Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Taipei 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Taipei is 28.3% lower than in Chicago, IL (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Taipei is 41.9% lower than in Chicago, IL | |
| Rent Prices in Taipei are 65.0% lower than in Chicago, IL | |
| Restaurant Prices in Taipei are 55.9% lower than in Chicago, IL | |
| Groceries Prices in Taipei are 18.2% lower than in Chicago, IL | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Taipei is 46.1% lower than in Chicago, IL | |
Restaurants | Chicago, IL Edit |
Taipei Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
20.00 $ (627.72 NT$) |
6.37 $ (200.00 NT$) |
-68.1 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
100.00 $ (3,138.58 NT$) |
47.79 $ (1,500.00 NT$) |
-52.2 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
12.75 $ (400.01 NT$) |
5.38 $ (169.00 NT$) |
-57.8 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
7.00 $ (219.70 NT$) |
3.15 $ (99.00 NT$) |
-54.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
9.00 $ (282.47 NT$) |
3.82 $ (120.00 NT$) |
-57.5 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
5.49 $ (172.34 NT$) |
3.73 $ (117.04 NT$) |
-32.1 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
3.07 $ (96.45 NT$) |
0.94 $ (29.57 NT$) |
-69.3 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
2.36 $ (74.04 NT$) |
0.67 $ (21.08 NT$) |
-71.5 % |
Markets | Chicago, IL Edit |
Taipei Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
1.22 $ (38.40 NT$) |
3.08 $ (96.53 NT$) |
+151.4 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
3.81 $ (119.53 NT$) |
1.63 $ (51.12 NT$) |
-57.2 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
2.44 $ (76.66 NT$) |
1.50 $ (46.94 NT$) |
-38.8 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
5.39 $ (169.23 NT$) |
2.60 $ (81.50 NT$) |
-51.8 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
6.32 $ (198.50 NT$) |
8.73 $ (274.02 NT$) |
+38.0 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
6.77 $ (212.34 NT$) |
4.27 $ (134.02 NT$) |
-36.9 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
8.22 $ (258.11 NT$) |
9.18 $ (288.06 NT$) |
+11.6 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
2.42 $ (76.00 NT$) |
2.21 $ (69.25 NT$) |
-8.9 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
0.83 $ (25.89 NT$) |
1.58 $ (49.70 NT$) |
+91.9 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
1.74 $ (54.49 NT$) |
1.39 $ (43.51 NT$) |
-20.2 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
2.02 $ (63.40 NT$) |
2.01 $ (63.02 NT$) |
-0.6 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
1.14 $ (35.63 NT$) |
1.28 $ (40.06 NT$) |
+12.4 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
1.17 $ (36.74 NT$) |
1.00 $ (31.37 NT$) |
-14.6 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
2.48 $ (77.86 NT$) |
1.68 $ (52.62 NT$) |
-32.4 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
2.67 $ (83.68 NT$) |
1.19 $ (37.25 NT$) |
-55.5 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
15.00 $ (470.79 NT$) |
15.13 $ (475.00 NT$) |
+0.9 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
2.82 $ (88.63 NT$) |
1.74 $ (54.74 NT$) |
-38.2 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
3.51 $ (110.05 NT$) |
2.08 $ (65.37 NT$) |
-40.6 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
16.00 $ (502.17 NT$) |
3.82 $ (120.00 NT$) |
-76.1 % |
Transportation | Chicago, IL Edit |
Taipei Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
2.50 $ (78.46 NT$) |
0.80 $ (25.00 NT$) |
-68.1 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
75.00 $ (2,353.93 NT$) |
38.23 $ (1,200.00 NT$) |
-49.0 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
3.25 $ (102.00 NT$) |
2.71 $ (85.00 NT$) |
-16.7 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
2.25 $ (70.62 NT$) |
1.28 $ (40.23 NT$) |
