Moving to Taiwan from Michigan

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Michigan to Taiwan — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Michigan to Taiwan, you would find that Taiwan is 45.2% cheaper than Michigan. A $75,000 salary in Michigan would need to be roughly NT$1,310,000 in Taiwan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

How your spending power changes when you relocate from Michigan to Taiwan.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 → NT$1,310,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Taiwan

Calculate with your salary →

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 67.8% less

Groceries

pay 6.4% less

Transportation

pay 18.6% less

Housing

pay 65.8% less

Childcare

pay 40.3% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 38.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 31.96 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.

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 Michigan.

Michigan

Rochester 60%
Troy 58%
Kalamazoo 57%

Taiwan

HsinChu 43%
Tainan 41%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Michigan and Taiwan stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

MI
89.4%
TW
90.0%

Taiwan performs significantly better than Michigan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MI
4.8%
TW
3.7%
Poverty rate US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of people below the poverty line

MI
12.7%
TW
1.5%

Taiwan performs significantly better than Michigan across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

MI
76.0 yrs
TW
81.2 yrs

Taiwan performs significantly better than Michigan across all family life metrics.

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Taiwan

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Taiwan without a visa.
Taiwan passport

Taiwan passport holder visiting United States

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

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 Michigan?

Generally yes: Taiwan runs about 45% cheaper than Michigan on average, though it depends heavily on the city.

How much money do I need to move to Taiwan?

A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around NT$327,500 in Taiwan for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Taiwan?

Working remotely from Taiwan's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Michigan and Taiwan.

What language do they speak in Taiwan?

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

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At a Glance

TW
Population 10,127,884 23,412,899
Currency United States Dollar ($) New Taiwan Dollar (NT$)
Languages English Chinese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +886
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 110