The government has raised the basic living expense to NT$213,000 per person, but rents and prices are climbing even faster, and this standard is clearly not enough for renters in Greater Taipei.

• The Ministry of Finance announced the basic living expense for 2025 (year 114) at NT$213,000 per person, which works out to roughly NT$17,000 per month — only NT$3,000 more than last year.
• Monthly rent in Greater Taipei is around NT$15,000 to NT$20,000; at NT$20,000, a year's rent comes to NT$240,000, higher than the entire basic living expense.
• Office workers keep even their breakfast under NT$100, and with rising fuel prices, vehicle maintenance and transport costs, careful budgeting still feels increasingly tight.
• The current standard is calculated using a "relative poverty line" formula set at 60% of the median disposable income, without factoring in regional differences or needs such as childcare, long-term care and transport.
• Scholars criticise that the poverty line is not the same as the cost of a dignified life, and suggest a regular review through the Taxpayer Rights Protection Consultation Committee and the Legislative Yuan.

Outlook: With rent, childcare, long-term care and medical spending continuing to mount, the pressure to redefine "basic living" will only grow, and the system is likely to keep lagging behind reality in the short term.