South Korea vs Taiwan - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

South Korea Taiwan
🚶 Cost of living one person
$1139
$963
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$3162
$2788
🏠 One person rent
$478
$385
🏘️ Family rent
$1088
$921
🍽️ Food expenses
$463
$373
🚐 Transport expenses
$101
$97.9
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$2364
$1491
💸 GDP per capita
$33121
$24828
😃 Human freedom index
8.12
8.56
❤️ Life expectancy
82.7
79.1
👮 Corruption perceptions index
63
67
🌐 English speaking %
20%
30%
🎓 Higher education
87
89
😀 Quality of life
85
78
🏙️ Population
51.5M
23.4M

The average cost of living in South Korea ($1139) is 18% more expensive than in Taiwan ($963). South Korea ranked 67th vs 91st for Taiwan in the list of the most expensive countries in the world.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 2.1 months in South Korea compared to 1.5 months in Taiwan. Ranked 22nd and 31st best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in South Korea vs Taiwan infographic

Share this infographic!

Prices in South Korea vs Taiwan

We calculate prices for South Korea and Taiwan as a population-weighted mean of 87 and 17 cities, respectively. Since large cities tend to have a higher cost of living, it's better to visit specific city pages below for more relevant information.

South Korea Taiwan
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$6.98
$4.48
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$34.6
$29
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.9
$5.06
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.27
$2.09
 Cappuccino
$3.63
$2.92
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$1.53
$1
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$493
$401
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$328
$290
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$1283
$1057
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$827
$763
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$97.5
$50.7
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$150
$78.1
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$19.9
$21.5
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.19%
1.94%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$10513
$7413
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$7053
$4299
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$1.1
$0.71
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$45.5
$34.2
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$9.17
$8.93
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.24
$0.97
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.14
$3.11
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$2.92
$1.92
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.82
$2.82
🥚 Eggs, x12
$3.24
$2.85
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.1
$14.1
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.02
$7.76
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$25.1
$17.3
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$7.3
$3.97
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.62
$1.75
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.97
$2.24
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$5.27
$2.9
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.43
$2.68
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.82
$1.91
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.79
$0.67
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$2.56
$1.72
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$17
$12.1
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.22
$1.54
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.38
$3.81
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$5
$10.6
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$5.39
$6.89
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$2.39
$1.85
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$2.16
$2.53
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$50.5
$34.6
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$10.8
$9.78
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$27.9
$41.5
💇 Haircut, simple
$8.35
$13.8
👖 Brand Jeans
$64
$72.5
👟 Brand Sneakers
$80.3
$83.7
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$392
$464
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$21622
$14683

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in South Korea vs Taiwan

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

In South Korea

City Cost of living Population
Seoul
$1461
9.67M
Busan
$1122
3.45M
Incheon
$1067
2.94M
Daegu
$1114
2.38M
Daejeon
$975
1.48M
Suwon
$970
1.23M
Gwangju
$1178
1.49M
Ulsan
$1099
1.13M
Cheongju
$997
852K
Seongnam
$1127
919K
Yongin
$1142
971K
Changwon
$1083
1.01M
Hwaseong
$1049
941K
Goyang
$1008
1.06M
Namyangju
$1084
732K
Bucheon
$1068
781K
Gimhae
$901
534K
Siheung
$1087
520K
Jeju Island
$1165
678K
Pyeongtaek
$1053
590K
Cheonan
$1222
652K
Pohang
$1000
504K
Ansan
$990
653K
Uijeongbu
$936
463K
Anyang
$1025
548K
Paju
$1020
498K
Jeju
$1157
492K
Sejong
$1043
386K
Hanam
$1074
330K
Gunsan
$1007
275K

In Taiwan

City Cost of living Population
New Taipei
$1060
4.04M
Taipei
$1158
2.6M
Taichung
$931
3.03M
Kaohsiung
$932
2.73M
Taoyuan
$868
2.33M
Tainan
$841
1.87M
Hsinchu
$864
499K
Keelung
$1028
367K
Zhubei
$828
218K
Chiayi
$707
252K
Changhua
$841
225K
Kinmen
$821
144K
Miaoli
$698
86.2K
Douliu
$761
109K
Nantou
$818
97.4K
Yilan
$745
95K
Taitung
$801
103K