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

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