Cost Of Living For a Student in Kaohsiung 2025

Average monthly spending for students in Kaohsiung

How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Kaohsiung?

Students in Kaohsiung spend around 31,000 TWD per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 4,800 TWD or as high as 210,000 TWD. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

How do students spend their money in Kaohsiung?

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

Housing and accomodation expenditure for students

Students in Kaohsiung typically spend from 14% to 25% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 19% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 7,500 TWD with expenditure ranging from 1,200 TWD to 50,000 TWD. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

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

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Kaohsiung ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 1,300 TWD with 190 TWD and 8,400 TWD being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 340 TWD to 15,000 TWD in a month on commuting with 2,200 TWD being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 5% of total spending on average but can go as low as 5% or as high as 11%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Kaohsiung is 6,300 TWD. The cost of groceries can range between 960 TWD to 42,000 TWD. Students spend on average about 22% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 16% and 26% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students

Students in Kaohsiung allocate 5% to 11% 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 8%. The range of medical expenses range from 290 TWD to 13,000 TWD with 1,900 TWD being the norm for most students.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for students

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 240 TWD to 10,000 TWD with 1,600 TWD being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most students.

Education and schooling expenditure for students

Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 19% of the monthly expenditure of students with 12% and 24% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 6,000 TWD per month with 910 TWD being the minimum spent amount and 40,000 TWD being the maximum.

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 Kaohsiung

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 students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options65%

Few low-cost options35%

Based on the survey, 65% of the students living in Kaohsiung have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 35% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Affordable living in Kaohsiung

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Kaohsiung?

Around 73% of surveyed students think that living in Kaohsiung is affordable with proper budgeting while 27% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Kaohsiung

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

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student

190 TWD

1,300 TWD

8,400 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6.1

$40

$270

Internet and cable cost

300 TWD

600 TWD

800 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$9.5

$19

$25

Mobile phone bill and charges

240 TWD

400 TWD

1,200 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$7.6

$13

$38

The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 1,300 TWD. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 300 TWD to 800 TWD with 600 TWD being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 400 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 Kaohsiung is around 5.5%. This means that people pay 5.5% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2.2% to 9.9% depending on salary and location.

Emergency Funds For Students

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 students whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes71%

No29%

Based on the survey, 29% of the students living in Kaohsiung said that they don't have an emergency fund while 71% 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 student guardians and parents in Kaohsiung 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 students 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%

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Kaohsiung

Rent Cost in Kaohsiung

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

5,500 TWD

8,200 TWD

22,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$170

$260

$690

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

8,200 TWD

13,000 TWD

33,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$260

$420

$1,000

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

11,000 TWD

16,000 TWD

44,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$350

$520

$1,400

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

13,000 TWD

22,000 TWD

60,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$420

$690

$1,900

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

26,000 TWD

66,000 TWD

130,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$830

$2,100

$4,200

Townhouse monthly rent cost

22,000 TWD

33,000 TWD

94,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$690

$1,000

$3,000

House monthly rent cost

26,000 TWD

66,000 TWD

130,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$830

$2,100

$4,200

Villa monthly rent cost

33,000 TWD

82,000 TWD

130,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,000

$2,600

$4,200

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Kaohsiung ranges between 5,500 TWD and 22,000 TWD, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 8,200 TWD to 33,000 TWD. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 11,000 TWD and 44,000 TWD per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 13,000 TWD to 60,000 TWD. The average rent of a townhouse in Kaohsiung is around 33,000 TWD while house rental costs can be as high as 66,000 TWD per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 33,000 TWD to 130,000 TWD per month.

Apartment and house prices in Kaohsiung

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

1.1M TWD

1.6M TWD

3.3M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$35,000

$52,000

$100,000

1-bedroom apartment price

1.3M TWD

2.2M TWD

8.2M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$42,000

$69,000

$260,000

2-bedroom apartment price

2.2M TWD

6.6M TWD

13M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$69,000

$210,000

$420,000

3-bedroom apartment price

7.3M TWD

11M TWD

33M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$230,000

$350,000

$1M

Townhouse price

9.4M TWD

22M TWD

82M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$300,000

$690,000

$2.6M

House price

11M TWD

66M TWD

94M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$350,000

$2.1M

$3M

Villa price

13M TWD

73M TWD

110M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$420,000

$2.3M

$3.5M

The average price of a studio apartment in Kaohsiung can range from 1.1M TWD to 3.3M TWD depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 1.3M TWD to 8.2M TWD. A villa can cost you 73M TWD on average with prices ranging from 13M TWD to 110M TWD.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Kaohsiung can be x127 to x229 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x127 multiples of the average monthly salary in Kaohsiung.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Kaohsiung is around 35%. This means that people pay 35% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 24% to 46% 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.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Kaohsiung

Prices and cost of goods and services in Kaohsiung

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

Fast food combo meal price

60 TWD

120 TWD

200 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.9

$3.8

$6.3

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Kaohsiung is approximatly 120 TWD with meal cost ranging from 60 TWD to 200 TWD. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

210 TWD

310 TWD

630 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6.6

$9.9

$20

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 210 TWD and 630 TWD with 310 TWD being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Kaohsiung.

Fine dining meal for one price

420 TWD

630 TWD

2,500 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$13

$20

$79

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 420 TWD to 2,500 TWD with the average cost being 630 TWD for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Kaohsiung.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

50 TWD

80 TWD

120 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.6

$2.5

$3.8

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Kaohsiung is around 80 TWD. Price ranges between 50 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

40 TWD

48 TWD

60 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.3

$1.5

$1.9

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Kaohsiung is 48 TWD. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 60 TWD and the minimum being 40 TWD depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

30 TWD

40 TWD

60 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.95

$1.3

$1.9

A dozen eggs costs around 40 TWD on average with 30 TWD and 60 TWD being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

68 TWD

88 TWD

120 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.1

$2.8

$3.9

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Kaohsiung is between 68 TWD and 120 TWD depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 88 TWD.

Pack of beef price

80 TWD

120 TWD

240 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.5

$3.8

$7.6

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

44 TWD

62 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1

$1.4

$2

A bag of rice in Kaohsiung costs around 44 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

$0.38

$0.50

$0.95

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

46 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.68

$0.88

$1.5

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

Expenditure on food and grocery for students