TSMC Factory Drives Kaohsiung Housing Prices Up, But City Sees Population Decline; Good House Price Says Prices No Longer Key Migration Factor

Housing prices in Taiwan's six major cities have seen significant shifts in recent years, increasingly influencing where people choose to live. However, the relationship between property values and population movement is not always straightforward.

Good House Price data from 2015 to 2025 reveals that Taipei boasts the highest average housing price at NT$887,000 per ping, approximately three times that of Taoyuan, Taichung, and Kaohsiung. Despite this high cost of living, Taipei has experienced a net outflow of 44,484 people during the same period.

Conversely, Kaohsiung, where TSMC is establishing a new factory, has seen its housing prices surge. Yet, the city has recorded a net population decrease. This trend suggests that factors beyond housing affordability, such as job opportunities and quality of life, play a crucial role in migration decisions. The data indicates that rising property values alone do not guarantee population growth.

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Housing prices are no longer the sole indicator for people choosing where to live.