Cost Of Living For a Family in Taichung 2025

Average monthly spending for families in Taichung

We consider a family to be a member of four members, two adults and two children. This is the most common type of family. From the figures below, it should be fairly easy to calculate the average spending for families of different sizes.

How much money does a family need in a month to survive in Taichung?

Families in Taichung spend around 88,000 TWD per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a family can survive with a monthly budget as low as 31,000 TWD or as high as 570,000 TWD. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Family expenditure to income ratio in Taichung

Analysing the how affordable it is for families to live in Taichung

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Families usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a family of four ranges between 70% to 80%.

Families in Taichung spend around 89% of their monthly income. Some families spend as low as 79% of their income while some as high as 98%.

How do families spend their money in Taichung?

We asked thousands of families about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for families

Families in Taichung typically spend from 22% to 37% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 27% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 28,000 TWD with expenditure ranging from 9,900 TWD to 180,000 TWD. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for families

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Taichung ranges from 3% to 8% of total expenses with 5% being the average for most families. The average monthly cost of utilities is 4,400 TWD with 1,500 TWD and 29,000 TWD being the upper and lower limits for a family of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for families

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a family resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a family would expect to spend from 3,100 TWD to 57,000 TWD in a month on commuting with 8,800 TWD being the norm for most families. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 5% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 7%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for families

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical family in a month in Taichung is 16,000 TWD. The cost of groceries can range between 5,600 TWD to 100,000 TWD. Families spend on average about 21% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 14% and 27% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for families

Families in Taichung allocate 7% to 16% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 11%. The range of medical expenses range from 2,800 TWD to 46,000 TWD with 8,800 TWD being the norm for most families.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for families

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 1,500 TWD to 29,000 TWD with 4,400 TWD being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 1% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most families.

Education and schooling expenditure for families

Spending on education can vary drastically between different families. On average, education constitutes 13% of the monthly expenditure of families with 6% and 21% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 12,000 TWD per month with 4,300 TWD being the minimum spent amount and 80,000 TWD being the maximum.

What percentage of families in Taichung are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of families that reported their ability to save money

Almost 58% of surveyed families in Taichung said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 42% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do families manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families that are able to save money can put anywhere from 10% to 29% of their monthly income to their savings, with 18% being the average for most families. The average monthly amount of money that families can put aside is 32,000 TWD with 11,000 TWD and 210,000 TWD being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Taichung

Reasons that make it difficult for families to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping families from maximizing their savings in Taichung. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 5% of the families said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 8% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 15% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 11% of families blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 19% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 12% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for families in Taichung

Where do people choose to put their savings?

Affordable living in Taichung

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked families one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Taichung?

Around 67% of surveyed families think that living in Taichung is affordable with proper budgeting while 33% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Low-cost alternatives in Taichung

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked families how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options59%

Few low-cost options41%

Based on the survey, 59% of the families living in Taichung have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 41% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Families

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked families whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes65%

No35%

Based on the survey, 35% of the families living in Taichung said that they don't have an emergency fund while 65% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy62%

We asked family guardians and parents in Taichung whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 38% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 62% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether families of have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 35% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 65% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance35%

Easily manages finances65%

Financial goals of families in Taichung

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Taichung, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 8% of families said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 38% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 9% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 7% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 18% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 7% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 8% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 12% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Taichung

Percentage of families who are in debt

According to the survey, 28% of the families in Taichung have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 72% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Taichung

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 29% of a family's monthly income in Taichung goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Taichung pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 15% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 13% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 15% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 12% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Taichung

10% of debtors in Taichung confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 28% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 18% of people and personal loans rose at 40%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Taichung.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Taichung

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked families how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Taichung

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Taichung

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

1,500 TWD

4,400 TWD

29,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$49

$140

$910

Internet and cable cost

300 TWD

590 TWD

790 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$9.4

$19

$25

Mobile phone bill and charges

240 TWD

390 TWD

1,200 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$7.5

$12

$37

The average monthly energy and water consumption of families is around 4,400 TWD. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 300 TWD to 790 TWD with 590 TWD being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 390 TWD but can range between 240 TWD and 1,200 TWD depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Taichung is around 5%. This means that people pay 5% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2% to 9% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Taichung

Prices and cost of goods and services in Taichung

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

59 TWD

120 TWD

200 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.9

$3.7

$6.2

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Taichung is approximatly 120 TWD with meal cost ranging from 59 TWD to 200 TWD. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

200 TWD

300 TWD

600 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6.3

$9.5

$19

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 200 TWD and 600 TWD with 300 TWD being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Taichung.

