Cost Of Living in Taipei 2025

Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in Taipei

Whether you're living in Taipei or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in Taipei

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in Taipei and how much retirement savings are required?

Retirement age

The retirement age for most employees in is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.

Retirement planning and savings

There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.

Retirement Income Distribution

We asked residents about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Retirement Monthly Expenses in Taipei

StudentCost of living and expenses break down for students living in Taipei

Expenditure to Income Ratio in Taipei

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.

Expense to income distribution levels

Interpretation and Analysis

The average spending-to-salary ratio in Taipei is 81% This means that on average, people spend around 81% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 16% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.

Individual
73%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

65%

81%

Couple
77%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

69%

85%

Family
85%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

76%

94%

Saving Challenges in Taipei

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

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

Around 5% of the people 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% 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.

How do people spend their money in Taipei?

We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.

People living in Taipei typically spend from 14% to 33% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 25% being the average. The average spend on housing is 17,000 TWD with expenditure ranging from 1,300 TWD to 170,000 TWD. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Taipei ranges from 4% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 2,800 TWD with 210 TWD and 28,000 TWD being the upper and lower limits.

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 420 TWD to 55,000 TWD on commuting with 5,500 TWD being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 7% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 11%.

The average outlay on groceries in a month in Taipei is 14,000 TWD. The cost of groceries can range between 1,100 TWD to 140,000 TWD. People spend on average about 28% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 20% and 34% respectively.

People in Taipei allocate 5% to 13% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 10%. The range of medical expenses range from 300 TWD to 39,000 TWD with 3,900 TWD being the norm.

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 170 TWD to 22,000 TWD with 2,200 TWD being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 9% of total expenses with an average of 5% for most residents.

Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 5% of the monthly expenditure with 3% and 11% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 3,300 TWD per month with 250 TWD being the minimum spent amount and 33,000 TWD being the maximum.

Affordable living in Taipei

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Taipei?

Around 65% of surveyed residents think that living in Taipei is affordable with proper budgeting while 35% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

SingleSpending habits, consumption analysis, and expenditure patterns for a single person living in Taipei

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Taipei

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

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Individual

320 TWD

2,300 TWD

15,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$10

$72

$480

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

850 TWD

2,900 TWD

19,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$27

$91

$590

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

1,500 TWD

4,200 TWD

28,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$47

$130

$870

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 expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in Taipei ranges between 320 TWD and 15,000 TWD with average being 2,300 TWD, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 2,900 TWD with 850 TWD and 19,000 TWD being the upper and lower limits respectively. As expected, the energy and water consumption of families is the highest among the three groups with an average of 4,200 TWD. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and 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 Taipei is around 4.8%. This means that people pay 4.8% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 1.9% to 8.7% depending on salary and location.

Typical saving choices for people in Taipei

Where do people choose to put their savings?

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

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Taipei

Prices and cost of goods and services in Taipei

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 Taipei 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

290 TWD

590 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6.2

$9.3

$19

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 200 TWD and 590 TWD with 290 TWD being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Taipei.

Fine dining meal for one price

390 TWD

590 TWD

2,300 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$12

$19

$74

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 390 TWD to 2,300 TWD with the average cost being 590 TWD for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Taipei.

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 Taipei 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 Taipei 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 Taipei 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 Taipei 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 Taipei is around 25%. This means that people spend 25% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 17% to 31% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for every population group

A single person living alone spends approximately 6,100 TWD per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 860 TWD and 41,000 TWD depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 8,900 TWD per month. That number can be get as low as 3,000 TWD or a high as 47,000 TWD. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 5,300 TWD to 99,000 TWD with the location, income, and size of the family being the most determinite factors.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Taipei

Rent Cost in Taipei

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

4,800 TWD

7,200 TWD

19,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$150

$230

$610

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

7,200 TWD

12,000 TWD

29,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$230

$370

$920

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

9,700 TWD

14,000 TWD

39,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$310

$460

$1,200

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

12,000 TWD

19,000 TWD

53,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$370

$610

$1,700

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

23,000 TWD

58,000 TWD

120,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$730

$1,800

$3,700

Townhouse monthly rent cost

19,000 TWD

29,000 TWD

83,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$610

$920

$2,600

House monthly rent cost

23,000 TWD

58,000 TWD

120,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$730

$1,800

$3,700

Villa monthly rent cost

29,000 TWD

72,000 TWD

120,000 TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$920

$2,300

$3,700

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Taipei ranges between 4,800 TWD and 19,000 TWD, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 7,200 TWD to 29,000 TWD. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 9,700 TWD and 39,000 TWD per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 12,000 TWD to 53,000 TWD. The average rent of a townhouse in Taipei is around 29,000 TWD while house rental costs can be as high as 58,000 TWD per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 29,000 TWD to 120,000 TWD per month.

