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Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Taiwan and India
For one person, living is cheaper in India: $399 a month against $1,146 in Taiwan, rent and utilities included – about $9,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Taiwan and in India actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,146 in Taiwan versus $399 in India.
Taiwan $1,146
India $399
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,885 in Taiwan versus $639 in India.
Taiwan $1,885
India $639
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,625 in Taiwan versus $879 in India.
Taiwan $2,625
India $879
📏
Taiwan ($768–$1,330) and India ($230–$813) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.
🌍
Living in Taiwan is roughly 187% more expensive than in India on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: Taiwan 16% lower, India 71% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Taiwan
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73NT$154
$2.14₹204
121.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.54NT$994
$10.46₹996
191.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.32NT$173
$3.80₹362
40.00%
Cappuccino
$2.87NT$93.3
$1.68₹160
70.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95NT$31.03
$0.38₹36.05
150.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63NT$20.64
$0.15₹14.63
320.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.79NT$58.2
$1.87₹178
-4.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43NT$79.0
$3.18₹303
-23.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taiwan
India
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.00NT$97.7
$0.62₹59.3
383.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.87NT$60.8
$0.50₹47.84
274.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.04NT$99.0
$0.63₹60.4
382.54%
Eggs
$2.51NT$81.6
$0.96₹91.4
161.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.94NT$584
$4.85₹462
269.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.54NT$278
$2.84₹271
200.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.08NT$654
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$4.69NT$153
$2.00₹191
134.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.59NT$84.4
$0.65₹61.5
298.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.91NT$94.6
$0.97₹92.4
200.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.68NT$120
$0.47₹44.37
682.98%
Potato(1kg)
$2.68NT$87.3
$0.34₹31.92
688.24%
Onion(1kg)
$2.16NT$70.2
$0.42₹39.79
414.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.12NT$69.0
$0.47₹44.46
351.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11NT$36.25
$0.31₹29.72
258.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.74NT$122
$5.08₹484
-26.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.39NT$403
$7.31₹696
69.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58NT$51.5
$1.63₹155
-3.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17NT$70.7
$2.76₹263
-21.38%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.11₹487
-
🚌 Getting Around
Taiwan
India
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.64NT$20.77
$0.26₹24.89
146.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.59NT$1,191
$8.58₹817
326.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.74NT$89.2
$1.00₹94.8
174.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80NT$25.88
$0.27₹25.78
196.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.32NT$303
$1.54₹146
505.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03NT$33.51
$1.07₹102
-3.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6KNT$1.2M
$11.2K₹1.1M
225.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9KNT$744.2K
$20.1K₹1.9M
14.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taiwan
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.2NT$2,708
$37.08₹3,532
124.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.05NT$555
$3.58₹341
376.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.05NT$750
$7.15₹681
222.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taiwan
India
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.90NT$1,168
$15.00₹1,429
139.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.42NT$372
$7.17₹683
59.27%
Cinema Ticket
$10.12NT$329
$3.20₹304
216.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taiwan
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$557NT$18.1K
$58.8₹5,601
847.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9KNT$516.8K
$1,667₹158.7K
852.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taiwan
India
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.6NT$2,038
$23.03₹2,194
171.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.83NT$1,036
$24.17₹2,302
31.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.1NT$2,674
$41.20₹3,924
99.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102NT$3,314
$29.62₹2,821
243.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taiwan
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$506NT$16.5K
$146₹14.0K
245.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$319NT$10.4K
$96.4₹9,178
230.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,092NT$35.5K
$343₹32.7K
218.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$762NT$24.8K
$234₹22.3K
225.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,711NT$218.4K
$1,177₹112.1K
470.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,605NT$149.9K
$633₹60.3K
627.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taiwan
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,709NT$55.6K
$409₹38.9K
318.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.45
8.93
-72.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Taiwan: October 24, 2026
Last update for India: October 25, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Taiwan
$368 32.1%
India
$102 25.6% ↓ 72.2%$266
🏠Accommodation & Living
Taiwan
$319 27.8%
India
$96 24.1% ↓ 69.8%$222
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Taiwan
$125 10.9%
India
$53 13.3% ↓ 57.6%$72
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taiwan
$123 10.8%
India
$48 12% ↓ 61.2%$75
🍽Eating Out
Taiwan
$108 9.5%
India
$67 16.7% ↓ 38.6%$42
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Taiwan
$56 4.9%
India
$21 5.4% ↓ 61.9%$35
🚌Getting Around
Taiwan
$46 4%
India
$12 3% ↓ 73.9%$34
🛒Groceries & Markets
Taiwan
$860 32.8%
India
$220 25.1% ↓ 74.4%$640
🏠Accommodation & Living
Taiwan
$762 29%
India
$234 26.6% ↓ 69.3%$528
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Taiwan
$278 10.6%
India
$118 13.4% ↓ 57.6%$160
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taiwan
$140 5.4%
India
$51 5.9% ↓ 63.4%$89
🍽Eating Out
Taiwan
$367 14%
India
$181 20.6% ↓ 50.6%$186
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Taiwan
$124 4.7%
India
$50 5.7% ↓ 59.6%$74
🚌Getting Around
Taiwan
$93 3.5%
India
$24 2.8% ↓ 73.7%$69
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $426 in Taiwan, $120 in India. Capital cities: $961 in Taipei vs $277 in Delhi.
💰National salary averages: $1,861 in Taiwan, $412 in India. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 255% higher in Taiwan.
⭐Dining out costs 182% more in Taiwan.
⭐Public transport is 275% more expensive in Taiwan.
⭐Salaries are about 4.5 times higher in Taiwan, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Taiwan.
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
Taiwan vs India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Taiwan?
At $399 per month in India and $1,146 in Taiwan, India comes out about 65% cheaper. 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?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in India: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. 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 for a central one-bedroom averages $426 in Taiwan and $120 in India. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or in Taiwan?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Taiwan it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you’ll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or to Taiwan?
It depends on what you’re after: India wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.