-43.0 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
25.00 $ (784.64 NT$) |
9.56 $ (300.00 NT$) |
-61.8 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
0.99 $ (31.17 NT$) |
0.98 $ (30.75 NT$) |
-1.3 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
36,531.00 $ (1,146,554.66 NT$) |
34,506.05 $ (1,083,000.00 NT$) |
-5.5 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
26,411.35 $ (828,941.44 NT$) |
25,024.87 $ (785,425.62 NT$) |
-5.2 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Chicago, IL Edit |
Taipei Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
176.32 $ (5,534.07 NT$) |
75.11 $ (2,357.53 NT$) |
-57.4 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
72.21 $ (2,266.39 NT$) |
19.14 $ (600.73 NT$) |
-73.5 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
67.24 $ (2,110.32 NT$) |
25.92 $ (813.50 NT$) |
-61.5 % |
Sports And Leisure | Chicago, IL Edit |
Taipei Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
70.01 $ (2,197.30 NT$) |
42.17 $ (1,323.56 NT$) |
-39.8 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
29.00 $ (910.33 NT$) |
16.09 $ (505.00 NT$) |
-44.5 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
16.77 $ (526.34 NT$) |
10.20 $ (320.00 NT$) |
-39.2 % |
Childcare | Chicago, IL Edit |
Taipei Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
1,965.00 $ (61,673.10 NT$) |
649.49 $ (20,384.62 NT$) |
-66.9 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
34,958.67 $ (1,097,205.72 NT$) |
18,515.10 $ (581,111.11 NT$) |
-47.0 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Chicago, IL Edit |
Taipei Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
61.75 $ (1,938.07 NT$) |
65.56 $ (2,057.76 NT$) |
+6.2 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
47.92 $ (1,503.90 NT$) |
36.47 $ (1,144.68 NT$) |
-23.9 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
99.23 $ (3,114.33 NT$) |
86.03 $ (2,700.00 NT$) |
-13.3 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
138.82 $ (4,357.09 NT$) |
114.09 $ (3,580.91 NT$) |
-17.8 % |
Rent Per Month | Chicago, IL Edit |
Taipei Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
2,371.88 $ (74,443.19 NT$) |
780.26 $ (24,489.12 NT$) |
-67.1 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
1,643.74 $ (51,590.00 NT$) |
522.22 $ (16,390.29 NT$) |
-68.2 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
4,555.88 $ (142,990.01 NT$) |
1,659.62 $ (52,088.63 NT$) |
-63.6 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
2,766.65 $ (86,833.43 NT$) |
1,038.72 $ (32,601.20 NT$) |
-62.5 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Chicago, IL Edit |
Taipei Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
347.09 $ (10,893.82 NT$) |
1,294.49 $ (40,628.66 NT$) |
+273.0 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
236.15 $ (7,411.80 NT$) |
760.56 $ (23,870.82 NT$) |
+222.1 % |
Salaries And Financing | Chicago, IL Edit |
Taipei Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
5,302.18 $ (166,413.14 NT$) |
1,661.10 $ (52,134.89 NT$) |
-68.7 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.56 | 2.31 | -64.9 % |
| Last update: | 23 January 2026 | 23 January 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 171 | 150 | |
Moving to Chicago, IL? Explore:
Moving to Taipei? Explore:
Cities near Chicago, IL: | Cost of Living in Oak Park, Illinois | 9.14 miles |
| Cost of Living in Evanston, Illinois | 14.20 miles |
| Cost of Living in La Grange Park, Illinois | 15.03 miles |
| Cost of Living in Franklin Park, Illinois | 16.69 miles |
| Cost of Living in Des Plaines, Illinois | 20.82 miles |
| Cost of Living in Addison, Illinois | 22.10 miles |
| Cost of Living in East Chicago, Indiana | 23.76 miles |
| Cost of Living in Wheaton, Illinois | 25.81 miles |
| Cost of Living in Arlington Heights, Illinois | 27.19 miles |
| Cost of Living in Bolingbrook, Illinois | 29.21 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 |