Moving to Taiwan from New Zealand
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from New Zealand to Taiwan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from New Zealand to Taiwan, you would find that Taiwan is 36.7% cheaper than New Zealand overall. A NZ$130,000 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly NT$1,510,000 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.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Taiwan cheaper than New Zealand?
Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 59.1% less
Groceries
pay 15.1% more
Transportation
pay 31.0% less
Housing
pay 56.4% less
Childcare
pay 12.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 35.9% less
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?
NZ$130,000 → NT$1,510,000
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 9% less than cities in New Zealand.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from New Zealand to Taiwan.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
New Zealand performs better than Taiwan across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
the highest marginal rate on personal income
New Zealand generally does better on employment & economy, though Taiwan leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
New Zealand generally does better on family life, though Taiwan leads in infant mortality.
Sources: World Bank (2024–2025), The World Factbook (2019–2022), New Zealand Inland Revenue Department (2016), Taxation Administration, Ministry of Finance, R.O.C. (2016). How we calculate this
Can you move from New Zealand to Taiwan?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Taiwan
Visa Free
Taiwan passport holder visiting New Zealand
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 New Zealand?
Yes — Taiwan is on average about 37% cheaper than New Zealand. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Taiwan?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly NT$377,500 in Taiwan on a NZ$130,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Taiwan?
Usually fine from major cities in Taiwan. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
What language do they speak in Taiwan?
The official language in Taiwan is Chinese. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
