Cost of Living Comparison Between Taichung and Taipei 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Taipei is 18.7% higher than in Taichung (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Taipei is 22.6% higher than in Taichung | |
| Rent Prices in Taipei are 39.5% higher than in Taichung | |
| Restaurant Prices in Taipei are 29.4% higher than in Taichung | |
| Groceries Prices in Taipei are 12.1% higher than in Taichung | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Taipei is 3.7% lower than in Taichung | |
Restaurants | Taichung Edit |
Taipei Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | NT$150.00 | NT$155.00 | +3.3 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | NT$950.00 | NT$1,500.00 | +57.9 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | NT$150.00 | NT$180.00 | +20.0 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | NT$50.00 | NT$90.00 | +80.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | NT$94.50 | NT$120.00 | +27.0 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | NT$89.55 | NT$108.96 | +21.7 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | NT$33.78 | NT$31.36 | -7.2 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | NT$23.55 | NT$20.95 | -11.0 % |
Markets | Taichung Edit |
Taipei Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | NT$102.83 | NT$94.87 | -7.7 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | NT$49.90 | NT$53.04 | +6.3 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | NT$38.44 | NT$45.71 | +18.9 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | NT$81.00 | NT$77.91 | -3.8 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | NT$415.79 | NT$293.30 | -29.5 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | NT$114.13 | NT$138.65 | +21.5 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | NT$241.88 | NT$309.89 | +28.1 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | NT$61.99 | NT$70.34 | +13.5 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | NT$27.86 | NT$49.70 | +78.4 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | NT$26.08 | NT$43.95 | +68.5 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | NT$31.86 | NT$67.34 | +111.3 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | NT$17.58 | NT$39.99 | +127.5 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | NT$27.78 | NT$33.16 | +19.3 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | NT$68.70 | NT$51.92 | -24.4 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | NT$28.00 | NT$37.88 | +35.3 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | NT$500.00 | NT$450.00 | -10.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | NT$49.83 | NT$54.38 | +9.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | NT$80.00 | NT$73.90 | -7.6 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | NT$122.50 | NT$125.00 | +2.0 % |
Transportation | Taichung Edit |
Taipei Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | NT$22.50 | NT$25.00 | +11.1 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | NT$1,000.00 | NT$1,200.00 | +20.0 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | NT$85.00 | NT$85.00 | 0.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | NT$44.26 | NT$40.23 | -9.1 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | NT$300.00 | NT$300.00 | 0.0 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | NT$30.96 | NT$31.07 | +0.4 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | NT$1,068,000.00 | NT$1,068,000.00 | 0.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | NT$732,500.00 | NT$780,619.09 | +6.6 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Taichung Edit |
Taipei Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | NT$3,003.47 | NT$2,449.48 | -18.4 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | NT$467.22 | NT$544.78 | +16.6 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | NT$608.00 | NT$836.22 | +37.5 % |
Sports And Leisure | Taichung Edit |
Taipei Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | NT$1,033.17 | NT$1,287.63 | +24.6 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | NT$416.67 | NT$531.82 | +27.6 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | NT$310.00 | NT$300.00 | -3.2 % |
Childcare | Taichung Edit |
Taipei Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | NT$10,833.33 | NT$20,181.82 | +86.3 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | NT$550,000.00 | NT$531,250.00 | -3.4 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Taichung Edit |
Taipei Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | NT$2,238.00 | NT$1,954.48 | -12.7 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | NT$1,147.50 | NT$1,184.05 | +3.2 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | NT$2,683.33 | NT$2,544.44 | -5.2 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | NT$3,500.00 | NT$3,555.00 | +1.6 % |
Rent Per Month | Taichung Edit |
Taipei Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | NT$12,700.00 | NT$23,010.86 | +81.2 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | NT$8,825.00 | NT$15,423.29 | +74.8 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | NT$38,425.00 | NT$48,980.25 | +27.5 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | NT$24,100.00 | NT$29,858.86 | +23.9 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Taichung Edit |
Taipei Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | NT$21,135.27 | NT$42,773.75 | +102.4 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | NT$15,561.13 | NT$25,881.33 | +66.3 % |
Salaries And Financing | Taichung Edit |
Taipei Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | NT$44,654.04 | NT$52,714.22 | +18.1 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 2.27 | 2.34 | +3.0 % |
| Last update: | 4 May 2026 | 4 May 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 35 | 149 | |
Moving to Taichung? Explore:
Moving to Taipei? Explore:
Cities near Taichung: | Cost of Living in Nantou City | 24.35 miles |
| Cost of Living in Erlin Township | 32.99 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tou-liu | 45.81 miles |
| Cost of Living in Chiayi | 61.51 miles |
| Cost of Living in Xinying District | 71.70 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tainan | 87.03 miles |
| Cost of Living in Taipei | 102.76 miles |
| Cost of Living in Keelung (Chi-Lung) | 111.66 miles |
| Cost of Living in Kaohsiung | 123.59 miles |
| Cost of Living in Fengyuan | 224.27 miles |
Cities near Taipei: | Cost of Living in Keelung (Chi-Lung) | 12.98 miles |
| Cost of Living in New Taipei City | 19.05 miles |
| Cost of Living in Zhongli City (Jhongli) | 28.86 miles |
| Cost of Living in Yilan | 35.87 miles |
| Cost of Living in Zhubei City | 49.12 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hsinchu | 51.94 miles |
| Cost of Living in Zhunan | 59.17 miles |
| Cost of Living in Miaoli | 70.17 miles |
| Cost of Living in Taichung | 100.49 miles |
| Cost of Living in Nantou City | 133.80 miles |