πΉπΌ Taipeiπ©πͺ Munich2024-2026
Taipei vs Munich: The Real Housing Comparison
A data-driven answer to: Is German housing really cheaper?
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Key Statistics
Price-to-Income Ratio
34.4x
πΉπΌ Taipei
Among world's highest
Price-to-Income Ratio
11.4x
π©πͺ Munich
Relatively reasonable
Mortgage-to-Income
214%
πΉπΌ Taipei
Over 2x income
Mortgage-to-Income
82%
π©πͺ Munich
High but manageable
Price Comparison
Surface Prices (per ping β 3.3mΒ²)
| πΉπΌ Taipei | π©πͺ Munich | |
|---|---|---|
| City CenterDa'an District vs Altstadt-Lehel | 103-133θ¬/εͺ | 121θ¬/εͺ |
| City Average | 103θ¬/εͺ | 90θ¬/εͺ |
| New Developments | 112θ¬+/εͺ | 95θ¬/εͺ |
Looks similar?
Waitβthese are just surface numbers. The real story is next...
The Common Area Trap
Virtual vs Real Space
| πΉπΌ Taipei | π©πͺ Munich | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Area Ratio | 35.4% | 0% |
| Actual Usable SpaceAssuming 30 ping / 76mΒ² purchase | 19.5εͺ | 23εͺ |
Real Cost Calculation
πΉπΌ Taipei Da'an Case
- Buy 30 ping new development
- NT$1M/ping Γ 30 = NT$30M total
- Usable: 30 Γ (1-35%) = 19.5 ping
- β Real cost: NT$1.538M/ping
π©πͺ Munich Case
- Buy 76mΒ² (~23 ping) apartment
- Total β¬630,000 β NT$22.05M
- Usable: 23 ping (100%)
- β Real cost: NT$959K/ping
Reality Check
Taipei is actually 60% MORE expensive than Munich!
Price-to-Income Ratio
| πΉπΌ Taipei | π©πͺ Munich | |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 34.40x | 11.43x |
| Meaning | 34 years to buy a home | 11 years to buy a home |
| Mortgage-to-Income | 214.82% | 81.67% |
Source: Numbeo Feb 2026
Salary & Cost of Living
| πΉπΌ Taipei | π©πͺ Munich | |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Monthly SalaryMunich is 2.5x Taipei | NT$46,450 | NT$116,655 |
| Restaurant Meal | NT$200 | NT$630 |
| Single Transit Ride | NT$25 | NT$144 |
| Utilities (85mΒ²/mo) | NT$2,358 | NT$11,690 |
| 1BR City Center Rent | NT$24,701 | NT$49,630 |
Conclusion: Two Different Shapes of Hell
πΉπΌ Taipei's Hell
- β’ High prices, wages can't keep up
- β’ Common area steals 1/3 of your space
- β’ Price-to-income 3x that of Munich
- β’ Prices never drop
π©πͺ Munich's Hell
- β’ High prices, high living costs
- β’ But wages keep pace
- β’ Prices do drop (β20% in 2022-2024)
- β’ Renting is culturally normal
Bottom Line
Surface prices look similar, but Taipei is actually much more expensive. Munich's hell is one where wages can catch up. Taipei's hell is one where they never will.
Data Sources
Numbeo - Munich Property IndexNumbeo - Taipei Property IndexMr. Lodge - Munich Price TrendsLeju - Da'an District PricesLandChart - Da'an Historical PricesCNYES - Common Area Ratio ReportDGBAS - Taiwan Salary Statistics
* Data as of February 2026. Exchange rate: 1 EUR β 35 TWD. 1 ping = 3.3 mΒ².