Moving to Taiwan from Australia

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Australia to Taiwan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Australia to Taiwan, you would find that Taiwan is 49.3% cheaper than Australia overall. A A$110,000 salary in Australia would need to be roughly NT$1,260,000 in Taiwan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Is Taiwan cheaper than Australia?

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 68.2% less

Groceries

pay 2.5% less

Transportation

pay 29.1% less

Housing

pay 67.2% less

Childcare

pay 48.9% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 52.9% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 AUD = 22.56 TWD (October 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

What salary do you need in Taiwan?

What does your salary buy?

A$110,000 → NT$1,260,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Taiwan

Calculate with your salary →

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Taiwan cost about 26% less than cities in Australia.

Australia

Sydney 69%
Perth 64%
Melbourne 62%
Adelaide 60%

Taiwan

HsinChu 43%
Tainan 41%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Taiwan compared to Australia.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access World Bank, 2024

share of households with internet

AU
96.1%
TW
90.0%

Australia performs better than Taiwan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

AU
4.1%
TW
3.7%
Top income tax rate Australian Taxation Office, 2016

the highest marginal rate on personal income

AU
45%
TW
45%

Taiwan generally does better on employment & economy, though Australia leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

AU
83.0 yrs
TW
81.2 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AU
3.1
TW
4.0

Australia performs better than Taiwan across all family life metrics.

Sources: The World Factbook (2012–2022), World Bank (2024–2025), Australian Taxation Office (2016), Taxation Administration, Ministry of Finance, R.O.C. (2016). How we calculate this

Can you move from Australia to Taiwan?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Australia and Taiwan. To live, work, or study long-term in Taiwan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Taiwan's immigration authority.

Australia passport

Australia passport holder visiting Taiwan

Visa Free
Australia passport holders can enter Taiwan without a visa.
Taiwan passport

Taiwan passport holder visiting Australia

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Taiwan passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Australia.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Taiwan than Australia?

On average Taiwan is about 49% less expensive than Australia, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Taiwan?

Budget about NT$315,000 for 3 months in Taiwan (based on a A$110,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Taiwan?

From major Taiwan cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Australia and Taiwan are what actually decide it long-term.

What language do they speak in Taiwan?

The official language in Taiwan is Chinese. In Australia, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

AU TW
Population 27,614,411 23,412,899
Currency Australian Dollar (A$) New Taiwan Dollar (NT$)
Languages English Chinese
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +61 +886
Time zones 8 1
Emergency number 000 110