Cost of Living

Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Live cost-of-living data for Kaohsiung — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
20/ 10080% cheaper than New York
$1,313/mo
Median Income
79/100
Safety
12%
Income Tax
tropical monsoon
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
25/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$550/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$400/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$900/month
Food & Groceries
25/100
Milk (1 liter)$2.5/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.5/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.2/kg
Transportation
20/100
Monthly Transit Pass$32/month
One-Way Ticket$1.3/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.1/km
Utilities
20/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$50/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$22/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$15/month
Healthcare
30/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$25/visit
Dentist Visit$35/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$8/course
Education
25/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$300/month
International Primary School (yearly)$8,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$250/course
Entertainment
25/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$10/ticket
Theater Ticket$25/ticket
Museum Entry$8/ticket
Clothing
28/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$50/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$30/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$75/pair
Personal Care
22/100
Haircut (Men)$12/cut
Haircut (Women)$22/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$3.5/bottle
Dining Out
20/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$6/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$30/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$7/meal
Childcare
28/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$500/month
Babysitter (per hour)$10/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$15/pack
Fitness & Sports
25/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$30/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$15/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$5/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

85 Mbps
Internet Speed
$195
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
low
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
60/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Xiziwan, Qianzhen, Fengshan

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kaohsiung cheap to live in?

Kaohsiung has a cost of living index of 20/100, where New York = 100. It is 80% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $700–$980 per month.

How much does rent cost in Kaohsiung?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Kaohsiung costs approximately $550/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $400/month.

Is Kaohsiung good for digital nomads?

Kaohsiung has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 85 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $195/month. English proficiency is low.

What is the average salary in Kaohsiung?

The median net monthly salary in Kaohsiung is approximately $1,313 USD. The income tax rate is around 12%.

How does Kaohsiung compare to New York for cost of living?

Kaohsiung (cost index 20) is 80% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $2,000/month by moving from New York to Kaohsiung.

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