How much do you need to earn to live in Taipei? 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$34,989/month gross to live in Taipei on a budget.
For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for NT$46,749/month gross (NT$44,330 net after ~5% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | NT$17,000 Cheapest neighborhood (Songshan) | NT$25,250 Median neighborhood | NT$33,000 Premium neighborhood (Xinyi) |
| Groceries | NT$8,000 | NT$9,600 | NT$12,000 |
| Transport | NT$1,280 | NT$1,280 | NT$1,280 |
| Utilities | NT$2,200 | NT$2,200 | NT$2,200 |
| Dining & Entertainment | NT$5,000 | NT$6,000 | NT$7,500 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | NT$33,480 | NT$44,330 | NT$55,980 |
NT$34,989/month gross
NT$46,749/month gross
NT$59,277/month gross
1-bedroom second-hand rents across 4 neighborhoods in Taipei
Songshan
12 min by MRT
NT$17,000 - NT$26,000
Zhongshan
8 min by MRT
NT$19,000 - NT$28,000
Da'an
10 min by MRT
NT$22,000 - NT$32,000
Xinyi
5 min by MRT
NT$26,000 - NT$40,000
Da'an
10 min by MRT
NT$22,000 - NT$32,000
Zhongshan
8 min by MRT
NT$19,000 - NT$28,000
See all 4 neighborhoods, detailed expense breakdowns, and savings projections.
Explore TaipeiEnter 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$34,989/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Taipei. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for NT$46,749/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 Taipei is approximately NT$26,250/month. Rents range from NT$17,000 in Songshan to NT$40,000 in Xinyi.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Taipei cost approximately NT$8,000. 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$34,989/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 4%. At the comfortable level of NT$46,749/month, it rises to approximately 5%. This includes income tax and social contributions.