What Does it Cost to Live in Asia? A Monthly Finance Breakdown

A lot of people ask me how I can afford to live in Asia working 14 hours a week. The answer, and the reason I'm still here, is, how can I afford not to? Here's a financial breakdown for the past two months I've lived in Taipei.

I work 14 hours a week at 630TWD/hour (21USD/hour). Most people work closer to 20 or even 30 hours, making far more money than me. I try to be frugal when possible but slip up occasionally, especially regarding food. Furthermore, my high-protein bulking diet is a bit more expensive than the average person's diet, especially since I buy protein powder monthly. I live in a location that allows me to use a Ubike in my daily work commute, which has a startup cost of 0 and a daily usage cost of 0, courtesy of the Taipei City Government. Fun things I've done these last two months are go on a few hikes, go clubbing (~500TWD per), and go on a trip to Kenting (~5000TWD). I'll update this post with May on June 10th.

Kiddoland was my old kindergarten I worked at. The paycheck was so large because they paid me for February and March in March right before letting me go. The pay period is 10th to the 10th, so that is how these are organized.

Average Lunch: 100TWD/3USD
Bus Ride to Kenting: 600TWD/20USD
MRT Ride across Taipei: 25TWD/1USD
Gallon of Milk: 200NTD/6USD
Chicken Breast: 100NTD/3USD
Head of Broccoli: 30TWD/1USD
A Beer from a Bar: 100NT/3USD
A Beer from 7/11: 30NT/1USD

Comment with any questions!

March

	Income	Expense
Witty Bear	28140		$938.00	62140
Kiddoland	34000		$1,133.33
		TWD	USD
Rent		-8000	-$266.67
Utility		-2744	-$91.47
Transportation		-1070	-$35.67
Necessity		-2350	-$78.33
Grocery		-5166	-$172.20
Eating Out		-2423	-$80.77
Fun		-5674	-$189.13
Alcohol		-477	-$15.90
Monthly Total	62140	-27904	Total Remaining:	34236	TWD
	$2,071.33	-$930.13		$1,141.20	USD

April

	Income	Expense
Witty Bear	36800		$1,226.67	36800
		TWD	USD
Rent		-8000	-$266.67
Utility		-1341	-$44.70
Transportation		-889	-$29.63
Necessity		-5140	-$171.33
Grocery		-7546	-$251.53
Eating Out		-1953	-$65.10
Fun		-1010	-$33.67
Alcohol		-80	-$2.67
Monthly Total	36800	-25959	Total Remaining:	45077
	$1,226.67	-$865.30		$1,502.57