Taiwan’s living costs aren’t too high, depending on your lifestyle. Throughout this guide, I’ll cover everyday living expenses in Taiwan. Read on to learn more.
I’m an American who has lived in Taiwan for more than 5 years. I also pay attention to prices more than I should. Thus, I figured this information may help someone curious about Taiwan’s living costs.
Let’s see how expensive Taiwan is to move to.
What’s a Good Salary in Taiwan?
NT$50,000 is a great salary to live “comfortably” in most cities throughout Taiwan. You should be able to easily pay your bills, eat a decent diet, and go out a decent amount.
The above amount is what I’d recommend as a bare minimum.
This doesn’t give you much flexibility for savings. If you’re American, you’ll need to pay Taiwan and US taxes (thanks IRS).
Regardless of what country you’re from, you’ll need to ensure you have enough money to pay all of your bills and make an emergency budget.
I’d save money to cover at least 6 months’ expenses in case I got unlucky. Then enough money for a flight to visit family back home in case of an emergency.
I’m not a financial expert, though. This is just food for thought.
Let’s see what those expenses would look like.
Average Cost to Live in Taiwan
An average family income and expenditure per household from 2023 suggests the following costs:
| Category | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Food | NT$10,241 |
| Tobacco, Alcohol, & Betel Nut | NT$735 |
| Apparel | NT$1,902 |
| Rent & Residential Services | NT$15,600 |
| Utilities & Other Services | NT$1,679 |
| Furniture & Home Maintenance | NT$2,065 |
| Medical Care | NT$12,701 |
| Vehicle Insurance Premiums | NT$695 |
| Public Transportation | NT$715 |
| Communications | NT$2,022 |
| Leisure | NT$2,909 |
| Education | NT$2,097 |
Notes:
- “Residential Services” often refers to security guard or apartment maintenance costs.
- The source doesn’t specify the survey size or whether this is the cost per person.
It’s safe to say that these are costs per person. As I pay similar costs.
Since I’m in New Taipei and run my AC 24/7, I pay more.
For instance, I typically pay NT$2,000 per month for electricity.
I also don’t eat out much and pay around a third of the food costs. And this is when going with more “western” items like Costco almond milk, buckwheat, and chia seeds.
I’ll provide more context for all of these categories throughout the following sections.
This part is to give us a baseline.
Cost of Living in Taiwan vs. the US
| Category | Monthly Cost (Taiwan) | Monthly Cost (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $319.07 | $779 |
| Tobacco, Alcohol, & Betel Nut | $22.90 | $31 |
| Apparel | $59.26 | $162 |
| Rent & Residential Services | $486.04 | $2,025 |
| Utilities & Other Services | $52.31 | $379 |
| Furniture & Home Maintenance | $64.34 | $225 |
| Medical Care | $395.72 | $488 |
| Vehicle Insurance Premiums | $21.65 | $133 |
| Public Transportation | $22.28 | $70 |
| Communications | $63 | $141 |
| Leisure | $90.63 | $288 |
| Education | $65.33 | $111 |
I wrote all the above amounts in USD. Because I’d assume anyone looking up this is from the US.
Note that the mean gross income for the US numbers is $83,195. As a large number of the surveyed folks made a fair amount of money.
However.
This was the most legitimate source that I could find regarding average living expenses in the States.
Let’s move onto the costs of moving into a Taiwan apartment without furniture.
Cost to Move into an Unfurnished Unit
Here are the typical costs of furnishing an empty apartment in Taiwan:
| Piece | Avg Cost |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator | NT$10,000+ |
| Washing Machine | NT$6,000+ |
| Microwave (Panasonic) | NT$6,000 |
| Rice Cooker (Panasonic) | NT$5,000 |
| Laundromat | NT$40 – 150 per load |
| Sofa | NT$20,000+ |
| 4K TV | NT$20,000+ |
| TV (Not 4K) | NT$7,000+ |
| Spring Mattress | NT$12,000+ |
| Movers | NT$4,000 per load (short distance) |
| Cardboard Boxes for Moving | Chunghwa Post: NT$45+ (39 x 32 x 43 cm) |
| 7-Eleven: NT$25 (45 x 40 x 35 cm) |
This section is necessary because I recently moved into an unfurnished unit. The only items that I had from my previous (furnished) apartment were a desk, a computer chair, and a latex mattress topper — what I’m sleeping on until I get my mattress.
