how much would you have to make in taiwan to be comparable to

[Deuce Dropper]

It is impractical to own cars in Taipei, its hard to find parking and there are enough cars on the street here already.

disagree completely. cars are essential for a lot of people including myself.

[ichbinjenny]

I'd guess that NT250K/mo would be about the same as USD100K/yr. That way you could afford a nice apartment with padded wall-to-wall carpeting, nice lighting, comfortable furnishing, and be able to send your kids to a nice school and have a full-time housekeeper -- and be able to go on vacations.

[touduke]

It is impractical to own cars in Taipei, its hard to find parking and there are enough cars on the street here already.

I hope that contribution is not meant to back up the claim that the average person in Taiwan can't afford a car.

[Abacus]

I'd guess that NT250K/mo would be about the same as USD100K/yr. That way you could afford a nice apartment with padded wall-to-wall carpeting, nice lighting, comfortable furnishing, and be able to send your kids to a nice school and have a full-time housekeeper -- and be able to go on vacations.

So you're saying that you need to make almost exactly the same amount in Taiwan as the US?

[fh2000]

I'd guess that NT250K/mo would be about the same as USD100K/yr. That way you could afford a nice apartment with padded wall-to-wall carpeting, nice lighting, comfortable furnishing, and be able to send your kids to a nice school and have a full-time housekeeper -- and be able to go on vacations.

I am nearing retirement age as a dual-citizen and my priorities are very different. In US, there is no safety net in terms of health care and that is the most terrifying thing for me. Some of my old classmates, relatives in Taiwan have already retired enjoying pension and cheap NHI provided by the government. Their annual income has always been smaller than mine, but they have no or less worries. I can not retire because in US if you have no job, you have no health care. Without health care, you are one sickness away from total disaster. I have to work until 65, or retire early and come back to Taiwan.

So, how do you compare that with monthly/annual income? To me, to live a life with NTD $100,000 a month, I better have an annual income of $500,000 USD and save much of it for raining days.

I envy those who have decent jobs in Taiwan for the obvious reason.

[tomthorne]

I'd guess that NT250K/mo would be about the same as USD100K/yr. That way you could afford a nice apartment with padded wall-to-wall carpeting, nice lighting, comfortable furnishing, and be able to send your kids to a nice school and have a full-time housekeeper -- and be able to go on vacations.

I am nearing retirement age as a dual-citizen and my priorities are very different. In US, there is no safety net in terms of health care and that is the most terrifying thing for me. Some of my old classmates, relatives in Taiwan have already retired enjoying pension and cheap NHI provided by the government.

I envy those who have decent jobs in Taiwan for the obvious reason.

I agree with the NHI in terms of medical care, but pension? Do you know how much the state pension is in Taiwan? I may have to give up my UK citizenship and become an ROC chap if it's really tasty. I'm pretty sure that a Taiwanese guy told me it was 3,000NTD a month. If this is wrong I'll be more than happy to hear it.

[ichbinjenny]

I'd guess that NT250K/mo would be about the same as USD100K/yr. That way you could afford a nice apartment with padded wall-to-wall carpeting, nice lighting, comfortable furnishing, and be able to send your kids to a nice school and have a full-time housekeeper -- and be able to go on vacations.

So you're saying that you need to make almost exactly the same amount in Taiwan as the US?

Wow, you're right; my figure was purely an estimate based on my own goals/needs/understandings. Yes -- I think you do need to make about the same to have the same quality of life. Anything that would be considered standard in the US is considered luxury here; you'll pay much higher for "nice" things. If you want to furnish your cement prison in plastic chairs and particle board and eat at night markets regularly, then sure, you can get by with far less money.

If the OP is used to making USD100K, he/she probably has expectations on certain personal comforts, and let's face it, the American style of living (even for lower-middle class Americans) has many more comforts than the one enjoyed by slightly-upper-middle class families here.

[tommy525]

Jes wanted to give a simple reminder. Remember 100k is not the same living in NYC or the same in the Bay Area as less expensive US cities/counties. 100k is not the same standard of living all over the USA, not by far.

Where as living in Taipei is perhaps only 20pct more expensive (just pulled this number outa my butt tho so could be wrong) then Kaohsiung?

Whereas the difference between say San Francisco and Topeka , Kansas could be vast. A 100k in Topeka could be worth 200k in SAn Fran.

[Abacus]

Wow, you're right; my figure was purely an estimate based on my own goals/needs/understandings. Yes -- I think you do need to make about the same to have the same quality of life. Anything that would be considered standard in the US is considered luxury here; you'll pay much higher for "nice" things. If you want to furnish your cement prison in plastic chairs and particle board and eat at night markets regularly, then sure, you can get by with far less money.

If the OP is used to making USD100K, he/she probably has expectations on certain personal comforts, and let's face it, the American style of living (even for lower-middle class Americans) has many more comforts than the one enjoyed by slightly-upper-middle class families here.

Then you haven't even started to consider the tax difference. That's probably worth 20+KUSD/yr. I agree that a lot of things are going to be similarly priced (cars, nice furniture, imported goods) but there are some things that are cheaper in Taiwan that you would buy both places.

[ichbinjenny]

Wow, you're right; my figure was purely an estimate based on my own goals/needs/understandings. Yes -- I think you do need to make about the same to have the same quality of life. Anything that would be considered standard in the US is considered luxury here; you'll pay much higher for "nice" things. If you want to furnish your cement prison in plastic chairs and particle board and eat at night markets regularly, then sure, you can get by with far less money.

If the OP is used to making USD100K, he/she probably has expectations on certain personal comforts, and let's face it, the American style of living (even for lower-middle class Americans) has many more comforts than the one enjoyed by slightly-upper-middle class families here.

Then you haven't even started to consider the tax difference. That's probably worth 20+KUSD/yr. I agree that a lot of things are going to be similarly priced (cars, nice furniture, imported goods) but there are some things that are cheaper in Taiwan that you would buy both places.

I find that I spend money just as fast here as I did there -- faster here, truth be told.