🇹🇼 Kaohsiung,
Taiwan
#2235
Nomad Score
7.3
Coords
22.6203348, 120.3120375
Likes
👍 0 👎 0
Actions
ESSENTIALS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏙️ City | Kaohsiung City, Southern Taiwan |
| 👥 Population | 2,730,000 |
| 💻 Internet Speed | 95 Mbps average; Fiber-to-the-home widely available |
| 💸 Currency & Banking | New Taiwan Dollar (TWD). 1 USD ≈ 31.5 TWD. Local banks include Mega Bank and CTBC. |
| 🚰 Tap Water | Not drinkable directly; most people use filters or water dispensers (飲水機). |
| 🔌 Power | 110V, 60Hz. 🔌 Type A and Type B sockets (same as USA/Canada). |
| 📶 SIM Card | Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile. Unlimited data plans for 30 days cost approx. 1,000 TWD ($32 USD). |
| 💳 Banking for Expats | Post Office Bank (easy to open), Mega Bank, or digital options like Revolut (for spending) and Wise. |
| 🛌 Accommodation | Serviced apartments, local rentals via 591.com.tw, and boutique hostels. |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly | Moderate. Large stores take cards; night markets and small eateries require LinePay or Cash. |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals | Airbnb (average $700-$1,200 USD/month), Dwell (Monthly rentals near KRT stations). |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation | D'well Hostel (approx. 500 TWD/night), Ahiruyah Guesthouse near Formosa Boulevard. |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists | Yancheng District (Art and History) or Lingya (near 85 Sky Tower). |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads | Zuoying District (Near HSR and E-Sky Mall) or Sinsing District (Central and transit-connected). |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space | DAKUO (Kaohsiung Digital Art Center) in Yancheng; Happ. (multiple locations, approx 300 TWD/day). |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work | Cafe Strida (Sinsing) or TST (The Simple Taste) near Cultural Center. Fast Wi-Fi and ample outlets. |
| 💼 Networking Events | M.I.T. (Made in Taiwan) startup meetups at Pier-2; Kaohsiung English Speakers Meetup. |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats | Kaohsiung Expat Facebook Group events; Trivia nights at Lighthouse Bar & Grill. |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App | Uber is active; Line Taxi and FindTaxi are popular local alternatives. |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental | YouBike 2.0 (docked stations everywhere); GoShare or WeMo for electric scooters (requires local/international license). |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby | Cijin Beach (accessible via a 5-minute ferry from Gushan Ferry Pier, 30 TWD). |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline | EVA Air, China Airlines (operating out of KHH). |
| ✈️ Top International Airline | Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways, AirAsia (connecting via HK or Southeast Asia). |
| 🛣️ Highway Access | National Highway No. 1 and No. 3 connect Kaohsiung to Taipei and the rest of the island. |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub | Kaohsiung Main Station (TRA) and Zuoying Station (HSR - High Speed Rail). |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes | iPass or EasyCard. Single rides 20-50 TWD; Monthly 'Men-go' passes available for approx. 1,250 TWD. |
| ✈️ Regional Travel | HSR to Taipei (1.5 hours, 1,490 TWD); TRA local trains to Tainan (40 mins, 68 TWD). |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏥 Best Hospital | Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital (KMUH) or Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers | Yoga Edition (Taroko Park); Space Cycle (E-Sky Mall). |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers | World Gym (multiple locations); Fitness Factory (very high quality, Bo'ai branch). |
| 🧺 Laundry Services | Seicoro (Coin laundry franchises) found in every neighborhood; laundry+dry cleaning services at major hotels. |
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App | Foodpanda and UberEats are ubiquitous and very cheap (30-50 TWD delivery fee). |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try | Gangshan Mutton Hotpot or Duck Rice (鴨肉珍 Yarozen in Yancheng). |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options | Easy House Vegetarian Cuisine; widespread 'Buddhist Vegetarian' buffets (pay by weight). |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots | Sunny Hills (Pineapple cakes at Pier-2); Gushan Ferry area Shaved Ice (Big Bowl Ice). |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots | Sanfeng Central Street (traditional goods); PX Mart and Carrefour for general groceries. |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store | Momo, PChome, and Shopee Taiwan (delivery to 7-Eleven stores). |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery | Carrefour online delivery; Foodpanda's 'Pandamart' for 20-minute delivery. |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area | Lingya District (Minquan Road bars); The Brick (nightclub/events); Pier-2 area bars. |
| 🍻 Local Brewery | Takao Brewing (craft beers available at local bottle shops and draft rooms). |