I also got most of my furniture from IKEA. It cost around NT$20,000 for a KALLAX series shelf, an entertainment center, and miscellaneous other pieces of furniture.
And if I remember correctly, it was free shipping since we met the $20,000 threshold. It would have cost around NT$900 to ship it if we didn’t.
I got my fridge from PChome. It was cheaper than going to 3C stores (electronics shops).
I’ll be honest with you.
I didn’t research the movers. My wife did.
Thus, I don’t know if we got the best bang for our buck. However. It was a couple of young guys who used an old-looking, unbranded truck. They didn’t break anything and were pretty thorough with their “packing.”
I don’t recommend getting boxes from grocery stores. As bugs love hitching a ride on them.
Here’s where you can get more information (plus pictures) of the boxes from the table:
These sources are in Chinese.
Congrats. You furnished your apartment.
Now, how much will you pay monthly for it?
How Much Is Rent in Taiwan Per Month?
Prices for apartment rentals throughout Taiwan include:
| One-bedroom apartment in the city | NT$12,000 – 30,000/mo. |
| One-bedroom apartment outside the city | NT$8,000 – 18,000/mo. |
| Three-bedroom apartment in the city | NT$30,000 – 80,000/mo. |
| Three-bedroom apartment outside the city | NT$21,000 – 50,000/mo. |
These prices will differ by city.
For instance, living in downtown Taipei would cost much more than living in the countryside in Hsinchu.
I further compare the average pricing for rent in various popular Taiwan cities in a different guide.
Check it out if you need help finding somewhere to live.
When staying in Taiwan, you’ll need to consider average utility prices.
Taiwan Utilities Costs
Here are the average rates for utilities in Taiwan as of 2024:
| Utility | Cost |
|---|---|
| Electricity | NT$1.63 – 7.69 per kWh |
| Broadband Internet | NT$650 – 5,299 /mo |
| Water | NT$5 – 20 /cbm |
| Gas | NT$10.38 /m3 |
| Waste Management | NT$3.7 – 4.1 per ton |
| NT$1.05 – 21.6 per bag |
1. How Broadband Internet in Taiwan Works
I’m passionate about internet service providers (ISP).
And Taiwan’s home internet providers bug me a bit. Some ISPs in Taiwan include HiNet, SoNet, Seednet, Taiwan Mobile, and Home+.
Most internet plans typically have these fees:
- Internet Service Fee
- Line Circuit Fee
Your total monthly fee is the total of both fees.
The internet plans I’ve found are only:
- Asymmetric: Unequal download and upload speeds
- ADSL: Asymmetric digital subscriber line
- FTTx: Fiber to the premises (X)
Fiber to the “X” DOESN’T mean you have 100% fiber optic internet. In some cases, you can, though.
When I was looking for a fiber plan for HiNet FTTx speeds went from 16/3 mbps to 2/1 gbps.
Their 300 and 500 mbps and 1 gbps plans are all symmetric. Their other FTTx plans aren’t.
Based on my experience with American ISPs, they’ve had hidden fees. Taiwanese service providers make it difficult to find these hidden costs.
I recommend visiting the service provider’s store and checking the prices.
Most apartment rentals I’ve encountered include internet (usually ADSL) with the rent. However. You share this internet with your neighbors.
Not ideal for privacy.
I’m experimenting with DaDa Broadband (大大寬頻) at the moment. It costs NT$600 a month (no special pricing) and gives me 360/360 mbps speeds monthly.
