How much do you need to earn to live in Kaohsiung? We calculate the gross monthly salary required to cover rent, food, transport, and utilities — accounting for Taiwan's tax system.
You need at least NT$22,468/month gross to live in Kaohsiung on a budget.
For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for NT$28,897/month gross (NT$27,651 net after ~4% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | NT$9,000 Cheapest neighborhood (Gushan) | NT$13,250 Median neighborhood | NT$15,000 Premium neighborhood (Lingya) |
| Groceries | NT$6,000 | NT$7,200 | NT$9,000 |
| Transport | NT$1,000 | NT$1,000 | NT$1,000 |
| Utilities | NT$2,000 | NT$2,000 | NT$2,000 |
| Dining & Entertainment | NT$3,500 | NT$4,200 | NT$5,250 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | NT$21,500 | NT$27,650 | NT$32,250 |
NT$22,468/month gross
NT$28,897/month gross
NT$33,703/month gross
1-bedroom second-hand rents across 4 neighborhoods in Kaohsiung
Gushan
15 min by MRT
NT$9,000 - NT$14,000
Yancheng
10 min by MRT
NT$10,000 - NT$15,000
Zuoying
15 min by MRT
NT$11,000 - NT$17,000
Lingya
5 min by MRT
NT$12,000 - NT$18,000
Zuoying
15 min by MRT
NT$11,000 - NT$17,000
Yancheng
10 min by MRT
NT$10,000 - NT$15,000
See all 4 neighborhoods, detailed expense breakdowns, and savings projections.
Explore KaohsiungEnter your actual salary to see your take-home pay, affordable neighborhoods, and savings potential.
Open calculatorWe total monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then reverse-calculate the gross salary needed to cover those expenses after Taiwan's income tax and social contributions. Rent data comes from second-hand market listings (what expats actually pay). All figures are based on 2026 data from official government statistics. See our data sources for full attribution.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least NT$22,468/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Kaohsiung. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for NT$28,897/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for Taiwan.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 4 neighborhoods in Kaohsiung is approximately NT$13,250/month. Rents range from NT$9,000 in Gushan to NT$18,000 in Lingya.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Kaohsiung cost approximately NT$6,000. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in Taiwan are progressive. At the budget salary level of NT$22,468/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 4%. At the comfortable level of NT$28,897/month, it rises to approximately 4%. This includes income tax and social contributions.