹704
93.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 NT$54.1
$1.84 ₹175
-6.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 NT$77.2
$2.90 ₹277
-15.52%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.65 ₹538
-
🚌 Getting Around
Taiwan
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 NT$26.19
$0.36 ₹34.59
130.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.97 NT$1,258
$9.74 ₹928
310.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.00 NT$94.4
$0.95 ₹90.6
215.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 NT$24.49
$0.30 ₹28.64
160.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.07 NT$317
$1.73 ₹165
482.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 NT$31.77
$1.23 ₹117
-17.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K NT$1.2M
$13.9K ₹1.3M
164.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K NT$841.9K
$22.6K ₹2.2M
18.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taiwan
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.7 NT$2,665
$40.88 ₹3,894
107.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.12 NT$759
$3.91 ₹372
516.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.17 NT$761
$7.81 ₹744
209.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taiwan
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.05 NT$1,229
$16.15 ₹1,538
141.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.63 NT$366
$7.49 ₹713
55.27%
Cinema Ticket
$10.94 NT$344
$3.42 ₹326
219.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taiwan
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$551 NT$17.3K
$69.9 ₹6,660
687.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K NT$497.8K
$1,793 ₹170.8K
782.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taiwan
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.0 NT$2,109
$25.83 ₹2,460
159.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.52 NT$1,055
$26.61 ₹2,535
25.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.7 NT$2,886
$45.24 ₹4,309
102.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 NT$3,727
$33.68 ₹3,208
251.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taiwan
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$528 NT$16.6K
$178 ₹17.0K
196.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$365 NT$11.5K
$115 ₹10.9K
218.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,199 NT$37.7K
$407 ₹38.8K
194.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$854 NT$26.9K
$264 ₹25.1K
224.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,308 NT$293.0K
$1,240 ₹118.1K
650.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,104 NT$192.1K
$631 ₹60.1K
867.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taiwan
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,740 NT$54.8K
$432 ₹41.2K
302.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.14
9.02
-76.27%

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

Last update for Taiwan: June 2, 2026

Last update for India: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $452 in Taiwan, $127 in India. Capital cities: $789 in Taipei vs $239 in Delhi.

National salary averages: $1,916 in Taiwan, $398 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 256% higher in Taiwan.

Dining out costs 182% more in Taiwan.

Public transport is 322% more expensive in Taiwan.

Salaries are 381% higher in Taiwan, giving Taiwan stronger purchasing power.

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 India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Taiwan?
At $576 per month in India and $1,197 in Taiwan, there's a 108% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
India is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Taiwan beats India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or Taiwan?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Taiwan, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or Taiwan?
It depends on what you're after. India wins on affordability; Taiwan may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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