😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,151 in Taiwan versus $391 in Pakistan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,895 in Taiwan versus $593 in Pakistan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,638 in Taiwan versus $794 in Pakistan.
😐Living in Taiwan is roughly 194% more expensive than Pakistan on average.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: Taiwan14% lower, Pakistan71% lower.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Taiwan: monthly costs span $893 to $1,466, compared to $292–$543 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Taiwan.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.02NT$158
$1.72PKR 480
191.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.23NT$1,081
$12.23PKR 3,414
179.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.54NT$175
$4.15PKR 1,157
33.49%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.80PKR 503
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.03PKR 1,125
-
Cappuccino
$3.28NT$104
$1.73PKR 482
89.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05NT$33.00
$0.33PKR 92.9
218.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71NT$22.54
$0.21PKR 58.5
238.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.05NT$64.8
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75NT$86.7
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.32NT$105
$0.81PKR 226
309.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.95NT$61.7
$0.55PKR 153
254.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.29NT$104
$1.20PKR 336
174.17%
Eggs
$2.87NT$90.5
$1.21PKR 337
137.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.40NT$549
$5.94PKR 1,657
192.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.06NT$286
$2.95PKR 824
207.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.62NT$651
$4.22PKR 1,179
388.63%
Apples(1kg)
$4.78NT$151
$1.05PKR 294
355.24%
Banana(1kg)
$2.60NT$82.1
$0.62PKR 173
319.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.76NT$87.1
$0.81PKR 227
240.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.67NT$116
$0.52PKR 145
605.77%
Potato(1kg)
$2.90NT$91.6
$0.36PKR 100
705.56%
Onion(1kg)
$2.24NT$70.8
$0.48PKR 135
366.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.09NT$65.9
$0.39PKR 108
435.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31NT$41.48
$0.39PKR 108
235.90%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.98PKR 554
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.11PKR 309
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.07PKR 579
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12NT$130
$1.97PKR 551
109.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.54NT$459
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80NT$56.7
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41NT$76.0
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.87NT$27.52
$0.16PKR 44.55
443.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.22NT$1,301
$7.00PKR 1,953
488.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.00NT$94.8
$0.90PKR 250
233.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75NT$23.58
$0.51PKR 143
47.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.13NT$320
$1.74PKR 485
482.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05NT$33.16
$0.90PKR 252
16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.0KNT$1.2M
$17.9KPKR 5.0M
111.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9KNT$848.8K
$23.8KPKR 6.6M
12.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.3NT$2,629
$111PKR 30.9K
-24.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.89NT$786
$4.75PKR 1,325
424.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.97NT$757
$15.51PKR 4,328
54.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.78NT$1,224
$13.30PKR 3,713
191.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.73NT$370
$8.50PKR 2,372
38.00%
Cinema Ticket
$11.03NT$348
$4.22PKR 1,178
161.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$566NT$17.9K
$39.14PKR 10.9K
1346.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9KNT$502.7K
$1,145PKR 319.5K
1291.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.5NT$2,130
$15.80PKR 4,409
327.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.81NT$1,036
$23.72PKR 6,621
38.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.6NT$2,860
$72.3PKR 20.2K
25.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116NT$3,655
$33.09PKR 9,236
249.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$524NT$16.5K
$114PKR 31.8K
360.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$370NT$11.7K
$67.1PKR 18.7K
450.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,196NT$37.8K
$280PKR 78.2K
327.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$866NT$27.3K
$165PKR 46.0K
425.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$10.1KNT$318.9K
$888PKR 248.0K
1037.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,532NT$206.2K
$530PKR 148.1K
1131.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,751NT$55.3K
$188PKR 52.4K
832.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.14
18.97
-88.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Taiwan: April 27, 2026
Last update for Pakistan: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $452 in Taiwan, $78.0 in Pakistan. Capital cities: $795 in Taipei vs $200 in Islamabad.
💰National salary averages: $1,930 in Taiwan, $181 in Pakistan. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 479% higher in Taiwan.
⭐Dining out costs 182% more in Taiwan.
⭐Public transport is 443% more expensive in Taiwan.
⭐Salaries are 966% 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 Pakistan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Pakistan and Taiwan?
At $418 per month in Pakistan and $1,180 in Taiwan, there's a 183% 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?
Pakistan 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 Pakistan 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 Pakistan or Taiwan?
In Pakistan, $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 Pakistan or Taiwan?
It depends on what you're after. Pakistan wins on affordability; Taiwan may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.