Live 2026 data · Tuition, rent, visa, salaries, PR pathways & more
Taiwan
55
GoScore
Budget/mo
$800
Salary/mo
$1,600
Vietnam
35
GoScore
Budget/mo
$420
Salary/mo
$520
For Working Professionals
Moving to Taiwan or Vietnam for work? Compare average salaries, tech job market, minimum wage, work permit process, and real purchasing power after living expenses — 2026 benchmarks.
AI insights unavailable
Working Professionals GoScore Ranking
GoScore 0-100 · Weights: affordability, PR pathway, safety, career & quality of life
Salary & Work Comparison
Avg net salary / month
Tech / IT salary / month
Graduate salary / month
Minimum wage / month
Work permit fee
Rent 1-bed (city centre) / mo
Purchasing power index
Avg net salary / month
Graduate salary / month
Tech / IT salary / month
Part-time (student) / hr
Minimum wage / month
1-bed apartment (city centre) / mo
1-bed apartment (outside centre) / mo
Utilities / mo
Internet / mo
Affordability index (higher = cheaper)
Purchasing power index
Quick Verdict for Working Professionals — 2026
Taiwan wins for career-focused professionals with a work GoScore of 55 vs 35 for Vietnam. Average monthly net salary is $1,600 (Taiwan) vs $520 (Vietnam) — but after rent and basic expenses, professionals in Taiwan retain $635/month, which is $792/month more than in Vietnam.
Tech salaries: $3,000/month in Taiwan vs $1,100/month in Vietnam. Purchasing power is 74 in Taiwan and 35 in Vietnam — Taiwan's higher purchasing power means salaries go further in real terms.
Headline salary comparisons are misleading without cost context. In Taiwan, after rent ($650/mo), groceries ($200/mo), transport ($45/mo), and utilities ($70/mo), a professional on the average net salary of $1,600 retains $635/month. In Vietnam, the same calculation leaves $0/month from $520. Compounded over 5 years, the disposable income gap totals $47,520 — a significant difference for wealth building and remittances to family in India.
For Indian professionals in IT, software, and engineering — the dominant employment sectors for Indian immigrants — monthly tech salaries are $3,000 in Taiwan and $1,100 in Vietnam. Graduate entry-level roles pay $1,300/mo (Taiwan) and $450/mo (Vietnam). The minimum wage floors are $870/mo and $210/mo respectively — relevant for early-career transitions where you may not immediately land a senior role.
A salary figure only has meaning relative to what it buys. Purchasing power index in Taiwan is 74 and in Vietnam is 35(100 = New York City; higher = more purchasing power). The cost of living index is 54 vs 31 (lower = cheaper). Even if gross salaries appear similar, Taiwan's stronger purchasing power means a better practical standard of living.
Work permit government fees: $100 in Taiwan and $130 in Vietnam. For professionals planning to stay long-term, the PR pathway is the critical variable: Taiwan takes ~5 years; Vietnam takes ~0 years. Vietnam offers a 5-year faster route to settlement — which significantly affects total visa costs and planning horizon.
| Metric | 🇹🇼 Taiwan | 🇻🇳 Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Avg net salary / month | $1,600 | $520 |
| Tech / IT salary / month | $3,000 | $1,100 |
| Graduate salary / month | $1,300 | $450 |
| Minimum wage / month | $870 | $210 |
| Work permit fee | $100 | $130 |
| Rent 1-bed (city centre) | $650/mo | $520/mo |
| Purchasing power index | 74 | 35 |
| Cost of living index | 54 | 31 |
| PR pathway | 5 years | 0 years |
| Safety index | 77 / 100 | 61 / 100 |
The average monthly net salary in Taiwan is $1,600 after tax. In Vietnam, it is $520. But gross salary only tells part of the story. After rent ($650/mo in Taiwan vs $520/mo in Vietnam), groceries ($200 vs $100), and transport ($45 vs $12), the real disposable income gap often differs substantially from the headline salary comparison. For tech roles specifically: Taiwan pays $3,000/month in IT/software, vs $1,100/month in Vietnam — a segment that employs a large share of Indian professionals abroad.
Securing a work permit in Taiwan costs approximately $100 in government fees. In Vietnam, the fee is $130. Taiwan's lower work permit cost reduces the upfront barrier — particularly relevant for employer-sponsored hires where the employee bears some fees.The minimum wage provides the salary floor: $870/month in Taiwan and $210/month in Vietnam. Graduate-level roles start at $1,300/month (Taiwan) and $450/month (Vietnam).
Purchasing power index — a measure of what your take-home salary can actually buy — is 74 in Taiwan and 35 in Vietnam(100 = New York City baseline; higher means more purchasing power). Taiwan's higher purchasing power means salaries go further in real terms, even if the cost of living index seems comparable.The overall cost of living index is 54 for Taiwan vs 31 for Vietnam(higher = more expensive relative to New York City).
For professionals planning to stay long-term: Taiwan's PR pathway runs approximately 5 years, while Vietnam's takes 0 years. Vietnam offers a 5-year faster route to PR — significant for professionals who want to put down roots rather than cycle between visas.English proficiency in the general population is rated moderate in Taiwan; moderate in Vietnam — affecting both professional networking ease and long-term integration.
Taiwan scores 77/100 on safety, 6.62/10 on the UN Happiness Index, and 175 on the Numbeo quality of life index.Vietnam scores 61/100, 5.46/10 (happiness), and 131 (quality of life). Healthcare access — critical for professionals with families — rates Taiwan at 76 and Vietnam at 59. For Indian professionals, the size of the established Indian community also matters for social integration: Taiwan has a very small community;Vietnam has a small one.
Understanding a country beyond spreadsheets — unique facts about each destination that shape the experience of living and working there.
🇹🇼 Taiwan
Taiwan produces 90% of the world's most advanced semiconductor chips (below 7nm) — TSMC's fab engineers are among the highest-paid in Asia.
Source: Semiconductor Industry Association 2024
Taiwan ranked #1 globally for ease of doing business in manufacturing for the 8th consecutive year.
Source: World Bank 2024
Taiwan's National Health Insurance covers all residents including foreign workers from day one — comprehensive healthcare with no private insurance needed.
Source: NHI Taiwan 2024
Taiwan's Gold Card programme offers a 3-year open work permit to skilled professionals earning $60,000+/year — processed in 30 days.
Source: NDC Taiwan 2024
🇻🇳 Vietnam
Vietnam's economy grew at 7.1% in 2023 — the fastest in Southeast Asia — driven by electronics manufacturing (Samsung, Intel, LG all produce here).
Source: World Bank 2024
Ho Chi Minh City ranks in Asia's top 10 startup ecosystems, with particular strength in fintech and e-commerce.
Source: Startup Genome 2024
Vietnam produced 1.2 million university graduates per year in STEM fields as of 2023 — the fastest-growing STEM talent pipeline in Southeast Asia.
Source: MOET Vietnam 2023
Vietnam's coast stretches 3,260 km — making tourism, hospitality management, and marine engineering uniquely important industries.
Popular Comparisons
Ready to take the next step?
You'll need IELTS to study in any of these countries. Take a free full-length mock test to know exactly where you stand.
Data Sources
Editorial
Compiled by mockDe Editorial Team
Verified by IELTS-certified advisors with study-abroad counselling experience.
Freshness
Data reflects 2026 benchmarks.
Last reviewed June 2026.
AI verdict cached permanently; regenerated on data change.
All figures in USD. AI insights by Gemini Pro. Values are indicative — verify official sources before making relocation decisions.