I also paid a one-time NT$500 connection fee.
I’ll update this piece once I’ve used them for a few months.
2. Electricity Costs Explained
Landlords will either:
- Have you deal with Taipower (the electricity company).
- Check the meter monthly and charge you based on usage.
Option 1 is much cheaper, since you’re going directly with the power company.
You’ll receive a bill from Taipower monthly, then pay it at their office or a convenience store. They’ll charge you based on the classification you fall under.
This varies by factors like:
- Summer vs. non-summer
- Residential vs. commercial
- Amount of kWh per month: The more you use, the more you pay
- Example: First 120 KWh per month is NT$1.63 per kWh; over 300 kWh is NT$5.83 per kWh
I posted a link to their complete rates in the sources at the end of the post.
It’s too long for me to write.
It is illegal for landlords to charge more for the average electricity charge per KWh. But it’s Taiwan. Many landlords (allegedly) don’t follow these laws…
3. How to Read a Water Bill
There are 4 components to water charges:
- Water Consumption: NT$5 – NT$20 per cubic meter
- Sewerage Charge: NT$5 (residential and business)
- Pumping Facility Maintenance: NT$2.5 – NT$15.5
- The price varies by whether you’re on a hill; higher elevations cost more.
- Water Resources Conservation Fee: Fee is the total water used (in cbm) * 0.5
Most apartments will include water costs with rent.
I’ve never had to deal with a separate water bill in my more than 5 years here.
The above source is from the Taipei Water Department. These prices will vary throughout the country.
But you should know the worst-case estimates to better prepare yourself for moving to Taiwan.
4. Home Gas Prices
The current price per gas in Taiwanese homes is NT$10.38 per cubic meters monthly plus other fees.
They’ll calculate this rate by:
- Accumulated Meter Reading for the current period – Accumulated Meter Reading for the previous period = Volume Used (or Volume Refundable)
- Volume Used (or Volume Estimated)*price/m3 + Basic Fee = Natural Gas Fee for the current period.
The “Basic Fee” will range from NT$60 – 840. This depends on the type of gas meter you use.
I’ve never lived in an apartment — nor seen one — that charges separately for gas. Most apartments include this cost in the rent.
5. How Trash Collection Works
If you live in New Taipei, Taipei, or some districts in Taichung City (Shih Kang District), you must buy specific government-approved garbage bags for waste disposal.
Then you’ll need to catch a garbage truck. Though, some apartments will offer trash collection services or have dumpsters.
You can buy these bags at most stores, and for the most part, you’ll need the 3- or 5-liter bags. These generally cost NT$1.05 – 1.8 per bag.
Here’s a chart specifying the average costs for trash bags.
Outside these areas, you’ll need to pay your fee along with tap water fees or with the trash collection fee system.
I’ll have the link for this information in the sources.
Public Transportation
Here are the average costs for getting around Taiwan:
| Transportation Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| One-Way Metro ticket | NT$20 – 60 |
| One-Way Metro Ticket to Airport From Taipei | NT$150 |
| Long Distance Bus Fare | NT$15 – 30 (one way) |
| YouBike Rental | NT$5 – 40 per 30 min. |
| Taiwan High Speed Rail Train Ticket * | NT$1,480+ |
| Taiwan Railway Association Train Ticket ** | NT$1.06 – 2.27 per km |
| Taxi Start by City | NT$70 – 100 |
| Taxi Cost | NT$17.95 – 20 per km |
| Uber Ride *** | NT$14.5 per km |
Notes:
- * One-way ticket for non-reserved seats.
- ** Rates depend on the type of train you take.
- *** These prices vary by the type of Uber you use (e.g., UberX).
- The airport metro ticket references the price from Taipei Main Station to Terminal 1 of Taoyuan International Airport.
Don’t take the Uber rates too seriously.
The only source I could find doesn’t seem to be the most reliable information.
But it’s a benchmark.
