Cost Of Living For a Student in Tainan 2025

Average monthly spending for students in Tainan

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

Students in Tainan spend around 25,000 TWD per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 3,800 TWD or as high as 170,000 TWD. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

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 Tainan 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%

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

How do students spend their money in Tainan?

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

Housing and accomodation expenditure for students

Students in Tainan typically spend from 13% to 24% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 18% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 6,000 TWD with expenditure ranging from 910 TWD to 40,000 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 Tainan ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 990 TWD with 150 TWD and 6,600 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 270 TWD to 12,000 TWD in a month on commuting with 1,700 TWD being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 10%.

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 Tainan is 5,000 TWD. The cost of groceries can range between 760 TWD to 33,000 TWD. Students spend on average about 23% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 17% and 27% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students

Students in Tainan allocate 6% to 12% 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 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 230 TWD to 9,900 TWD with 1,500 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 190 TWD to 8,300 TWD with 1,200 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 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 4,700 TWD per month with 720 TWD being the minimum spent amount and 31,000 TWD being the maximum.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Tainan

Prices and cost of goods and services in Tainan

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

Fast food combo meal price

57 TWD

110 TWD

190 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.8

$3.6

$6.1

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Tainan is approximatly 110 TWD with meal cost ranging from 57 TWD to 190 TWD. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

180 TWD

270 TWD

550 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.8

$8.6

$17

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 180 TWD and 550 TWD with 270 TWD being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Tainan.

Fine dining meal for one price

360 TWD

550 TWD

2,200 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$12

$17

$69

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 360 TWD to 2,200 TWD with the average cost being 550 TWD for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Tainan.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

48 TWD

76 TWD

110 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.5

$2.4

$3.6

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Tainan is around 76 TWD. Price ranges between 48 TWD and 110 TWD depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

38 TWD

46 TWD

57 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.2

$1.5

$1.8

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Tainan is 46 TWD. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 57 TWD and the minimum being 38 TWD depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

29 TWD

38 TWD

57 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.91

$1.2

$1.8

A dozen eggs costs around 38 TWD on average with 29 TWD and 57 TWD being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

65 TWD

84 TWD

120 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.1

$2.7

$3.8

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Tainan is between 65 TWD and 120 TWD depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 84 TWD.

Pack of beef price

76 TWD

110 TWD

230 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.4

$3.6

$7.3

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 110 TWD. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

31 TWD

42 TWD

60 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.98

$1.3

$1.9

A bag of rice in Tainan costs around 42 TWD on average with prices rangeing between 31 TWD and 60 TWD depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

11 TWD

15 TWD

29 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.36

$0.48

$0.91

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 11 TWD to 29 TWD. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

20 TWD

27 TWD

44 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.65

$0.85

$1.4

A bag of apples costs 27 TWD on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for students

Affordable living in Tainan

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Tainan?

Around 58% of surveyed students think that living in Tainan is affordable with proper budgeting while 42% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Tainan

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 options51%

Few low-cost options49%

Based on the survey, 51% of the students living in Tainan have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 49% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

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.

Yes56%

No44%

Based on the survey, 44% of the students living in Tainan said that they don't have an emergency fund while 56% said that they do.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Tainan

Rent Cost in Tainan

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

4,300 TWD

6,500 TWD

17,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$140

$210

$550

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

6,500 TWD

10,000 TWD

26,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$210

$330

$820

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

8,700 TWD

13,000 TWD

35,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$270

$410

$1,100

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

10,000 TWD

17,000 TWD

47,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$330

$550

$1,500

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

21,000 TWD

52,000 TWD

100,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$660

$1,600

$3,300

Townhouse monthly rent cost

17,000 TWD

26,000 TWD

74,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$550

$820

$2,300

House monthly rent cost

21,000 TWD

52,000 TWD

100,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$660

$1,600

$3,300

Villa monthly rent cost

26,000 TWD

65,000 TWD

100,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$820

$2,100

$3,300

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Tainan ranges between 4,300 TWD and 17,000 TWD, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 6,500 TWD to 26,000 TWD. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 8,700 TWD and 35,000 TWD per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 10,000 TWD to 47,000 TWD. The average rent of a townhouse in Tainan is around 26,000 TWD while house rental costs can be as high as 52,000 TWD per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 26,000 TWD to 100,000 TWD per month.

Apartment and house prices in Tainan

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

870,000 TWD

1.3M TWD

2.6M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$27,000

$41,000

$82,000

1-bedroom apartment price

1M TWD

1.7M TWD

6.5M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$33,000

$55,000

$210,000

2-bedroom apartment price

1.7M TWD

5.2M TWD

10M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$55,000

$160,000

$330,000

3-bedroom apartment price

5.8M TWD

8.7M TWD

26M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$180,000

$270,000

$820,000

Townhouse price

7.4M TWD

17M TWD

65M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$230,000

$550,000

$2.1M

House price

8.7M TWD

52M TWD

74M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$270,000

$1.6M

$2.3M

Villa price

10M TWD

58M TWD

87M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$330,000

$1.8M

$2.7M

The average price of a studio apartment in Tainan can range from 870,000 TWD to 2.6M TWD depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 1M TWD to 6.5M TWD. A villa can cost you 58M TWD on average with prices ranging from 10M TWD to 87M TWD.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Tainan can be x100 to x181 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x100 multiples of the average monthly salary in Tainan.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Tainan is around 28%. This means that people pay 28% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 19% to 36% 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.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Tainan

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

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student

150 TWD

990 TWD

6,600 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.8

$31

$210

Internet and cable cost

290 TWD

570 TWD

760 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$9.1

$18

$24

Mobile phone bill and charges

230 TWD

380 TWD

1,100 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$7.3

$12

$36

The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 990 TWD. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 290 TWD to 760 TWD with 570 TWD being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 380 TWD but can range between 230 TWD and 1,100 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 Tainan is around 4.3%. This means that people pay 4.3% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 1.7% to 7.8% depending on salary and location.