The short version
Official median rent is highest in New Taipei and Taipei and lowest in Yunlin and Chiayi County. The Ministry of the Interior's median for a room in a shared flat was NT$6,300 a month nationally at the end of March 2026, and NT$9,800 in Taipei. Universities estimate living costs without rent at about NT$5,000 to NT$15,500 a month, depending on the school and what it counts. Shared dorm rooms at the schools we read cost about NT$6,500 to NT$21,000 a semester. Every figure below says which period it covers.
The figures on this page
| Figure | Who publishes it | Period it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Median rent by city, county and district | Ministry of the Interior (MOI, 內政部) | Rent-subsidy contracts valid at the end of March 2026 |
| Household spending by city and county | Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS, 主計總處) | Calendar year 2025 |
| Minimum living cost (最低生活費) | Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, 衛生福利部) | Calendar years 2026 and 2027 |
| Price rises (consumer price index) | DGBAS | October 2026, year on year |
| Living cost estimates | Each university | The date on each school's page (see the table) |
This page covers rent and living costs. For tuition, check each school's own fee page. → Find a university
Rent by city and county
Median monthly rent in NT$, for contracts valid at the end of March 2026. A "shared room" is a room in a shared flat, with or without its own bathroom (分租套(雅)房). A "studio" has its own entrance (獨立套房). A "whole flat" is a whole flat or floor (整戶(層)).
| City or county | All types | Shared room | Studio | Whole flat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taiwan (national) | 8,600 | 6,300 | 9,300 | 15,000 |
| Taipei City | 12,500 | 9,800 | 15,000 | 21,000 |
| New Taipei City | 13,000 | 8,000 | 14,000 | 18,000 |
| Taoyuan City | 10,000 | 6,200 | 9,000 | 15,000 |
| Taichung City | 7,800 | 6,100 | 8,000 | 15,000 |
| Tainan City | 7,000 | 5,600 | 7,500 | 13,000 |
| Kaohsiung City | 7,800 | 6,000 | 8,000 | 13,000 |
| Keelung City | 8,500 | 5,600 | 8,000 | 12,000 |
| Hsinchu City | 8,000 | 7,000 | 10,000 | 15,000 |
| Hsinchu County | 9,000 | 7,000 | 10,000 | 15,000 |
| Miaoli County | 7,000 | 5,400 | 6,300 | 12,000 |
| Changhua County | 7,000 | 5,500 | 6,500 | 11,000 |
| Nantou County | 7,000 | 5,000 | 6,300 | 10,000 |
| Yunlin County | 5,000 | 4,300 | 5,800 | 10,000 |
| Chiayi City | 7,000 | 5,200 | 6,500 | 11,000 |
| Chiayi County | 5,000 | 4,500 | 6,000 | 8,600 |
| Pingtung County | 6,000 | 4,700 | 6,000 | 10,000 |
| Yilan County | 8,000 | 6,000 | 8,000 | 12,000 |
| Hualien County | 7,000 | 5,500 | 7,500 | 12,000 |
| Taitung County | 7,500 | 6,500 | 7,000 | 11,000 |
| Penghu County | 6,100 | 5,800 | Not published | 12,000 |
| Kinmen County | 6,000 | 5,000 | 6,500 | 11,000 |
| Lienchiang County (Matsu) | 9,000 | Not published | Not published | Not published |
Good to know: these figures come from 833,000 contracts of households that get the government rent subsidy, not from the whole market. The MOI says new flats generally rent for about 20% more than mid-age ones, and flats in lift buildings for 20% to 30% more than in walk-ups.
We also worked out medians from the MOI's open data on rentals signed from February 11 to August 10, 2026, which are mostly arranged by brokers and rental managers. They run well above the official figures: in Taipei, NT$17,500 for a shared room with its own bathroom and NT$13,500 without. This is our calculation, not an MOI figure.
Rent near universities
MOI medians in NT$ a month for districts with large universities, end of March 2026. The MOI table names no universities: pairing each district with its schools is ours.
