😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,460 in Yerevan versus $1,149 in Kaohsiung.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,187 in Yerevan versus $1,925 in Kaohsiung.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Yerevan versus $2,701 in Kaohsiung.
😐Living in Yerevan is roughly 27% more expensive than Kaohsiung, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Yerevan is 9% above, Kaohsiung is 14% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yerevan
Kaohsiung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.49֏3,860
$4.03NT$127
160.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.0֏19.1K
$33.84NT$1,065
53.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.78֏2,862
$5.54NT$174
40.43%
Cappuccino
$3.38֏1,243
$3.08NT$96.8
9.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94֏346
$1.02NT$32.01
-7.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49֏181
$0.78NT$24.41
-37.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78֏656
$1.72NT$54.1
3.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85֏1,419
$2.77NT$87.2
38.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yerevan
Kaohsiung
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59֏586
$3.62NT$114
-56.08%
White Bread(500g)
$0.89֏327
$2.05NT$64.5
-56.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.31֏848
$2.76NT$86.8
-16.30%
Eggs
$2.38֏875
$3.21NT$101
-25.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.33֏3,066
$15.85NT$499
-47.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.22֏2,659
$9.05NT$285
-20.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.38֏4,555
$17.92NT$564
-30.92%
Apples(1kg)
$1.26֏463
$6.00NT$189
-79.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.78֏654
$2.58NT$81.2
-31.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.73֏638
$2.77NT$87.1
-37.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.20֏811
$4.15NT$131
-46.99%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76֏281
$2.99NT$94.0
-74.58%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71֏260
$2.21NT$69.7
-67.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83֏304
$1.94NT$61.2
-57.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66֏242
$1.16NT$36.44
-43.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54֏936
$4.34NT$137
-41.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.83֏3,984
$15.85NT$499
-31.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32֏487
$1.73NT$54.5
-23.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17֏799
$2.54NT$80.0
-14.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Yerevan
Kaohsiung
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38֏139
$0.82NT$25.70
-53.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.39֏8,610
$26.88NT$846
-12.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.60֏590
$2.95NT$93.0
-45.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29֏106
$0.73NT$22.97
-60.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.69֏1,725
$5.98NT$188
-21.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40֏513
$1.04NT$32.73
34.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K֏11.5M
$33.9KNT$1.1M
-7.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.8K֏13.9M
$25.1KNT$790.9K
50.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yerevan
Kaohsiung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$131֏48.1K
$104NT$3,265
26.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.54֏3,142
$25.58NT$805
-66.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.87֏7,680
$25.14NT$791
-16.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yerevan
Kaohsiung
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$104֏38.4K
$38.16NT$1,201
173.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.36֏11.2K
$11.48NT$361
164.46%
Cinema Ticket
$6.47֏2,381
$10.07NT$317
-35.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yerevan
Kaohsiung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$372֏137.1K
$431NT$13.6K
-13.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,777֏2.9M
$11.4KNT$358.3K
-31.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yerevan
Kaohsiung
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109֏40.2K
$94.9NT$2,987
15.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.4֏22.6K
$35.33NT$1,112
73.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$140֏51.5K
$91.4NT$2,878
52.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139֏51.1K
$101NT$3,170
37.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yerevan
Kaohsiung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$789֏290.3K
$432NT$13.6K
82.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$553֏203.5K
$282NT$8,866
96.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,381֏508.3K
$940NT$29.6K
46.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$860֏316.4K
$681NT$21.4K
26.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,061֏1.1M
$4,727NT$148.8K
-35.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,611֏593.0K
$3,275NT$103.1K
-50.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yerevan
Kaohsiung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$660֏243.0K
$1,509NT$47.5K
-56.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15.53
2.3
575.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yerevan: May 30, 2026
Last update for Kaohsiung: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $789 in Yerevan and $432 in Kaohsiung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kaohsiung pays 129% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Yerevan vs $34.00 in Kaohsiung. Groceries flip the comparison at $224 vs $385, with Yerevan cheaper for home cooking.
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
Yerevan vs Kaohsiung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Yerevan and Kaohsiung?
Yerevan and Kaohsiung differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($1,460 vs $1,149 including rent). Kaohsiung is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Kaohsiung earns 129% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Yerevan and Kaohsiung?
Rent for a central apartment: $789 in Yerevan versus $432 in Kaohsiung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Yerevan and Kaohsiung?
Childcare runs $372 in Yerevan versus $431 in Kaohsiung. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Yerevan pay roughly 72% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,149 in Kaohsiung versus $1,460 in Yerevan, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kaohsiung but tight or insufficient in Yerevan. The gap between the two cities makes Kaohsiung the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Yerevan and Kaohsiung?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Yerevan or Kaohsiung safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Yerevan and Kaohsiung are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Yerevan or Kaohsiung?
Expats usually find Kaohsiung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Yerevan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.