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Taipei is a metropolis and the capital of Taiwan. It is known for its vibrant street food scene and various night market views, including its expansive Shilin market and prestigious universities. The average cost of living in Taipei is around 25,730.7NT$ per month for a single person without rent, and it can vary according to one’s living standards and preferences. In addition, the average cost of rent in Taipei is approximately 15,000 NT$ to 21,000 NT$ per month.
Taipei lies in Northern Taiwan and is known for its bustling night markets, city views, iconic skyscrapers, serene temples, and Prestigious Universities. Students from many countries often move to this vibrant country for study, jobs, excellent quality of life, and career opportunities. If you plan to move to Taipei, ensure you know all your basic living expenses. In this blog post, we will show the cost of living in Taipei with various parameters, such as rent, food cost, education cost, transportation cost, utilities, healthcare cost, and many others. So, let’s begin our discussion without any further delay.
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Cost of Living in Taipei for International Students
On average the cost of living in Taipei is around 41000 NT$ per month for a single person including rent. It is around 50% lower than the cost of living in the United States. In contrast, the cost of living in China and Beijing is less than in Taipei. Still, it frequently attracts students worldwide due to its unmatched high-quality education system, programs and living standards. Here, we have categorised the average cost of living in Taipei into different categories for the immigrants who wish to move here. Before moving to Taipei, students can get an idea of how much they have to keep with them:
Cost of Rent in Taipei
The average cost of rent in Taipei for a single person or student is around 21,000 NT$ in the city centre. Depending on the budget and lifestyle a person prefers. The costs of living in Taipei concerning apartment rent are as follows:
| Apartment Location | Approx. Monthly Rent |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre | 21,000 NT$ |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre | 16,000 NT$ |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre | 50,000 NT$ |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre | 36,000 NT$ |
Also Read: Cost of Living in Taiwan: A Guide on Expected Expenses
Cost of Grocery in Taipei
The average cost of groceries in Taipei is around 3,000 NT$ per month, including milk, bread, rice, water, vegetables, fruits and other items. The grocery costs can impact your cost of living in Taipei as a daily expense. Below is the list of a few grocery items with their prices available in Taipei:
| Grocery Item | Approx. Cost |
| Milk (regular), (1 litre) | 97 NT$ |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | 60 NT$ |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | 100 NT$ |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | 96 NT$ |
| Apples (1kg) | 145.50 NT$ |
| Banana (1kg) | 73 NT$ |
| Oranges (1kg) | 88.50 NT$ |
| Tomato (1kg) | 111.50 NT$ |
| Potato (1kg) | 89 NT$ |
| Onion (1kg) | 84 NT$ |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 56 NT$ |
| Water (1.5 litre bottle) | 38 NT$ |
| meat, egg, drinks and Other items | 2000 NT$ |
Cost of Utilities in Taipei
The Basic Utility Cost in Taipei is around 3,142 NT$ /month for a single person, which is relatively low from the cost of living in Taipei. This utility cost in Taipei includes electricity, gas, a monthly mobile plan, and internet data. For your reference, we have given the Cost of Utilities in Taipei for immigrant students in the country:
| Utility Type | Approx. Monthly Cost |
| Basic Utility for 85m2 Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 3,142 NT$ |
| Internet (60+ Mbps, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | 642 NT$ |
| Monthly Plan of Mobile Phone (with Calls & 10GB+ Data) | 844 NT$ |
Cost of Transportation in Taipei
Taipei has an amazing public transportation system. The best means of public transportation are Metro Taipei (MRT), light rail transit (LRT), city bus, Taiwan tourist shuttle, bullet train, taxi and cycling trips. Transportation contributes around 1,200 NT$ monthly cost for local city transport. The cost of Transportation comes under the overall cost of living in Taipei. Here are various modes of transportation with their fare costs:
| Mode of Transport | Approx. Monthly Cost |
| One-way Ticket(Local Transport) | 30 NT$ |
| Monthly Pass(Regular Price) | 1,200 NT$ |
| Taxi Start(Normal Tariff) | 85 NT$ |
| Taxi 1km(Normal Tariff) | 25 NT$ |
| Taxi 1 hour Waiting(Normal Tariff) | 300 NT$ |
| Gasoline (1 litre) | 31.50 NT$ |
Average Tuition Cost in Taipei
Taipei has top-notch undergraduate programs and postgraduate programs offered by the universities in Taipei at an affordable cost. However, tuition fees can vary according to the program and university you select. Along with the average cost of living in Taipei, the essential thing for you is the average tuition fees of Taipei’s universities. Here in the table, we have given average tuition fees in the universities in Taipei
| Programs Category | Average Tuition Cost (per year) |
| Bachelor | 51,000 NT$ – 78,000 NT$ |
| Masters | 50,000 NT$ – 79,000 NT$ |
| PhD | 142,000 NT$ |
Also Read: Cost of Living in Cuba: A Comprehensive Guide on Cuba’s Expense
Things to Consider Before Moving to Taipei
Before finalising the cost of living in Taipei’s budget, a student should consider a few other essential things while moving to Taipei for higher education. There are plenty of options for international students, including an academic excellence environment and recreational opportunities. So, here are some things you should know before moving to Taipei:
Welcoming People
The vibrant city of Taipei and its people are known to be welcoming and friendly to outsiders. It is known for its friendly people and generous hospitality, so living in Taipei won’t make you feel far from home.
High-quality healthcare
Taipei’s healthcare system is also among the most efficient in the world. Its top-notch medical facilities have qualified medical staff. Moreover, it is accessible, has short waiting times, provides comprehensive population coverage, and has reasonably low costs. These expenses contribute negligibly to the cost of living in Taipei.
Work Opportunities
Taipei has a great job market for many professions and offers many work options for expats. It has a high demand for skilled workers and efficiently issues work visas for qualified individuals. Work Opportunities in this city makes the cost of living in Taipei negligible.
Great food in Taipei
Taipei has the best-tasting street food and a watered-down version of the real thing. Healthy and delicious food is easy to get in Taipei at an affordable cost, and the cost of food will not affect the cost of living in Taipei much.
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FAQs
Answer: The Cost of living in Taipei is around 41000 NT$ per month for a single person including rent, and living expenses can vary according to the location you choose, university selection, food choice and lifestyle.
Answer: The average monthly cost of rent in Taipei for a single person is around 21,000 NT$ to 16,000 NT$, depending on the location. For a family of four, it is around 36,000 NT$ to 50,000 NT$ per month, which makes the cost of living in Taipei affordable.
Answer: The average salary in Taipei is approximately 882,000 NT$/ year. This amount is higher than Taiwan’s average salary, which makes living in Taipei comfortable and luxurious. Moreover, you can exceed your average cost of living in Taipei.
So, this was all about the cost of living in Taipei. Many Indian students dream of pursuing education in foreign nations due to the exposure and career growth they offer. Consider joining a free counselling session with Leverage Edu if you plan to study abroad.
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