| District | Universities nearby | All types | Shared room | Studio | Whole flat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Da'an, Taipei | NTU, NTUST, NTNU | 12,200 | 10,000 | 18,000 | 27,000 |
| Wenshan, Taipei | NCCU | 11,500 | 8,500 | 16,000 | 21,000 |
| Beitou, Taipei | NYCU Yangming campus, TNUA | 14,000 | 9,000 | 14,000 | 20,000 |
| Tamsui, New Taipei | Tamkang | 8,500 | 6,500 | 10,000 | 17,000 |
| Zhongli, Taoyuan | NCU, Chung Yuan | 7,500 | 5,700 | 8,000 | 15,000 |
| East District, Hsinchu City | NTHU, NYCU Hsinchu campus | 8,000 | 7,087 | 10,000 | 15,000 |
| Xitun, Taichung | Feng Chia, Tunghai | 7,500 | 6,700 | 7,500 | 17,000 |
| Minxiong, Chiayi County | National Chung Cheng University | 4,500 | 4,500 | 5,000 | 8,000 |
| East District, Tainan | NCKU | 7,000 | 6,000 | 7,800 | 13,500 |
| Nanzi, Kaohsiung | NUK, NKUST Nanzi campus | 7,000 | 5,500 | 7,800 | 14,700 |
| Gushan, Kaohsiung | NSYSU | 8,500 | Not read | 10,500 | 15,000 |
| Shoufeng, Hualien County | National Dong Hwa | 4,500 | 4,417 | 6,500 | 10,000 |
→ Renting off campus: leases, deposits and the rent subsidy → Cities with universities
What universities estimate
Each school's own estimate, in its own terms. Some give a month, some a semester, and most leave out rent. They aren't directly comparable, so read what each one covers.
| School | Living costs | Housing | Page dated |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Taiwan University, Taipei | NT$48,000 to NT$72,000 a semester (4 months); total with housing, books and insurance NT$66,000 to NT$157,000 | Dorms NT$7,900 to NT$12,900 a semester; off campus NT$48,000 to NT$72,000 a semester | No date (footer 2023) |
| National Chengchi University, Taipei | NT$60,000 a semester | Campus NT$9,057 to NT$33,150 a semester; off campus NT$54,000 a semester | December 2025 |
| National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei | About NT$9,000 to NT$12,000 a month | Dorm NT$12,600 to NT$24,700 a year; off-campus rooms NT$8,000 to NT$16,000 a month | No date (footer 2021) |
| National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei | Dorm cafeteria meals about NT$6,000 a month; eating off campus might exceed NT$7,000 | Dorm about NT$7,200 a semester | Undated |
| Taipei Medical University, Taipei | Food NT$9,000, utilities NT$1,000, transport NT$500, personal NT$1,000 a month | Rent NT$8,000 to NT$16,000 a month | Updated May 2021 |
| Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan | NT$12,000 to NT$15,000 a month in northern Taiwan, without rent | Renting near the school NT$8,000 to NT$15,000 a month | December 2024 |
| National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu | NT$8,000 to NT$15,000 a month | Undergraduate dorms NT$6,370 to NT$13,320 a semester | Cites a March 2014 exchange rate |
| China Medical University, Taichung | Food NT$5,000 to NT$7,000 a month; electricity about NT$500 to NT$700 a month | Room rent NT$5,000 to NT$8,000 | May 2026 |
| Asia University, Taichung | About NT$7,000 to NT$9,000 a month for basic expenses | Dorm NT$12,500 a semester | October 2024 |
| National Chung Hsing University, Taichung | US$1,500 for 6 months | Campus US$400 to US$500; off campus US$1,500 to US$1,800, for 6 months | August 2025 |
| National Chi Nan University, Nantou | About NT$6,000 to NT$8,000 a month | Dorm NT$8,800 a semester (4-person) | October 2022 |
| National Cheng Kung University, Tainan | Meals NT$4,500 to NT$7,500 and other costs NT$1,500 to NT$4,000 a month, at a minimum standard; rising about 3% to 5% a year | Dorms NT$6,700 to NT$15,320 a semester; renting at least NT$3,500 a month | September 2026 |
| Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan | About NT$9,000 to NT$15,000 a month, including food and insurance | Not stated | Undated |
| National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung | NT$12,000 to NT$15,500 a month without housing | Dorms NT$10,200 to NT$18,700 a semester; off campus NT$5,000 to NT$15,000 | 2027/28 fact sheet |
| National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology | NT$108,000 to NT$156,000 a year for meals and other costs, without rent | Campus NT$15,800 to NT$32,600 a year; off campus NT$3,500 to NT$6,000 a month | 2024/25 budget |
| National Taitung University, Taitung | NT$5,000 to NT$7,000 a month; a meal about NT$80 to NT$150 | About NT$5,000 to NT$8,000 a month | Undated |
NCKU's meal figure adds its breakfast (NT$900 to NT$1,500) and lunch and dinner (NT$3,600 to NT$6,000) lines. National Health Insurance is extra at most schools: NTU lists NT$4,956 a semester for degree students, and NSYSU NT$826 a month after six months with a resident certificate.
