Agree.
However if buying for only one meal then cheap “lunch boxes” are most cost effective. But if buying bulk for several meals, then can do it cheaper and healthier oneself
Added, a friend always says his “lunch boxes “ are cheaper, but he only compares one person on one meal versus one meal… I think it mainly comes down to him being lazy
Kroger has an entire section of frozen vegetables & meals that only require a few minutes in the microwave. And if you’re too lazy to chop up a salad, a section of prepackaged salad bowls for $3. Don’t say you can’t eat healthy & cheaply on supermarket food in the U.S. Canned and frozen vegetables, not to mention fresh, are some of the cheapest items in the store. And Krogers are easily found in every small town and city in America, in all neighborhoods.
I disagree. Buying groceries and cooking at home is more affordable in the US taking into account purchasing power parity. I’ve spent years living in and comparing the cost in both places.
That is why so many apartments in Taiwan don’t even have kitchens. And the culture in Taiwan is to eat out everyday.
Eating unhealthy in the US is more a matter of choice. And a cultural problem in my opinion where people tend to opt for more processed and unhealthy foods, but not necessarily an access problem outside low income urban areas.
Malaysia might be perfect. Doesn’t recognize Taiwan in any way, shape or form and is VERY friendly towards China. But the malay still have their heirachal racism above even the Han. It’s a problem that is extrapolating presently there. Not sure how it is for a retired person unable to work as far as health care etc. My experiences with their health care system (as a proper foreigner, meaning zero ties or residency anything) have been lack lustre, to say the least.
Still curious though, is the OP Chinese or Taiwanese? Nationality makes a huge difference when being an immigrant in a [some] foreign country.
@haixin are you a citizen of the country of Taiwan (ROC)? Or are you a citizen of the country of China (PRC)? it is a bit confusing on your wording, hence why some people are a little confused.
You are not alone.
Guy
Yea, penny wise and pound foolish…
Didn’t say you couldn’t - said it’d likely cost a grip more than in the Chinese speaking world.
Uh, implied PPP makes it even cheaper to move to Taiwan from US and makes costs in US a grip more relatively.
He sounds like he says he’s Chinese citizen, and then loses it because he became a us citizen. Taiwan doesn’t take away your citizenship if you become a us citizen.
It makes a huge difference but I’m not clear which he is.
From what I hear, china does take away your citizenship if you obtain us citizenship.
Supermarket prices for most things are cheaper in the U.S. than Taiwan. Wet markets are cheaper than farmer’s markets though…except for fruit sometimes.
Right. The comparison was food options, not grocery stores.
I haven’t found it to be expensive. But I get fresh veggies at a wet market and dont buy a lot of imported products. Meat at Costco, no fancy cuts of beef
The whole story is quite confusing because she originally didn’t mention what nationality she has, that she obtained a U.S. green card (later she said she has US citizenship. Who mentions they have a US green card if they have US citizenship? No one I know) and went to high school in the US, used to own a home in Taiwan (but didn’t mention about returning to Taiwan or how they acquired a home in Taiwan - through family? Chinese citizens can’t directly purchase Taiwan property). No mentions of if she has family in Taiwan or elsewhere which would be a reason to return there. Can’t make a recommendation on where to retire based on these answers.
I wouldn’t consider a country that has quite racially preferred Bumiputra subsidies and where Sharia is used in some states.
Agreed. And also a culture that seemingly derives no pleasure from a delicious meal. Eating those terrible boxes daily when it isn’t that difficult to cook isn’t just ignorance of alternatives, or laziness, or the lack of kitchens, it’s also due to the fact that most people simply don’t know how to cook which is a problem in turn exacerbated by the aforementioned
When a lunch box with a deliciously fried chicken leg quarter, 3 or 4 vegetables, and rice, and soup, is less than 100nt (or slightly more, depending on where you go), cooking makes no financial sense. You would spend 50nt on the chicken alone, from PX Mart.
Those lunchbox place supplies corporations/offices/factories too, at something like 50nt a lunch box (a small one).
Yea, it’s hard to give advise when all the important details don’t add up.
If she has Taiwan citizenship, and it’s not easy to lose Taiwan citizenship. Only way I know of to lose it is to obtain a Chinese ID card, and I think few Taiwanese would do this, as you could reside in China forever on a Taibaozheng.
You don’t lose Taiwan citizenship by obtaining US citizenship, but you lose Chinese citizenship if you obtain US citizenship.
I feel like because eating out can be done relatively cheap, it does make the value proposition of cooking yourself seem less appealing.
But I have also found shopping at local markets for fresh fruits, veggies, meat/seafood is not very expensive. Imported food like beef can be expensive but like you, I would get it from Costco bulk. But tbh fish, chicken, and seafood options are good enough to not really miss eating beef as much as I do in the west.
I suppose everything is relative. Eating those unappealing cheap meals kinda makes me hate life. I get a few a week for free or because I have to work and the university canteen is a convenient options.
I guess literal dogfood would be somewhat cheaper and slightly less enjoyable. I just draw the line slightly higher
A single chicken leg or cold soggy breaded pounded sliver of breast would not cost 50 NTD, no. We have been over this with you. The cheap places aren’t just cheap because they buy in bulk, they also use ingredients that most people wouldn’t buy because they aren’t exactly fresh. Enjoy your boiled limp greens and cold gutter oil fried chicken.
Again, let’s let that person say it outlook for themselves. If they are a CCP item (ie. Citizen) let them either say it or deny it publicly.
Are you either:
A citizen of the country of Taiwan (ROC)?
Or;
A citizen of the country of China (PRC)?
Let this person answer their own question, because one country allows freedom of speech more than another country. Chinese or Taiwanese. Say it clearly, so we can move forward and give help with honest feedback to people seeking honest advice. If it’s going to be “cloaks and daggers” style, which is hugely suspect with various subscribers here, they get the “fuck it” welcome they deserve. Pretty simple.
If it a simple typing/english/misunderstanding issue, should be easy to explain they are TAIWANESE, NOT CHINESE, and we can all apoligize for being quick to the gun and move on with real advice. But the wording from the get is ultra suspect. But forgiveness given for those unfamiliar with English, or politics. But this person’s English seems good enough to know the difference, so it looks absolutely like state sponsored propaganda. If not, sorry. But that’s how it reads, clear as friggen day.