Uber rates will vary by city, time of day, and other factors.
Metro tickets, for the most part, are consistent throughout New Taipei/Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Taoyuan.
Personal Vehicle Costs
Here are the prices of owning a personal vehicle in Taiwan as of 2024:
| Item/Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Parking lots | NT$20+/hr. |
| 2021 Toyota Camry L | NT$708,180 |
| Insurance, Registration, & Fuel Tax | NT$18,000 – 25,000 /yr |
| Parking Fee | NT$3,000 – 6,000 /mo |
| 92 Unleaded Gas | NT$29.9 per liter |
| NT$113 per gallon | |
| GoStation Battery Swapping | NT$299 – 1,199 /mo |
Living Essential
Here are the prices for essential living costs in Taiwan as of 2024:
| Item/Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| EasyCard/iPASS/icash 2.0 | NT$100 (one-time) |
| Gym membership | NT$800 – 1,500 /mo |
| SIM card (4G) | NT$499 – 920 /mo |
| Laundry detergent (3 liters) | NT$155 |
| Costco Membership | NT$1,350 /yr |
| Chop/Name Stamp | NT$50+ |
| ARC Renewal | NT$1,000 per year |
Taiwan has an interesting trash system.
If you’re familiar with America’s trash system, you pay a monthly fee, throw your crap in an outside can, and wait for someone to collect it.
Taipei City, New Taipei City, and Taichung City (one district) require you to chase after trash trucks. You MUST pack your trash in government-approved garbage bags. They don’t cost much. And you can find them at many Taiwanese shops.
It doesn’t matter what type of bags you use for recycling.
Other cities require you to pay per ton.
If you have a Costco membership from another country, you can transfer it to Taiwan. And I recommend doing so. Taiwan’s Costco stores offer some of the best value for bulk purchases.
For instance, they sell Arm & Hammer detergent. From my experience, it gives you the best value.
And if you need help finding a prepaid SIM card in Taiwan, explore a guide I wrote.
EasyCards. They’re a cashless means to pay for various goods and services throughout Taiwan. I also wrote a guide for it.
Chops are essential for signing formal documents in Taiwan. Think of them like a signature.
You go to any store with a key on it, show the boss your Chinese name, and they’ll engrave it on the rubber part.
To save money, just get the cheapest-looking wood ones.
If you have extra money, I recommend getting some of the fancy-looking ones. For instance, I spent NT$500 on mine. It’s built from thick plastic and has a built-in ink pad.
Though, I bought it by accident and was too shy/nervous to tell the store owner I wanted a cheap one.
I don’t regret it, though.
And if you’re staying in Taiwan for more than a year, you’ll need to pay NT$1,000 to renew your ARC. This includes changing your address when moving to a new place.
Then, you’ll need to pay to scan and print copies of your passport, ARC, lease, and other documents.
Here’s another essential for living.
Groceries
Here are examples of grocery costs in Taiwan in 2024:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Average groceries | NT$3,600/mo. |
| Loaf of bread | NT$20+ |
| Regular eggs (x12) | NT$74 |
| Rice (1 kg) | NT$88 |
| Milk (1 liter) | NT$94 |
| Fruit juice (1.5 liters) | NT$100 |
| Orange juice (0.3 liters) | NT$35 |
| Oranges | NT$90 |
| Grapes | NT$200 |
| Tomatoes | NT$90 |
| Bacon | NT$210 – 230 |
| Ready-made noodles | NT$17 – 22 |
| Yellow cheese (1 kilogram) | NT$656 |
The cheapest way to get meat and produce is from wet markets. You’ll find them everywhere in Taiwan. They have a handful of stands with locals selling various foods.
I buy everything from hypermarkets and supermarkets, though. So I can’t help you much with buying from these vendors.
It’s a personal preference. And if you’re like me, go for PX Mart, Costco, Carrefour, or A-Mart.
They don’t charge too much for food. And you can find a decent variety. Costco and Carrefour will have the most international foods, though.