→ Dorms: applying, lotteries and fees
Household spending by city
DGBAS's household survey shows how much households spend in each city and county. These are figures for all households, not students, and they include costs such as housing for owner-occupiers. Calendar year 2025.
| City or county | Spending per household, NT$ a year | People per household | Per person per month (our arithmetic) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taiwan area average | 920,397 | 2.69 | about 28,513 |
| Taipei City | 1,169,990 | 2.66 | about 36,654 |
| New Taipei City | 940,068 | 2.58 | about 30,364 |
| Taoyuan City | 963,862 | 2.96 | about 27,136 |
| Taichung City | 986,883 | 2.76 | about 29,797 |
| Tainan City | 811,229 | 2.70 | about 25,038 |
| Kaohsiung City | 955,299 | 2.76 | about 28,844 |
| Keelung City | 772,618 | 2.49 | about 25,857 |
| Hsinchu City | 1,142,694 | 2.78 | about 34,253 |
| Chiayi City | 897,095 | 2.61 | about 28,643 |
| Yilan County | 828,255 | 2.65 | about 26,046 |
| Hsinchu County | 1,116,811 | 2.88 | about 32,315 |
| Miaoli County | 846,385 | 2.88 | about 24,490 |
| Changhua County | 665,772 | 2.55 | about 21,757 |
| Nantou County | 640,835 | 2.73 | about 19,562 |
| Yunlin County | 652,768 | 2.60 | about 20,922 |
| Chiayi County | 712,495 | 2.38 | about 24,947 |
| Pingtung County | 758,838 | 2.62 | about 24,136 |
| Taitung County | 604,783 | 2.42 | about 20,826 |
| Hualien County | 591,696 | 2.20 | about 22,413 |
| Penghu County | 657,775 | 2.38 | about 23,031 |
Good to know: DGBAS warns that county samples are small (200 to 573 households outside the six big cities), so ranking counties by these results has no rigorous statistical meaning. Kinmen and Lienchiang are not in the survey table.
The minimum living cost
The government sets a minimum living cost (最低生活費) per person per month, at 60% of the area's median disposable income. It is used for low-income status and the rent subsidy, not as a student budget, but it shows how costs differ by area.
| Area | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Taipei City | NT$20,744 | NT$21,399 |
| New Taipei City | NT$17,750 | NT$18,500 |
| Taoyuan City | NT$17,186 | NT$18,045 |
| Taichung City | NT$16,431 | NT$17,252 |
| Tainan City | NT$15,515 | NT$16,298 |
| Kaohsiung City | NT$16,970 | NT$17,890 |
| Other counties and cities of Taiwan Province | NT$15,515 | NT$16,298 |
| Kinmen and Lienchiang | NT$15,173 | NT$15,510 |
Prices are rising
- All prices Up 2.33% in October 2026 on a year earlier. January to October 2026 averaged 1.98% above the same months of 2025. In 2025, prices rose 1.66% on average.
- Rent The rent part of the index rose 1.70% in October 2026 on a year earlier.
Scholarships, for comparison
The MOE Taiwan Scholarship pays a living allowance of NT$15,000 a month for bachelor's students and NT$20,000 for master's and doctoral students. The Huayu Enrichment Scholarship pays NT$28,000 a month, and the MOFA Taiwan Scholarship NT$33,000 a month for degree study.
→ Taiwan Scholarship → Huayu Enrichment Scholarship → Student aid for local students
City guides
Inside Hsinchu has a cost of living page with a budgeting framework, written for people moving to Hsinchu for work. Inside Taipei's Taipei for students covers student discounts and cheap eating near campus. If you eat out, NightMarket.tw lists night markets by city.
Questions
How much does a student need each month to live in Taiwan?
Universities' own estimates of monthly living costs, not counting rent, run from NT$5,000 to NT$7,000 (National Taitung University) to NT$12,000 to NT$15,500 (National Sun Yat-sen University in Kaohsiung). Yuan Ze University puts northern Taiwan at NT$12,000 to NT$15,000 a month without rent. Each school counts different things, so read what each estimate covers.
How much is rent for a student room?
The Ministry of the Interior's median for a room in a shared flat was NT$6,300 a month nationally for contracts valid at the end of March 2026, from NT$4,300 in Yunlin County to NT$9,800 in Taipei. These figures come from rent-subsidy contracts, and listings arranged by brokers can cost more.
Is it cheaper to study outside Taipei?
Rent and household spending are lower in most of Taiwan than in Taipei. The median rent for all types was NT$12,500 in Taipei, NT$7,000 in Tainan and NT$5,000 in Yunlin and Chiayi County (end of March 2026). What you spend also depends on your school, your housing and how you live.
Sources (30)
Checked November 2026.
Rent: MOI release, August 2026, MOI rent statistics, table 2 (cities and counties), table 1 (districts), MOI actual-price open data. Spending and prices: DGBAS 2025 household survey, table 2 by area, DGBAS CPI, October 2026, CPI release, CPI 2025. Minimum living cost: Social Assistance Act art. 4, MOHW 2026, MOHW 2027. Universities: NTU, NCCU, NTNU, NTUST, TMU, Yuan Ze, NTHU, China Medical University, Asia University, NCHU, NCNU, NCKU, CJCU, NSYSU, NKUST, NTTU. Scholarships: scholarship comparison table.