Detailed Guide to the Cost of Living in Taiwan – October 2025

The cost of living in Taiwan in major Taiwanese cities like Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung can vary significantly, especially concerning rent. Taipei is generally the most expensive, followed by Taichung, and then Kaohsiung, though Taichung and Kaohsiung are often quite comparable.

Here is an outline of the cost of living categories and sample monthly budgets in New Taiwan Dollars (NTD). Note that these are estimates and can fluctuate based on location within the city, lifestyle, and consumption habits. Exchange rates are approximate and variable, too.

For more information about exchanging your currency to New Taiwan Dollars, check out this article.

I. Cost of Living in Taiwan: Major Categories (Estimates in NTD) 

II. Healthcare Costs and Insurance Options

A. National Health Insurance (NHI)

Taiwan has a highly-regarded, compulsory, single-payer National Health Insurance system.

• Enrollment: Most legal residents (including foreigners with an ARC) must enroll after residing in Taiwan for a continuous period (usually six months).
• Premium Calculation (for employed persons): Premiums are primarily calculated as a percentage of your insured monthly salary (currently 4.69%), with the premium split among the employee (30%), employer (60%), and government (10%).
  • Employee Contribution (Approximate): $\text{Monthly Salary Basis} \times 4.69\% \times 30\%$.
• Premium Calculation (for self-employed/foreign income): The premium is based on a chosen salary bracket, and the individual often pays the full 100% of the premium based on that bracket.
• Co-payments: The NHI covers most general medical services, but a small co-payment is required for most visits (e.g., typically NT$50-NT$500 for a general doctor visit) and for some medications.
• Maximum Cap: There is a maximum insured amount, so high earners do not pay proportionally more indefinitely.

B. Private Health Insurance Options

Private insurance can serve two main purposes:

1. Gap Coverage: For new residents before they are eligible for NHI (the initial 6-month waiting period).
2. Supplementary Coverage: To cover services not fully reimbursed by NHI, such as:
   • Higher-end hospital rooms (private vs. NHI-covered shared rooms).
   • Elective or high-cost dental/vision care.
   • International-standard medical evacuation/repatriation (especially valuable for expats).
   • International health insurance plans are available from providers like AXA, Cigna, and others, often ranging from US$3,000 to US$8,000+ annually per person depending on the coverage level.

III. Sample Monthly Budgets (Excluding Rent)

Rent is the most variable factor, so these budgets exclude rent to show core living costs.

Note on Children’s Costs: The family budgets include costs for basic childcare and schooling, which are major variables. International school tuition can be extremely high (up to NT$1,000,000+ per year), drastically increasing the high-range family budgets. Public or local private schools are significantly more affordable.

Monthly Cost of Living in Major Taiwan Cities (in New Taiwan Dollars – NTD), including rent, is provided in the table below.

Key Takeaways

• Rent as the Main Factor: Rent significantly impacts the total cost, with Taipei being the most expensive. For instance, a 3-bedroom apartment can cost between NT$25k and NT$70k in Taipei, compared to NT$15k to NT$45k in Kaohsiung.
• Cost Gradient: The cost of living generally decreases as you move from North (Taipei) to South (Kaohsiung).
• Budget Range: The difference between the low-range and high-range estimates accounts for variables like lifestyle (e.g., eating out vs. cooking), housing quality, and entertainment frequency. The ‘Low-Range’ likely represents a more frugal lifestyle, while the ‘High-Range’ is more indicative of a comfortable or luxury expatriate lifestyle.

Sources used in the Cost of Living in Taiwan

General Cost of Living Data & Comparisons:

• Expat/Cost-of-Living Aggregator Websites: Sites like Numbeo and Expatistan frequently compile and update user-submitted data to provide estimated costs for various expenses (rent, groceries, transportation, etc.) in major cities worldwide, often providing a “2025 prices” or similar recent estimate.
• Financial/Remittance Service Providers: Companies like Wise (formerly TransferWise) often publish detailed guides on the cost of living in various countries, using aggregated data for comparison.

Official Taiwan Data:

• Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) of Taiwan: This government agency publishes official statistics, including the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Residential Rent Index, which track inflation and rental price changes.
• National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA), Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW): This is the source for official NHI premium rates, co-payment limits, and payroll brackets for calculation.
• Taiwan News & Reputable Local English News Outlets (e.g., Focus Taiwan, Taipei Times): These media outlets often report on announcements from the DGBAS, MOHW, and other government bodies regarding economic changes, minimum wage adjustments, NHI rate changes, and rent index records.

Real Estate and Housing:

• Local Taiwan Real Estate Portals: Websites like https://www.google.com/search?q=591.com.tw or major real estate companies like Sinyi Real Estate are often cited by analysts for rent and property price data.
• Global Property Guides: Websites that compile residential rent data based on local portals, often broken down by city and apartment size (e.g., Global Property Guide).