How much do you need to earn to live in Taichung? 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$24,299/month gross to live in Taichung on a budget.
For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for NT$31,195/month gross (NT$29,851 net after ~4% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | NT$10,000 Cheapest neighborhood (North District) | NT$14,500 Median neighborhood | NT$16,000 Premium neighborhood (West District) |
| Groceries | NT$6,500 | NT$7,800 | NT$9,750 |
| Transport | NT$800 | NT$800 | NT$800 |
| Utilities | NT$1,950 | NT$1,950 | NT$1,950 |
| Dining & Entertainment | NT$4,000 | NT$4,800 | NT$6,000 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | NT$23,250 | NT$29,850 | NT$34,500 |
NT$24,299/month gross
NT$31,195/month gross
NT$36,055/month gross
1-bedroom second-hand rents across 4 neighborhoods in Taichung
North District
8 min by walk
NT$10,000 - NT$15,000
Nantun
20 min by bus
NT$11,000 - NT$17,000
Xitun
15 min by bus
NT$12,000 - NT$18,000
West District
5 min by walk
NT$13,000 - NT$19,000
Xitun
15 min by bus
NT$12,000 - NT$18,000
Nantun
20 min by bus
NT$11,000 - NT$17,000
See all 4 neighborhoods, detailed expense breakdowns, and savings projections.
Explore TaichungEnter 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$24,299/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Taichung. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for NT$31,195/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 Taichung is approximately NT$14,375/month. Rents range from NT$10,000 in North District to NT$19,000 in West District.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Taichung cost approximately NT$6,500. 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$24,299/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 4%. At the comfortable level of NT$31,195/month, it rises to approximately 4%. This includes income tax and social contributions.