⚖️ City comparison

Hanoi vs Taipei

Hanoi (Vietnam) and Taipei (Taiwan), compared on what matters when you move from the US: cost, weather, safety, internet, visas and tax.

The short version

Hanoi is 47% cheaper: $873 vs $1,649 a month all-in for one person.
Rent is lower in Hanoi: $423 vs $803 for a 1-bedroom in the centre.
Both have 4 pleasant months a year.
Hanoi is warmer: highs average 2°F more across the year (coldest-month high 71°F vs 67°F in Taipei; hottest 92°F vs 92°F).
Residents rate Taipei safer: a safety index of 83 vs 66 out of 100 (Numbeo survey).
The air is cleaner in Taipei: PM2.5 of 10.4 vs 45.9 µg/m³ a year.
Vietnam has no nomad visa; Taiwan has a nomad visa ($1,667/mo).

Measure	🇻🇳 Hanoi	🇹🇼 Taipei
⭐ Fit score (default weights)	81	82
💰 All-in / month	$873	$1,649
🏠 1BR rent, centre	$423	$803
🛒 Living costs, no rent	$450	$846
☀️ Pleasant months	4	4
🌡️ Highs, coldest–hottest month	71–92°F	67–92°F
🛡️ Safety	66/100 (residents)	83/100 (residents)
📶 Internet, median download	238 Mbps	271 Mbps
🌬️ Air, PM2.5 per year	45.9 µg/m³	10.4 µg/m³
🗣️ English	Moderate (EF)	n/a
🏥 Healthcare access (WHO)	High	n/a
👩 Women's safety & rights	Moderate	High
🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ equality	Moderate	High
✈️ Flight to the US (est.)	~14h to Seattle	~12h to Seattle
🕘 US work-hour overlap	0 h	0 h
🗓️ Visa-free stay (US passport)	90 days	90 days
🛂 Nomad visa	No nomad visa	Digital Nomad Visa (Jan 2025) / Employment Gold Card
🧾 Tax if resident	🟡 Moderate · Worldwide income, top 35%	🟢 Friendly · Mostly local income only, top 40%

🇻🇳 Hanoi

5 best months

🇹🇼 Taipei

5 best months

Colour is each month's typical temperature; ticked months are the most comfortable. Full detail: Hanoi climate · Taipei climate.

Data last updated September 7, 2026 · Source: Numbeo cost data, measured climate history, Ookla, UNODC/Numbeo safety and curated visa research