| 🍷 Wine Bars | Gien Jia (Selection of fine wines and fusion bistro food). |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls | Liuhe Night Market (touristy) and Ruifeng Night Market (local favorite, near Kaohsiung Arena). |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine | Katsuya (Japanese); Smokey Joe's (Tex-Mex/American fusion). |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks | Dragon and Tiger Pagodas at Lotus Pond; Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum (45 mins out). |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues | Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts; Pier-2 Art Center (open-air refurbished warehouses). |
| 🏰 Historical Sites | The British Consulate at Takow; Former Tangrong Brick Kiln. |
| 🕍 Religious Sites | Sanfeng Temple (famous for red lanterns); Wenwu Temple. |
| 🎉 Annual Events | Kaohsiung Lantern Festival (February); Megaport Music Festival (March). |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts | Yancheng District (Historic heart/Creative hub). |
| 🎭 Theater Venues | National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) - world's largest single-roof performing arts center. |
| 🛍️ Local Markets | Kaisyuan Night Market; Sanfeng Central Street. |
| 🎼 Music Scene | LIVE WAREHOUSE at Pier-2; Paramount Bar (Indie/Underground). |
| 🎨 Street Art | Weiwuying Street Art Village (huge murals on apartment buildings). |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes | Skill-Serve Kaohsiung (occasional traditional Taiwanese dumpling classes). |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries | Gallery J. Chen; AKI Gallery. |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings | Kaohsiung City Archives (Old City Hall); Wude Hall (Martial Arts Hall). |
| 🏴 Local Heritage | Hakka cultural influences in nearby Meinong district. |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes | Shoushan (Monkey Mountain) for hiking and wild macaques. |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby | Kenting National Park (2 hours south) for world-class beaches and surfing. |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths | Love River Bike Path (stretches across the city); Shoushan Forest trails. |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints | 85 Sky Tower Observation Deck; British Consulate at Takow for sunset over the port. |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations | Niaosong Wetland Park; Chengcing Lake. |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots | Strictly regulated; designated camping grounds in Maolin District (mountains). |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service | 7-Eleven and FamilyMart (Store-to-Store delivery is the standard); Black Cat (Takkyubin). |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services | Jianguo Road (Computer Street) - hundreds of specialized electronics repair shops. |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots | Kaohsiung City Youth Center; various district sports centers. |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes | Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages (CLC center); NSYSU Mandarin Center. |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots | Kaohsiung Public Library Main Branch (award-winning architecture, great work desks). |
| 🏘️ Community Centers | Kaohsiung International Center (KIC). |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges | Cyber Cafés (網咖) like i-Café are premium, 24/7, and offer private booths. |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls | Gambling is illegal; only the Taiwan Lottery and 'Amusement Arcades' (pachinko-style) exist. |
BUSINESS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. 280,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 30 m² = 8,400,000 TWD / $265k USD). |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. 180,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 30 m² = 5,400,000 TWD / $170k USD). |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. 260,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 13,000,000 TWD). |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. 160,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 8,000,000 TWD). |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. 240,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 19,200,000 TWD). |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. 150,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 12,000,000 TWD). |
| 💼 Corporate Tax | 20% (Standard rate for profit-seeking enterprises). |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax | 21% for non-resident individuals. |
| 🏦 Tax System | Territorial/Resident basis; residents are taxed on Taiwan-sourced income (Gold Card holders have exemptions). |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket | 40% for income over 4.7 million TWD. |
| 🧾 VAT | 5% (Always included in the displayed price). |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules | Yes, implemented in 2023 to prevent tax avoidance via offshore entities. |
| 🏠 Property Tax | 1.2% to 3.6% of the assessed value (not market value). |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax | Land Value Increment Tax and the 'House and Land Tax 2.0' (high rates if sold within 2-5 years). |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads | Foreigners staying <90 days are not taxed on foreign-sourced income. Employment Gold Card offers 50% tax reduction on income over 3M TWD. |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING KAOHSIUNG