Cost of Living Comparison Between Taiwan and Pakistan Cost of Living Comparison Between Taiwan and Pakistan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,146 in Taiwan versus $392 in Pakistan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,897 in Taiwan versus $592 in Pakistan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,647 in Taiwan versus $792 in Pakistan.

Living in Taiwan is roughly 192% more expensive than Pakistan on average.

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

Internal cost variation is higher in Taiwan: monthly costs span $877 to $1,497, compared to $289$533 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Taiwan.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.05 NT$160
$1.75 PKR 488
188.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.32 NT$1,053
$12.30 PKR 3,421
170.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 NT$175
$4.12 PKR 1,147
34.22%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.76 PKR 488
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.18 PKR 1,161
-
Cappuccino
$3.18 NT$101
$1.72 PKR 479
84.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 NT$32.99
$0.33 PKR 92.6
215.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 NT$22.11
$0.21 PKR 58.2
233.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.99 NT$63.1
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 NT$84.6
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.30 NT$104
$0.82 PKR 227
302.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.93 NT$61.1
$0.55 PKR 152
250.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.27 NT$103
$1.17 PKR 325
179.49%
Eggs
$2.92 NT$92.5
$1.21 PKR 337
141.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.49 NT$553
$5.92 PKR 1,645
195.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.11 NT$288
$2.91 PKR 810
213.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.47 NT$647
$4.14 PKR 1,151
394.44%
Apples (1kg)
$4.84 NT$153
$1.06 PKR 294
356.60%
Banana (1kg)
$2.58 NT$81.5
$0.62 PKR 172
316.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.90 NT$91.7
$0.76 PKR 213
281.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.73 NT$118
$0.53 PKR 147
603.77%
Potato (1kg)
$2.85 NT$90.2
$0.38 PKR 106
650.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.24 NT$70.9
$0.48 PKR 134
366.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.08 NT$65.6
$0.38 PKR 106
447.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 NT$41.17
$0.39 PKR 108
233.33%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.99 PKR 552
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.06 PKR 295
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.01 PKR 558
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 NT$132
$2.04 PKR 567
105.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.33 NT$453
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 NT$54.5
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 NT$74.6
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 NT$27.76
$0.20 PKR 56.5
340.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 NT$1,310
$7.26 PKR 2,020
470.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 NT$98.8
$0.90 PKR 252
247.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.73 NT$23.04
$0.52 PKR 146
40.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.97 NT$315
$1.74 PKR 484
472.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 NT$33.28
$0.96 PKR 268
9.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K NT$1.2M
$17.4K PKR 4.8M
112.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K NT$824.6K
$23.5K PKR 6.5M
11.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.4 NT$2,638
$111 PKR 30.9K
-24.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.03 NT$759
$4.55 PKR 1,266
428.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.86 NT$754
$15.24 PKR 4,236
56.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.19 NT$1,239
$13.26 PKR 3,686
195.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.83 NT$374
$8.49 PKR 2,360
39.34%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05 NT$349
$4.28 PKR 1,191
158.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$556 NT$17.6K
$38.97 PKR 10.8K
1327.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K NT$497.6K
$1,177 PKR 327.3K
1237.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.9 NT$2,145
$15.65 PKR 4,352
333.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.79 NT$1,036
$23.01 PKR 6,398
42.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.4 NT$2,921
$72.5 PKR 20.2K
27.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 NT$3,694
$32.10 PKR 8,925
264.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$540 NT$17.1K
$111 PKR 30.8K
387.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 NT$11.8K
$66.4 PKR 18.5K
463.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,179 NT$37.3K
$271 PKR 75.5K
334.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$867 NT$27.4K
$166 PKR 46.0K
423.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,333 NT$295.0K
$987 PKR 274.5K
845.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,081 NT$192.2K
$517 PKR 143.8K
1076.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taiwan
Pakistan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,757 NT$55.5K
$184 PKR 51.0K
857.16%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Pakistan: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $451 in Taiwan, $78.0 in Pakistan. Capital cities: $782 in Taipei vs $201 in Islamabad.

National salary averages: $1,918 in Taiwan, $183 in Pakistan. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 478% higher in Taiwan.

Dining out costs 182% more in Taiwan.

Public transport is 457% more expensive in Taiwan.

Salaries are 948% 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 $411 per month in Pakistan and $1,187 in Taiwan, there's a 189% 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.

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