At a higher price, of course.
A money-saving “trick” I’ve learned from working retail in the US is to look at the price per gram/kilogram.
So long as the tags are accurate, you should know which item will give you the best value.
Or you could do the math yourself — something that I’m too lazy to do.
The majority of price tags in major supermarket/hypermarket chains I’ve encountered will have this on the tag. Unless it’s an item that’s for sale. Then, they only have the sale price.
What if you’d rather have someone cook for you?
I get it. And we’ll talk about that now.
Eating Out
The costs for eating out at restaurants, cafés, and street food stands include:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Drink at a bar | NT$150+ |
| Cappuccino | NT$81 |
| Bottle of Water | NT$8 – 20 |
| Meal at McDonald’s | NT$135 |
| Mid-Range Restaurant Meal for Two | NT$800 |
| Non-Chain Restaurant | NT$45 – 100 |
| Street food | NT$15 – 250 |
| Service Charge | 10% of meal price |
By street foods, I’m referring to Taiwanese night markets. Here’s a guide I wrote on what foods you should try at a number of them.
Most night markets throughout Taiwan have identical pricing.
At some tourist-focused markets (like Shilin), you may see higher prices. Since the locals are targeting tourists.
Otherwise, Taiwan doesn’t charge foreigners more to eat at restaurants because of where they’re from.
For 99.9% of encounters. I once ate at a mom-and-pop shop and they charged me more.
There’s no tipping in Taiwan. Thus, you’ll save 15% or more on your meals.
If you’re American, don’t tip. Some folks may consider it an insult.
Many chain restaurants will tack a service charge onto your bill.
Let’s say some of this food gives you food poisoning.
You’ll need to buy some medication. If it’s severe, you might need to take a trip to the hospital.
Keep reading to learn how much that’ll cost.
Healthcare & Medication
Here are the average costs for Taiwan’s healthcare:
| Item/Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Insurance Premium | NT$826 – 6,400 |
| Hospital Visit Copay w/o Insurance | NT$300 – 3,000 |
| Clinic visit Copay w/o Insurance | NT$500 |
| Clinic Visit Copay w/ Insurance | NT$200+ |
| Hospital Visit Copay w/ Insurance | NT$350 |
| Cold medicine | NT$196 |
| Custom Night Guard (For Teeth) | NT$3,000 |
| Teeth Cleaning | NT$250+ |
| Cavity Removal + Fillings | NT$250+ |
The amount you’ll pay for Taiwan National Health Insurance (NHI) depends on how much the government and your boss contribute to your premium.
Freelancers (self-employed folks) must pay 100% of the premium. That’s NT$1,839. In many scenarios, people will pay NT$826 monthly.
The copay will vary by clinic. Most traditional Chinese clinics, and less “modern”-looking clinics will have lower-end pricing.
I typically pay NT$200 – 250 per visit with my endocrinologist (in Taipei City).
In my experience, the majority of doctors — even at smaller clinics — spoke English. Because many of them studied abroad.
Unless you need specific scans/checks (e.g., MRI), I recommend going to a clinic. They’re cheaper and have MUCH shorter wait times.
For instance, I save a lot of time and money by visiting a clinic endocrinologist for my regular blood tests as opposed to going to a hospital.
I’ll provide more information regarding Taiwan’s healthcare in a separate piece. It’s on my backlog of things to do.
Since you’re feeling better, you’ll need to make sure you look and smell good.
Personal Care
Health and personal care prices in many places throughout Taiwan are as follows:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Toothpaste (1 tube) | NT$84 |
| Men’s haircut | NT$800 – 1,500 |
| Laundry detergent (3 liters) | NT$287 |
| Toilet paper (4 rolls) | NT$52 |
| Box of tampons (x32) | NT$279 |
| Deodorant | NT$190 |
You’ll save the most money with personal care items by getting them online or at supermarkets/hypermarkets.
