Townleap

Cost of Living: Bologna vs Taipei (2026)

Italy vs Taiwan — relocation comparison

Your passport:
Bologna
Taipei
$1,130/mo
Rent

1BR centre

$735/mo
5 yr
PR path
—
Impatriati Regime, Regime Forfettario, New Residents Flat Tax, 7% Retiree Flat Tax
Tax breaks

Open incentive regimes for newcomers

—
Freelance setup
Regime Forfettario
  • VAT-free under €85k
  • 26% social
  • €1000/yr accountant
WiseStripe
—

Sourced from Numbeo · Updated May 2026

TL;DRTaipei is 35% cheaper on rent ($735/mo vs $1,130/mo). Taipei scores 8.9 vs 7.6 on democracy. Both cities treat summer as an endurance sport.
Taipei edges ahead 76 to 71. Bologna isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you.
How the livability score breaks down
Bologna
Taipei
18/25
💰 Affordability
21.8/25
14.4/15
🔒 Violent Crime
14.4/15
5.1/10
🛡️ Perceived Safety
8.3/10
5.3/15
⚡ Internet
10.6/15
11.4/15
🗳️ Democracy
13.4/15
5.4/10
🗣️ English
6.1/10
7.2/10
☀️ Climate
6.5/10
9/10
📊 Stability
7.8/10
8.8/10
🚗 Road Safety
4.3/10
7.4/10
🕊️ Geopolitical Safety
5.9/10
Household
Bologna
Metric
Taipei
$724/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
lower is better
$426/mo✓
$6,884
🧳
Cost to land
lower is better
$3,507✓
80 / 100
🛡️
Settler safety
higher is better
91 / 100✓
✓0.6 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
lower is better
0.6 / 100k
5.0 / 100k
🚗
Road deaths
lower is better
—
51 / 100
🚨
Safety Index
higher is better
83 / 100✓
88°F
☀️
Summer high
personal taste
90°F
36°F
❄️
Winter low
personal taste
57°F
—
⚡
Internet speed
higher is better
142 Mbps
15 μg/m³
🌬️
Air quality (PM2.5)
lower is better
—
85 / 100
🏥
Healthcare
higher is better
81 / 100
7.6 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
higher is better
8.9 / 10✓
6.5 / 9
🤝
Migrant acceptance
higher is better
6.8 / 9
25 / 100
🏳️‍🌈
Rainbow Index
higher is better
59 / 100✓
29/100
🗣️
Street English
higher is better
36/100✓
✓$62k
💼
GDP per capita (PPP)
higher is better
$36k
✓1.0% · Practically frozen
📈
Inflation
lower is better
2.2% · Boringly steady
87/100
🗽
Freedom House
higher is better
94/100✓
See exactly what you keep after taxes in each city

Sources: Numbeo · UNODC · Ookla · WHO · EIU · Gallup · World Bank · Freedom House · Updated May 2026

💰
Cost of Living
Taipei
$395/mo cheaper on rent alone
🗳️
Democracy
Taipei
8.9/10 EIU index
🗣️
English
Taipei
higher proficiency score

Sun

How much sky you actually get

50% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
Sky clear
avg daytime
31% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
8.9h
Shortest day
Dec
10.6h
15.5h
Longest day
Jun
13.7h

Sun clocks out early in Bologna's winter. Plan accordingly.

Source: WeatherSpark (clear-sky share of daytime hours)

Settler Essentials

Democracy trend
stable →
Inflation trend
—
Moderate
🇺🇸 Your visa
—
Easy
EU visa
—
Complex
RU visa
—
Easy
UA visa
—
—
Spouse works
⚠️ Needs a separate work permit
Not recognized
unione civile / convivenza di fatto (no immigration rights)
Partner pathway
—

Visa stamps:Easy <90 daysModerate 3–6 moComplex 6+ mo

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · official immigration portals

Reproductive Rights

Because your body shouldn't need a visa too

On request
Abortion access
Broad social grounds
12 wk
Gestational limit
24 wk

On request up to 90 days. 7-day waiting period. High rates of conscientious objection limit practical access.

Permitted up to 24 weeks on broad grounds including mental health. Married women require spousal consent. Governed by the Genetic Health Act.

Source: Center for Reproductive Rights

LGBTQ+ Rights

Can you hold hands without doing a risk assessment first

Civil union
Marriage
Legal
Step-child only
Adoption
Joint adoption
Yes
Job protection
Yes
No
Hate crime law
Yes

Bologna vs Taipei — Common Questions

Is Bologna cheaper than Taipei?▾

Taipei is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $735/month there vs $1130/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Bologna or Taipei?▾

Bologna is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Bologna has a rate of 0.57 per 100,000 and Taipei has 0.60 per 100,000.

Should I move to Bologna or Taipei?▾

Taipei edges ahead 76 to 71. Bologna isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Bologna or Taipei?▾

Bologna: no specific remote work visa. Taipei: Taiwan Gold Card (easy to get, 1–3 years (open work permit)). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Can I live in Bologna or Taipei without speaking the local language?▾

Taipei is easier for street-level English (36/100) than Bologna (29/100). That's the score that matters for doctors, landlords, and bureaucracy. Office English can still run higher than street English in both cities.

What's the cost of rent in Bologna vs Taipei?▾

A 1-bedroom in the centre: $735/month in Taipei, $1130/month in Bologna (Numbeo). That's 35% cheaper rent in Taipei.

Is Bologna or Taipei better for democracy and rule of law?▾

Taipei scores 8.9/10 on the EIU Democracy Index vs 7.6/10 for Bologna. That puts it in 'full democracy' territory — free press, independent courts, the works.

Plot twist: other matchups exist

Maybe the real city was the comparisons we made along the way.

Let the algorithm judge you

2 min quiz — surprisingly accurate

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