Business
- 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.
- 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.
Essentials
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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.