Thanks for all the feedback.
I plan to live in Banciao city (Taipei County) as it is where my girlfriend lives but plan to live on my own at first.
What is wrong with those districts ?
[quote=“lostinasia”]Yes, it’ll be possible, but just be warned that any going out and drinking will blow your budget. (Nothing in your post suggests drinking is on the agenda, but it’s the financial bane of many a young newcomer to Taiwan.)
You’ll find, oddly enough, that eating out will probably be cheaper than cooking at home, unless you want to subsist on rice and boiled cabbage.[/quote]
I don’t drink, even in Scotland and I don’t hit bars often.
I will try to not rely on western food to live as I live on rice and vegetables/meat (all cooked in a rice cooker). I am slowly getting into the full chinese diet. So I think it will be cheaper or cost me the same for an equivalent or better food I suppose.
[quote=“lupillus”]Yes.
Not so frugal lifestyle:
Rent NT$7000 (shared accommodation)
Electricity NT$1500
Gas NT$500
Water NT$300
Cable/internet NT$1200
Food NT$500 * 30 = 15000
Phone NT$1000
Total : NT$27000
Very frugal lifestyle:
If you are living extremely frugally, cooking only at home, etc.
Rent NT$4500 (shared accommodation in more distant area)
Electricity NT$500
Gas NT$100
Water NT$100
Cable/internet NT$300
Food NT$100 * 30 = 3000
Phone NT$200 (only taking calls, not making them for the most part)
Transport
Bus NT$12 * 4 (which will get you all the way across town, like to Tianmu or something, and back) = NT$48 *30 = 1440
Scooter (Initial cost of NT$7000 to NT$50,000) and gas per week of NT$200-300 (if you’re scooting around town a fair amount. If you are only going short distances, this amount will be much less) = NT$900-1350
Cycling (totally doable, initial cost of NT$1000-3000 or so for an okay bike) = NT$0
Or walking = NT$0
Comes to NT$8500 plus whatever method of transportation you choose. But that’s living very frugally, with little or no recreational activities outside of the internet, and selecting your groceries carefully/cooking at home most of the time.
Total = 8000-10000NT$
Cost of living will not differ too much depending on where you live, amounting to only about NT$2000-5000 of a difference, as the only main static cost that will change is rent. If you choose not to live in Taipei City (instead in Taichung, Tainan, etc.), you will probably be able to live on your own for similar costs if you are not too picky about the conditions of your living quarters (older apartments), but you would also have to bear the full burden of utility costs.[/quote]
I am not very picky about living quarters. So I think I would have a lifestyle between those two hence living costs between 10000-30000NT$. I will plan for NT$30000/month in case something bad happen.
I will go in February 2011 to visit my girlfriend. Therefore, I will have a quick look at how much I would really spend (especially on food) based on my visit and your feedbacks.
Thanks !