# Taipei vs Seoul: cost of living compared

> Taipei runs about 35% cheaper than Seoul for this household, a difference of 616 USD a month.

- **Source:** https://cost-of-life.com/compare/taipei-vs-seoul
- **Household priced:** one adult, one-bedroom in the centre, moderate lifestyle
- **Salary tested:** $100,000 gross per year

| Group | Metric | Taipei | Seoul |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cost | Total monthly cost | 1,747 USD | 2,363 USD |
| Cost | Cost index (New York = 100) | 27 | 37 |
| Cost | Housing | 850 USD | 900 USD |
| Cost | Utilities | 88 USD | 165 USD |
| Cost | Food | 533 USD | 881 USD |
| Cost | Transport | 91 USD | 100 USD |
| Cost | Healthcare | 12 USD | 16 USD |
| Cost | Lifestyle | 107 USD | 193 USD |
| Income & tax | Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr | 6,797 USD | 5,446 USD |
| Income & tax | Effective tax + social rate | 18.4% | 34.6% |
| Income & tax | Left over each month | 5,050 USD | 3,083 USD |
| Income & tax | Average local net salary | 1,800 USD | 2,500 USD |
| Housing | 1-bed rent, city centre | 850 USD | 900 USD |
| Housing | 3-bed rent, city centre | 1,700 USD | 2,000 USD |
| Housing | Buy price per m², centre | 9,500 USD | 13,000 USD |
| Quality of life | Safety | 88/100 | 86/100 |
| Quality of life | Healthcare | 86/100 | 88/100 |
| Quality of life | Air quality | 58/100 | 50/100 |
| Quality of life | Public transport | 92/100 | 96/100 |
| Quality of life | Walkability | 84/100 | 88/100 |
| Quality of life | English proficiency | 44/100 | 44/100 |
| Quality of life | Nightlife | 80/100 | 92/100 |
| Quality of life | Family friendliness | 82/100 | 80/100 |
| Quality of life | Median broadband | 180 Mbps | 220 Mbps |
| Climate | Average temperature | 23°C | 13°C |
| Climate | Summer high | 34°C | 29°C |
| Climate | Winter low | 14°C | -6°C |
| Climate | Sunshine hours per year | 1,400 h | 2,060 h |
| Climate | Annual rainfall | 2400 mm | 1400 mm |
| Practicalities | Remote-work visa | Yes | Yes |
| Practicalities | Beach access | 40 min | 60 min |
| Practicalities | Currency | TWD | KRW |
| Practicalities | Time zone | Asia/Taipei | Asia/Seoul |

Figures are modelled estimates. Methodology: https://cost-of-life.com/methodology