The Other Side of Taiwan’s Prices: Cheap Goods and High Wages Are Hard to Have Together

Originally published 2026-06-21Robin’s commentary (as of June 2026)

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English translation of the Chinese post originally published 2026-06-21. Translated 2026-11-05 with AI assistance. Historical figures and claims have not been updated or independently verified. 中文原文

Reading guide

Robin argues that government has long protected living costs through electricity, fuel, and water subsidies, while resource-limited Taiwan imports almost all energy. Rather than single out milk, compare overall price changes with other countries. Taiwan cannot expect everything to be cheapest while wages match global standards. He considers its combination of strong growth and controlled prices enviable and urges appreciation of those advantages.

Key points

Government subsidies have long protected electricity, fuel, and water prices.
Taiwan has limited resources and imports almost all energy.
Compare overall price changes internationally rather than milk alone.
The cheapest goods and world-level wages are difficult to combine; appreciate existing advantages.

Trees at different stages of growth with connected roots on cream paper, suggesting patient cultivation and lasting value. — Venture capital & investmentThematic illustration · AI generated

Full text — English translation

Government has long protected Taiwan’s living costs exceptionally well, including electricity, fuel, and water. A small country with limited resources, Taiwan imports almost all energy by sea, including oil, natural gas, and coal, supported by many subsidy schemes. There is no need to single out milk: some prices will be high and others low. Compare overall changes with other countries instead. People must recognize that everything cannot be cheapest while wages match global levels. Higher wages mean not everything can remain cheap; universally cheap prices often mean wages cannot be high. Taiwan currently has extremely strong growth and well-controlled prices. Foreigners would envy it. Recognize and appreciate that good fortune.

These articles are personal notes, book excerpts, and collected reprints. Figures and events reflect the time of the original publication, are not current information, and do not constitute investment advice.

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