Familiarity is a Human Custom
It’s funny what things people do when they’re alone. Within hours of arriving in Taipei, the first store I walked into was a Starbucks. Usually I shun the mermaid barista, but familiarity breeds custom and I sauntered in there like a regular. Shocked, was I, at the way too cheerful attitute of the young attendant at the ordering table. With a Cheshire grin, he whistled a tune as he made my 80 NT iced coffee. This was my very first luxury purchase in Taipei, and it was all because I clinged on to the first familiar place in a foreign land.
The cost of living in Taiwan is widely thought to be lower than that of the United States, but such a thought is misleading, especially in Taipei, where the cost of living is 1.5-2 times that of other regions of the island.
I’ve decided to track all my expenses during these summer months to see how much exactly is the cost of living here in Taipei, and whether or not the average Taiwanese college graduate with a monthly wage of ~25,000 NT (~$823) before taxes can even survive, with single room rent prices at around 10,000 NT per month.
Because of my limited budget, I given myself a rule that no meal I eat can exceed 100 NT (~$3.30). Hopefully that will allow me to keep my spending down in a place where prices are relatively fixed from place to place, and only food selections have a competitive variety.
Money Spent Thus Far (Monday through Wednesday):
1. THSR Ticket from Chiayi to Taipei, 860 NT (~$28.31)
2. Pocari Sweat from Vending Machine, 25 NT (~$0.82)
3. Cab Fare to Dormitory, 115 NT (~$3.79)
4. MRT Fare to Gong Guan, 20 NT (~$0.66)
5. Starbucks’ Grande Iced Coffee, 80 NT (~$2.64)
6. MRT Student Card, 500 NT (~16.46)
7. Carrefour (Berry Juice, All-Purpose Cleaner, Rag, Slippers, Dessicant), 192 NT
8. 7-Eleven (Uni-President Sports Drink), 20 NT
9. Family Mart (2200mL Water, Suntory Dakara Soft Drink), 60 NT
10. MOS Yakiniku Burger, 65 NT
11. Rice Bowl from NTU Medical School Cafeteria, 65 NT
12. Cold Noodles from Street Vendor (30 x2), 60 NT
13. Dinner from NTU Dorm Cafeteria, 58 NT
14. Cab Fare from Shilin to Tien Mu, 120 NT
15. Air Conditioner IC Card, 400 NT
Total: 2640 NT (~86.91)
Nearly $90.00 in three days! Yes, my initial spending is up, because I am still getting situated. However, certain set costs for me still will add up, especially in the coming months. It remains to be seen how people financially survive in Taiwan without getting into debt.
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