Something seems to be going on but I’m not sure what because some of my extended family members in Taipei have been hitting the jackpot recently. One just got a job with a multinational making 5 million a year. Another makes 10 mil a year. A couple of others are doing way better than 200k a month. And these are just garden variety knuckleheads.
What line of work are they in?
I really don’t think published states on median/avg salary are accurate in Taiwan because of chronic underreporting by companies to the tax authority as well as bonus culture.
Of the salaries you listed. I think 200,000 is the best one
Medical devices, media, optoelectronics.
Bezos, Musk, Gates etc also dont stop because it is never enough. Thats kinda the point.
Many of those people don’t even need to work. Try going to a food court in one of Xinyi’s department stores during a weekday at non lunch hours…its crowded with rich people not working. Taipei has a lot of rich people who don’t work.
Yup. Wealth is not the same as income.
Guy
I would say it varies, here are more or less my circumstances:
20~35k - rent (depends if you are single or have a family, I would say 40K for a single person is ridiculous.
2,000~3,000 - power (I pay more than this but I have a family).
500 - building fees (no guard, just pay for elevator)
333 - Regular cable TV
888 - 300Mbps Real Fiber Internet
700 - Unlimited 4G
10,000~12,000 - food near the office, uber eats, eating out in regular restaurants.
3,000~4,000 - random groceries
3,000~5,000 - dining (not counting special dates)
3,000 - Booze
2,500 - Misc
20,000~40,000 - Savings (depends how much random crap I bought that month)
Thats what i was thinking too lolll
I rarely eat out and I am spending more than 24000 for food for 2 people each month. I guess I should eat out more to save some money.
Maybe his list is for 1 person
In July I spent the following for 2 (we have a 1y6m daughter but doesn’t increase the food bill by much, milk powder is another category).
4,745 in groceries
12,674 eating out, fast food, 7-11 and uber eats
2,607 dining out (was probably take out)
I have dinner at my in-laws about 1 or 2 times a week, maybe that helps?
Just for frozen vegetables, (broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, and spinach) each month, I spend around 5500. About 2000 on egg white. Go getting back to the topic, I couldn’t make it on 50k salary here since food and rent alone will be that much.
Man, being vegetarian in Taipei is actually more expensive than being a meat eater. Unless I eat bland Buddhist food for most of my meals, I need to spend at least 12000-15000 NTD per month on decent food (eating out + groceries) quite easily. It’s only 10% less than how much I used to spend on food in Atlanta just a few years ago.
I can’t imagine what people spend if they eat organic. The prices at those places are 2-3x.
Just PM’d you.
Guy
For many people that’s why they are living here.
I’m sure you have a logical reason, but out of curiosity why do you buy frozen vegetables?
Cheaper, more convenient, reliable supply.