😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,139 in Taiwan versus $391 in Pakistan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,890 in Taiwan versus $590 in Pakistan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,640 in Taiwan versus $788 in Pakistan.
🌍Living in Taiwan is roughly 191% more expensive than in Pakistan on average.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: Taiwan 14% lower, Pakistan 71% lower.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Taiwan: monthly costs span $882 to $1,477, compared to $294–$532 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Taiwan.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.04NT$163
$1.74PKR 484
189.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.50NT$1,116
$12.15PKR 3,371
183.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.29NT$171
$4.31PKR 1,196
22.74%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.73PKR 479
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.05PKR 1,123
-
Cappuccino
$3.26NT$106
$1.80PKR 500
81.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05NT$33.94
$0.34PKR 94.0
208.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74NT$24.05
$0.23PKR 64.1
221.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.05NT$66.4
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74NT$88.6
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.17NT$102
$0.76PKR 211
317.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.95NT$63.1
$0.55PKR 151
254.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.17NT$102
$1.18PKR 327
168.64%
Eggs
$2.89NT$93.5
$1.16PKR 321
149.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.84NT$577
$5.84PKR 1,620
205.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.96NT$290
$2.91PKR 806
207.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.35NT$658
$4.15PKR 1,151
390.36%
Apples(1kg)
$4.77NT$154
$1.06PKR 294
350.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.50NT$81.0
$0.61PKR 170
309.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.80NT$90.5
$0.80PKR 222
250.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.75NT$121
$0.49PKR 137
665.31%
Potato(1kg)
$2.79NT$90.4
$0.39PKR 107
615.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.36NT$76.2
$0.51PKR 142
362.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.10NT$67.9
$0.38PKR 107
452.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32NT$42.60
$0.39PKR 107
238.46%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.98PKR 549
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.06PKR 295
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.01PKR 559
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.24NT$137
$1.97PKR 547
115.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.12NT$457
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77NT$57.3
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35NT$76.0
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88NT$28.42
$0.17PKR 46.85
417.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.35NT$1,305
$6.96PKR 1,932
479.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.99NT$96.9
$0.84PKR 232
255.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74NT$23.91
$0.57PKR 157
29.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.29NT$333
$1.81PKR 504
468.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02NT$33.09
$0.96PKR 268
6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2KNT$1.2M
$17.5KPKR 4.8M
112.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0KNT$872.5K
$23.6KPKR 6.6M
14.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.9NT$2,714
$110PKR 30.4K
-23.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.57NT$795
$4.74PKR 1,315
418.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.88NT$772
$15.16PKR 4,208
57.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.77NT$1,254
$13.16PKR 3,654
194.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.81NT$382
$8.95PKR 2,483
31.96%
Cinema Ticket
$10.75NT$348
$4.12PKR 1,145
160.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$551NT$17.8K
$39.53PKR 11.0K
1292.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7KNT$508.8K
$1,143PKR 317.3K
1275.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.0NT$2,199
$15.62PKR 4,335
335.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.74NT$1,059
$23.22PKR 6,444
41.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.7NT$2,901
$72.4PKR 20.1K
23.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120NT$3,884
$32.81PKR 9,106
265.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$542NT$17.5K
$111PKR 30.7K
389.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$366NT$11.9K
$67.8PKR 18.8K
440.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,179NT$38.1K
$274PKR 76.1K
330.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$840NT$27.2K
$163PKR 45.3K
414.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,338NT$269.7K
$984PKR 273.1K
747.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,488NT$177.5K
$502PKR 139.2K
994.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,701NT$55.0K
$186PKR 51.7K
812.53%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Pakistan: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $452 in Taiwan, $78.0 in Pakistan. Capital cities: $794 in Taipei vs $197 in Islamabad.
💰National salary averages: $1,882 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 457% more expensive in Taiwan.
⭐Salaries are 940% higher in Taiwan, 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 Pakistan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Pakistan and Taiwan?
At $413 per month in Pakistan and $1,180 in Taiwan, there's a 186% 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?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Pakistan: 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 is consistently higher than in 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 in Taiwan?
In Pakistan, $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 Pakistan or to 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.