Apartment and house prices in Taipei

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

970,000 TWD

1.4M TWD

2.9M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$31,000

$46,000

$92,000

1-bedroom apartment price

1.2M TWD

1.9M TWD

7.2M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$37,000

$61,000

$230,000

2-bedroom apartment price

1.9M TWD

5.8M TWD

12M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$61,000

$180,000

$370,000

3-bedroom apartment price

6.4M TWD

9.7M TWD

29M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$200,000

$310,000

$920,000

Townhouse price

8.3M TWD

19M TWD

72M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$260,000

$610,000

$2.3M

House price

9.7M TWD

58M TWD

83M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$310,000

$1.8M

$2.6M

Villa price

12M TWD

64M TWD

97M TWD

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$370,000

$2M

$3.1M

The average price of a studio apartment in Taipei can range from 970,000 TWD to 2.9M TWD depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 1.2M TWD to 7.2M TWD. A villa can cost you 64M TWD on average with prices ranging from 12M TWD to 97M TWD.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Taipei can be x112 to x202 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x112 multiples of the average monthly salary in Taipei.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Taipei is around 31%. This means that people pay 31% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 21% to 41% 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.

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 residents of 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 residents 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%

Singles

The average monthly expense for a single person living in Taipei is 38,000 TWD. Expenses can range from 5,400 TWD at the minimum level to 250,000 TWD at the highest end.

Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in Taipei is 64,000 TWD. Expenditure can range from 21,000 TWD to 340,000 TWD per month.

Families

The average cost of living for families in Taipei is 85,000 TWD per month. Families spend anywhere from 30,000 TWD to 550,000 TWD.

Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in Taipei is 28,000 TWD. Students spend from 4,200 TWD to 180,000 TWD per month.

Financial goals of people in Taipei

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Taipei, 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 those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 39% 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.

Emergency Funds

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

Yes63%

No37%

Based on the survey, 37% of the people living in Taipei said that they don't have an emergency fund while 63% said that they do.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Taipei

Percentage of people who are in debt

According to the survey, 27% of the people in Taipei have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 73% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Taipei

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 28% of the people's monthly income in Taipei goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Taipei 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 Taipei

10% of debtors in Taipei 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 Taipei.

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 Taipei

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked residents 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.

Low-cost alternatives in Taipei

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

Plenty of low-cost options57%

Few low-cost options43%

Based on the survey, 57% of the people living in Taipei have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 43% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

How much money can you save in Taipei every month?

We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.

What percentage of people in Taipei manage to save money from their income every month?

Almost 61% of the surveyed people in Taipei said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 39% said that aren't saving anything.

Percentage of people saving money by population group in Taipei

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

For most people, 11% to 30% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 18% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 20,000 TWD on average with savings ranging from 1,600 TWD to 200,000 TWD.

65% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 60% of couples said the same. 55% of families confirmed their ability to save money.

How much money do people actually save in Taipei?

Singles

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for singles

Interpretation and Analysis

Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 14% to 32% of their monthly income to savings, with 22% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 14,000 TWD with 1,600 TWD and 93,000 TWD being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Couples

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 12% to 31% of their monthly income, with 20% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 23,000 TWD with 7,800 TWD and 120,000 TWD being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Families

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families in Taipei can save anywhere between 9.7% to 28% of their monthly income, with 17% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 31,000 TWD with 11,000 TWD and 200,000 TWD being the minimum and maximum respectively.

CoupleAverage monthly living expenditure breaks and spending patterns for couples in Taipei

FamilyAverage monthly expenses and break out of spending for families living in Taipei