Group buying is also a thing in Taiwan. But it’s something that I haven’t looked into.
You’re looking good and ready to hit the town.
But how much will you pay?
Recreation & Vices
Here are entertainment costs in Taiwan:
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) | NT$90 – 129 |
| Domestic Beer | NT$20 – 50 per can |
| Night Club Entry Fee | NT$300+ |
| Movie Theater Ticket | NT$581 |
| KTV | NT$500/hr; plus |
| NT$150 per person |
Many of these prices were sourced from a survey of family income and expenditures in Taiwan. Many of these prices are also sourced from first-hand experience in Taipei and New Taipei cities.
If you’re outside these cities, you’ll likely pay less for the various categories I listed.
Vaping is illegal in Taiwan. However. I still see a lot of people smoke them.
I won’t post the pricing for this, though.
What if you’re a student coming to Taiwan?
As someone who studied Mandarin at a university for a short period, I can help.
Costs for International Students
Here are the typical costs you’ll encounter when studying in Taiwan as an international student:
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (Bachelor’s Degree) | NT$48,000 – 57,000 per semester |
| Tuition Fee (Master’s & Ph.D | NT$51,000 – 150,000 |
| Tuition Fee (Mandarin Training Center) | NT$25,000 – 240,000 per semester |
| Mandarin Training Center Registration Fee | NT$2,500 |
| Dorms | NT$7,900 – 46,000/mo |
| Dorm Deposit | NT$1,000+ |
| Books | NT$500 – 7,500 per book per semester |
| Health Exam Fee | NT$1,000 (varies by hospital) |
| Student ARC | NT$1,000 |
| Private Health Insurance | NT$300+ per month |
| NHI Student Premiums | NT$826/mo |
I studied Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan and didn’t spend too much getting books and such. I spent an estimated NT$21,600 per month for tuition. And I spent around NT$1,000 on textbooks.
Note that I had the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship, which paid for almost everything.
You have to get a health exam to get any student visa in Taiwan. I was in the country when signing up for part of the visa and saved a lot of money on the test.
Because if I did it in the US (without insurance), I probably would have had to sell a kidney.
Speaking of the US of A…
Average Income in Taiwan Compared to the US
The average salary in Taiwan was NT$702,540 (21,823 USD) as of 2023. That’s over 63% less than the average salary of $59,540 in the US.
I don’t have much more to share.
Let’s end this with some FAQs.
FAQs
How Much Do You Need to Live Comfortably in Taiwan?
To live comfortably in Taiwan, you’ll want an income of at least NT$30,000 ($1079) per month. This number will vary depending on what part of Taiwan you reside in.
Can Foreigners Buy Property in Taiwan?
Foreigners can only buy property in Taiwan if laws allow Taiwanese people to buy land in your home country.
How Do I Save Money on Living Expenses in Taipei?
The best way to save money on living expenses in Taipei is by cooking your own food rather than eating out every day or buying takeout.
Is Taiwan a Good Place to Retire?
Taiwan is a good place to retire. The Taiwanese government has created policies that make it easy for foreigners living in Taiwan to get social security and retirement benefits from their home country while living in Taiwan.
Is Taiwan Cashless?
For the most part, Taiwan isn’t cashless. Some businesses accept smart cards like EasyCard and iPass. Others will accept electronic payment methods like LINE Pay, Google Pay, and Apple Pay.
Sources
- Economics Daily. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. 1/25/2024.
- Earnings of all employees. National Statistics, Taiwan. 2024.
- Statistics. National Statistics, Taiwan. 2024.
- Rate Schedules. Taiwan Power Company.
- Water Charges. Taipei Water Department.
- Calculation. Taipei Gas Corporation.
- Fee system for waste management. IEP Global. May 2019. PDF.
- Tuition fees and living costs. Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.
- Consumer Expenditure Surveys. US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Average phone bill per month. T-Mobile. 2024.
- Report on the Survey of Family Income. DGBAS. 2020