Fine dining meal for one price

400 TWD

600 TWD

2,400 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$13

$19

$76

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 400 TWD to 2,400 TWD with the average cost being 600 TWD for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Taichung.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

49 TWD

79 TWD

120 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.6

$2.5

$3.7

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Taichung is around 79 TWD. Price ranges between 49 TWD and 120 TWD depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

39 TWD

47 TWD

59 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.2

$1.5

$1.9

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Taichung is 47 TWD. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 59 TWD and the minimum being 39 TWD depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

30 TWD

39 TWD

59 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.94

$1.2

$1.9

A dozen eggs costs around 39 TWD on average with 30 TWD and 59 TWD being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

67 TWD

87 TWD

120 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.1

$2.8

$3.9

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Taichung is between 67 TWD and 120 TWD depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 87 TWD.

Pack of beef price

79 TWD

120 TWD

240 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.5

$3.7

$7.5

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 120 TWD. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

32 TWD

43 TWD

62 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1

$1.4

$2

A bag of rice in Taichung costs around 43 TWD on average with prices rangeing between 32 TWD and 62 TWD depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

12 TWD

16 TWD

30 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.37

$0.50

$0.94

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 12 TWD to 30 TWD. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

21 TWD

28 TWD

45 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.67

$0.87

$1.4

A bag of apples costs 28 TWD on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Taichung is around 26%. This means that families spend 26% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 18% to 32% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for families

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Taichung

Rent Cost in Taichung

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

5,000 TWD

7,500 TWD

20,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$160

$240

$640

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

7,500 TWD

12,000 TWD

30,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$240

$380

$960

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

10,000 TWD

15,000 TWD

40,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$320

$480

$1,300

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

12,000 TWD

20,000 TWD

55,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$380

$640

$1,700

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

24,000 TWD

60,000 TWD

120,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$760

$1,900

$3,800

Townhouse monthly rent cost

20,000 TWD

30,000 TWD

86,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$640

$960

$2,700

House monthly rent cost

24,000 TWD

60,000 TWD

120,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$760

$1,900

$3,800

Villa monthly rent cost

30,000 TWD

75,000 TWD

120,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$960

$2,400

$3,800

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Taichung ranges between 5,000 TWD and 20,000 TWD, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 7,500 TWD to 30,000 TWD. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 10,000 TWD and 40,000 TWD per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 12,000 TWD to 55,000 TWD. The average rent of a townhouse in Taichung is around 30,000 TWD while house rental costs can be as high as 60,000 TWD per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 30,000 TWD to 120,000 TWD per month.

Apartment and house prices in Taichung

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

1M TWD

1.5M TWD

3M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$32,000

$48,000

$96,000

1-bedroom apartment price

1.2M TWD

2M TWD

7.5M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$38,000

$64,000

$240,000

2-bedroom apartment price

2M TWD

6M TWD

12M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$64,000

$190,000

$380,000

3-bedroom apartment price

6.7M TWD

10M TWD

30M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$210,000

$320,000

$960,000

Townhouse price

8.6M TWD

20M TWD

75M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$270,000

$640,000

$2.4M

House price

10M TWD

60M TWD

86M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$320,000

$1.9M

$2.7M

Villa price

12M TWD

67M TWD

100M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$380,000

$2.1M

$3.2M

The average price of a studio apartment in Taichung can range from 1M TWD to 3M TWD depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 1.2M TWD to 7.5M TWD. A villa can cost you 67M TWD on average with prices ranging from 12M TWD to 100M TWD.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Taichung can be x117 to x210 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x117 multiples of the average monthly salary in Taichung.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Taichung is around 32%. This means that people pay 32% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 22% to 42% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.