Which is the Better City: Taipei or Kaohsiung?
My very first travel video outside of Kinmen was about Kaohsiung, published two and a half years ago. At the time, I pointed out why I preferred Taiwan’s second-largest city over Taipei. However, today I have to spend more and more time in Taipei. In this article, I aim to conduct a reality check and compare Taiwan’s major cities in terms of budget, public transportation, mobility, weather, landscape, tourist attractions, nightlife, and food.
This blog post will help you decide between Taipei and Kaohsiung for traveling or staying a bit longer. If you are planning to move to Taiwan for work, my article about working in Taiwan might help you. I also have plenty of content on traveling in Taiwan.
Taipei or Kaohsiung: Which One Is Cheaper?
Let us start with an easy one. Kaohsiung is cheaper when it comes to rent. As the capital, Taipei has the most expensive rental market in Taiwan (maybe together with parts of Hsinchu). For example, a friend of mine moved from Taipei to Kaohsiung. Both times, he lived in a simple apartment in a good location. In Taipei, he paid 30,000 NTD, while in Kaohsiung he paid only 20,000 NTD.
This is just one example, but it reflects the bigger picture. A 33% higher cost of rent in the city center is fairly realistic. Of course, if you are just traveling, rent is not a deciding factor when choosing between Kaohsiung and Taipei. Hotels in Kaohsiung might be slightly cheaper, but other factors matter more. For instance, the most expensive accommodation I ever booked was actually in Kaohsiung. Not because it was fancy, but because the city was packed during a Mayday concert.
I also want to add two things: First, the lower rent prices in Kaohsiung affect restaurant prices and general living costs. I have been to both cities many times, and I always feel that Kaohsiung is cheaper overall. Second, Kaohsiung is booming, and prices are rising. It is definitely catching up.
Taipei or Kaohsiung: Which Has the Better Transport System?
When it comes to public transportation, Taipei is the GOAT. You have got the MRT, YouBikes, and a wide bus network. The metro system in Kaohsiung is much smaller, but then: It is the smaller city. If I were to move to Kaohsiung, I would get a scooter. In Taipei, though, that is not really necessary.
Uber works in both cities, and the high-speed train connects Taipei and Kaohsiung in just 1.5 hours. The distance between Taipei and Kaohsiung is approximately 345 to 353 kilometers (about 215 to 220 miles). I mention this because both cities are modern and easy to navigate without owning a car. That said, Taipei’s public transportation system is just on another level. One more thing: I personally would not want to drive in either city, especially Taipei. The traffic can be heavy.
BTW: The Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) journey between Taipei and Kaohsiung (Zuoying Station) takes 1 hour 34 minutes if you take the fastest train.
Which is colder, Taipei or Kaohsiung?
Kaohsiung’s weather is definitely nicer. It is sunnier and warmer throughout the year. In contrast, Taipei gets around 200 days of rain a year, so you have to be ready for a lot of gloom and drizzle. In Kaohsiung, it barely rains in winter, and the only major weather concern is typhoons during the summer.
However, air pollution is a real concern. Taipei, especially the surrounding countryside, has better air and water quality. At the same time, Taipei is a concrete jungle. Taipei and New Taipei feel crowded. I would even say they are not very well designed. You have got bridges, highways, and MRT lines running above the roads, and half the time, you cannot even see the sky. That kind of weather is especially annoying as a travel vlogger because it makes your videos look dull.
But let us be fair: no big city in Taiwan is truly clean. People often do associate Kaohsiung with pollution, and they are not wrong about that. While the city has improved a lot in recent years, I still say it is dirtier than Taipei overall. For example, air pollution in Kaohsiung contributes to higher lung cancer rates. About 10% higher incidence and 30% higher mortality compared to the north.
Smog and dirty air are problems across many Asian cities, and neither Kaohsiung nor Taipei is an exception. Both are working to improve air quality, but in my opinion, Taipei still has the upper hand here.
Should I go to Taipei or Kaohsiung?
I feel like Kaohsiung is much closer to vacation spots like Xiaoiiuqiu Island and Kenting, which makes it a great base for weekend getaways. Taipei, on the other hand, is closer to hot spring areas like Yilan, and with Yangmingshan, you even have mountains and hot springs right in the city.
Taipei is also nearer to Taichung than Kaohsiung. Taichung to Taipei is about 158 kilometers (98 miles) by road. Taichung to Kaohsiung is about 194 kilometers (121 miles) if you drive. Both Taipei and Kaohsiung have HSR stations. The high-speed train from Taipei to Taichung takes about 1 hour. Taichung to Kaohsiung takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes.
If you are looking to socialize with expats or international students, Taipei definitely has the edge. The city has a much larger international community and offers more job opportunities, especially in tech and education. That said, Kaohsiung has a more laid-back vibe, which some people might actually prefer.
The nightlife in Taipei offers more variety, but Kaohsiung is a big city too, with plenty of bars, night markets, and live music venues. It is also a great city for families, with lots of kid-friendly attractions and parks.
Which Has the Better Food: Taipei or Kaohsiung?
I did not see much point in comparing food between Taipei and Kaohsiung. Food in Taiwan is good everywhere, at least in my humble opinion. But for the sake of my Taiwanese friends, I have to add this section. Yes, they made me do it.
You can find just about every type of Taiwanese cuisine in both cities, but each has its local specialties. For example, Kaohsiung is known for “shan zhu rou fan” (wild boar rice). I have not checked, but I would not be surprised if you could find it in Taipei too.
If you have watched my Traveling Kunz YouTube channel, you know I keep things pretty basic when it comes to food. Thus, I am not going to pretend I am some kind of food critic or foodie. And for my European readers: yes, both Taipei and Kaohsiung have great German bakeries. That I did indeed check personally.
Long story short: You will find excellent food in both cities. And honestly, in pretty much every corner of Taiwan, including my home, Kinmen Island.
Final Verdict: I Like Kaohsiung More Than Taipei
To wrap things up, I prefer Kaohsiung over Taipei. That is not to say I do not like Taipei, I really do. But I feel like I am too old for Taipei. If I were 10 years younger, I would probably pick Taipei without a second thought. Thanks so much for reading. Have a look at my page about traveling in Taiwan. Also, follow me on Facebook or Instagram.
But honestly, the difference is not huge. For example, if you want to visit Alishan, Kaohsiung is closer than Taipei. Kaohsiung is roughly 174 kilometers away from Alishan by road. A car or bus ride takes about 3 hours. Traveling from Taipei requires taking the High Speed Rail (HSR) to Chiayi (about 90 minutes) and then transferring to a bus up to Alishan (about 2.5 hours), making total travel time around 4 hours.
Comments
One response to “Taipei or Kaohsiung?”
i prefer the south as well because I love my in-laws in Neipu. The vibe is more laid back and people are much nicer I found