🙂A single person spends $1,143 per month in Zhubei City vs $1,155 in Kinmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,070 per month in Zhubei City vs $1,889 in Kinmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,997 per month in Zhubei City vs $2,623 in Kinmen, rent included.
🙂Zhubei City is about 1% cheaper than Kinmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Zhubei City and Kinmen are more affordable than the global median – Zhubei City14% lower, Kinmen13% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zhubei City
Kinmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.01NT$162
$5.05NT$163
-0.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.97NT$1,097
$30.53NT$986
11.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.62NT$182
$5.34NT$172
5.24%
Cappuccino
$3.71NT$120
$2.91NT$94.1
27.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98NT$31.60
$1.04NT$33.56
-5.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68NT$21.91
$0.72NT$23.29
-5.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14NT$69.0
$1.82NT$58.8
17.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77NT$89.5
$2.72NT$87.9
1.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zhubei City
Kinmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.11NT$101
$3.30NT$107
-5.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.07NT$66.8
$1.91NT$61.6
8.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.54NT$146
$2.80NT$90.4
62.14%
Eggs
$2.92NT$94.1
$2.87NT$92.7
1.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.82NT$446
$19.07NT$616
-27.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.51NT$275
$7.97NT$257
6.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.25NT$880
$16.83NT$543
61.91%
Apples(1kg)
$4.48NT$145
$4.57NT$148
-1.97%
Banana(1kg)
$2.69NT$87.0
$2.46NT$79.4
9.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.74NT$88.4
$2.69NT$86.8
1.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.85NT$124
$3.55NT$115
8.45%
Potato(1kg)
$3.84NT$124
$2.74NT$88.4
40.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.46NT$79.5
$2.17NT$70.1
13.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.67NT$86.2
$2.07NT$66.8
28.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39NT$44.94
$1.24NT$40.00
12.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99NT$129
$3.98NT$129
0.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.86NT$286
$13.36NT$431
-33.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64NT$53.0
$1.74NT$56.2
-5.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72NT$87.9
$2.49NT$80.5
9.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Zhubei City
Kinmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.65NT$20.89
$0.86NT$27.90
-24.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.32NT$1,270
$39.11NT$1,263
0.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.46NT$112
$2.96NT$95.7
16.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.60NT$19.30
$0.78NT$25.13
-23.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.37NT$335
$10.32NT$333
0.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07NT$34.47
$1.02NT$33.04
4.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.8KNT$1.3M
$35.4KNT$1.1M
15.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1KNT$907.8K
$26.2KNT$846.5K
7.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zhubei City
Kinmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.6NT$2,959
$85.0NT$2,745
7.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.88NT$1,094
$24.67NT$797
37.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.12NT$811
$22.62NT$730
11.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zhubei City
Kinmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.55NT$1,116
$36.79NT$1,188
-6.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.27NT$493
$15.01NT$485
1.73%
Cinema Ticket
$12.07NT$390
$10.31NT$333
17.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zhubei City
Kinmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$694NT$22.4K
$420NT$13.6K
65.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2KNT$490.6K
$15.5KNT$500.0K
-1.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zhubei City
Kinmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.9NT$2,741
$84.2NT$2,717
0.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.17NT$1,523
$34.58NT$1,117
36.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6NT$3,217
$90.0NT$2,905
10.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115NT$3,718
$101NT$3,252
14.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zhubei City
Kinmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$429NT$13.9K
$439NT$14.2K
-2.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$209NT$6,737
$285NT$9,201
-26.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,181NT$38.1K
$1,022NT$33.0K
15.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$856NT$27.6K
$729NT$23.5K
17.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$15.8KNT$511.1K
$7,837NT$253.1K
101.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$9,315NT$300.8K
$4,223NT$136.4K
120.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zhubei City
Kinmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,361NT$76.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.4
2.18
10.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zhubei City: July 27, 2026
Last update for Kinmen: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Zhubei City versus $439 in Kinmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Zhubei City versus $31.00 in Kinmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $391 vs $365 – making Kinmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Zhubei City vs Kinmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kinmen cheaper than Zhubei City?
Yes – Kinmen is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,714 per month in Zhubei City and $1,732 in Kinmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Zhubei City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $694 per month in Zhubei City and $420 in Kinmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Zhubei City and in Kinmen?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Kinmen – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Zhubei City or in Kinmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zhubei City, where all-in costs run around $1,143, than in Kinmen at $1,155. In Zhubei City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kinmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Zhubei City or Kinmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zhubei City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Zhubei City or Kinmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Zhubei City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kinmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Zhubei City vs other spots: cost of living compared