Job Discussion Forums

[1gurlrevolution]

I'm curious what other people are paying as I often hear quite the range of living costs.

1. City/Suburb
2. Average Monthly Takings
3. Rent
4. Average Monthly/Daily Food Costs
5. Average Weekly Transportation Costs

Thanks!!

[JZer]

I live in Xindian. My rent is 8000 a month.

I spend about 500NT a day, 15,000 a month on food and transportation. That does not include going out on the weekend.

[Hightop]

I live on the North side of Taipei Main Station. Rent = 15000 per month power in summer about 1400 in winter about 800 per month.

Each month I spend between 17000 and 22000 on all other expenses per month. I eat out 60%-70% of lunch and dinner, always eat breakfast at home. Take the MRT to work and back every day. Buy fresh fruit and other nice food regardless of cost. Don't buy many clothes. Rarely drink.

So I guess that is a total of about 35,000 a month spent living an easy life.

[JZer]

Yes, I would say in total my expenses are around 35,000 a month too. I think I spend more per day but I often get stuck outside between jobs and need to buy a coffee while I study Chinese or read a book.

[Seymour Glass]

Utility bills are paid once every two months, are you sure you are paying 800 per month in the winter? I pay about 600 per two months in the winter and 1350 per two months in the summer. The water bills are even cheaper, usually 270 per two months. I'm parsimonious to a fault though, so maybe it's just me...

[creztor]

For two people we run about 1300 a month and in summer about 1800NT a month. That's two people with a TV on a lot and two computers running pretty much 24/7. Water and gas are usually 200 - 500NT.

[Hightop]

Yeah it is every month, pay per unit of usage. It is all printed out and checks out each month. All seems to be in order. There are a couple of air conditioners and a fan. Seems reasonable. Water and internet are included in the rent so power is the only one I have to think about.

[zipper]

Our electric bill is fairly cheap, because we don't use air conditioning; and my wife usually shuts off the lights after every time I go to the head or leave the room; and yes, it's quite irritating. So, our electric bill is around 800 NT every two months in the summer, because we use fans; and it's much cheaper in the winter. We rent a 4 room two bathroom apt.

[markcmc]

You hear quite a range of cost of living because people live quite differently, and in different parts of the country. There's quite a difference between Taipei City and Taipei County on rents, for example. The latter being cheaper.

[1gurlrevolution]

It's good to hear what people are paying! We've applied for a few jobs and have interviews in a couple weeks but I kind of needed a better idea of what living costs were like to be sure Taiwan was a viable option. I've come across lots of threads and blogs from people there about how they had to leave because they couldn't make ends meet (but who knows what kind of social life they had).

For you couples (zipper & creztor), do you find that you guys can save a bit each month? Do you think you could both live off one salary and save the other?

And when looking for apartments, is it common to find utilities included with your rent like Hightop's place?

[Seymour Glass]

Utilities are rarely if ever included in rent, maybe water sometimes, but never gas and electric. My wife and own a place in Taipei, but due to work, I rent a place in Tainan with a friend. We got a good deal, rather big place with guard fee, cable and internet included for 11,000.(so 5,500 per person) It's on the 25th floor with an amazing view of the city. But like it has been mentioned, rent is relative on the region you live.
Of course, depending on your lifestyle, it would be more than easy to save one salary if you were both working, you could probably save more.