Cost of Living

Taipei, Taiwan

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

CheapestNew York = 100
29/ 10071% cheaper than New York
+45% rent since Jul 2026
$1,820/mo
Median Income
84/100
Safety
18%
Income Tax
humid subtropical
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

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

Housing
45/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$950/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$600/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,950/month
Food & Groceries
40/100
Milk (1 liter)$3.1/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.9/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$3.1/kg
Transportation
35/100
Monthly Transit Pass$37/month
One-Way Ticket$1.25/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1/km
Utilities
30/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$75/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$26/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$22/month
Healthcare
25/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$16/visit
Dentist Visit$25/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$5/course
Education
50/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$600/month
International Primary School (yearly)$15,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$450/course
Entertainment
40/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$10/ticket
Theater Ticket$30/ticket
Museum Entry$10/ticket
Clothing
45/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$55/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$35/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$75/pair
Personal Care
35/100
Haircut (Men)$15/cut
Haircut (Women)$30/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$4/bottle
Dining Out
35/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$6/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$32/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$5/meal
Childcare
55/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$900/month
Babysitter (per hour)$12/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$15/pack
Fitness & Sports
40/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$40/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$18/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$6/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

124 Mbps
Internet Speed
$165
Coworking/Month
excellent
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
72/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Xinyi, Da'an, Zhongshan

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Taipei cheap to live in?

Taipei has a cost of living index of 29/100, where New York = 100. It is 71% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,040–$1,456 per month.

How much does rent cost in Taipei?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Taipei costs approximately $950/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $600/month.

Is Taipei good for digital nomads?

Taipei has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 124 Mbps, café wifi reliability is excellent, and coworking spaces run about $165/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Taipei?

The median net monthly salary in Taipei is approximately $1,820 USD. The income tax rate is around 18%.

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

Taipei (cost index 29) is 71% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,775/month by moving from New York to Taipei.

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