Kenting digital nomad guide

Business

VAT

5% (Sales Tax)

Studio Purchase Price (City Center)

Approx. 150,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 6,000,000 TWD in Hengchun Town)

Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)

Approx. 100,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 4,000,000 TWD in rural Manzhou)

1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)

Approx. 140,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 8,400,000 TWD)

1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)

Approx. 90,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 5,400,000 TWD)

2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)

Approx. 130,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 10,400,000 TWD)

2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)

Approx. 85,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 6,800,000 TWD)

Corporate Tax

20% (Standard rate in Taiwan)

Dividend Withholding Tax

21% for non-resident individuals

Tax System

Territorial/Resident basis; foreigners staying over 183 days are considered tax residents

Highest Income Tax Bracket

40%

Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules

Yes, implemented since 2023 for Taiwan tax residents

Property Tax

Yes, Housing Tax (1.2% - 3.6%) and Land Value Tax

Property Transaction Tax

Land Value Increment Tax and House and Land Transactions Income Tax (up to 45% for short-term holds)

Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads

Employment Gold Card offers 50% tax deduction on salary over 3M TWD for the first 3 years

Essentials

City

Kenting (Hengchun Township), Pingtung County, Taiwan

Population

Approximately 30,000 (Hengchun Township)

Internet Speed

Average 60-100 Mbps; 5G coverage is excellent in Hengchun town and Kenting Main Street

Currency & Banking

1 TWD ≈ 0.031 USD. Cash is king in Kenting; ATMs at 7-Eleven and FamilyMart accept international cards (Cirrus/Plus)

Tap Water

Not drinkable; use water dispensers (found in most B&Bs) or buy bottled water (approx. 20 TWD for 600ml)

Power

110V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A and B sockets (same as USA/Canada)

SIM Card

Chunghwa Telecom or Taiwan Mobile; Unlimited data for 30 days approx. 1,000 TWD at Kaohsiung Airport

Banking for Expats

Post Office Bank (Hengchun) or Mega Bank (Kaohsiung); most nomads use Revolut or Wise for ATMs

Accommodation

Minshus (boutique B&Bs) are standard; monthly rates available during off-season (Oct-April)

Cashless Friendly

Limited; 7-Eleven/FamilyMart and high-end resorts accept EasyCard/Credit Cards, but local shops require cash

Short Term Rentals

Airbnb and Booking.com; My Home Kenting or various Hengchun townhouses

Budget Accommodation

Kenting Youth Hostel or My Home; Dorm beds approx. 500-700 TWD per night

Best Area to Stay for Tourists

Kenting Main Street (Dajie) for nightlife and immediate beach access

Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads

Hengchun Old Town; better infrastructure, more cafes, cheaper food, and a more local community feel

Working and Networking

Best Coworking Space

Rocket Jump Coworking (Hengchun); reliable fiber internet and surf-friendly community (approx. 300 TWD/day)

Best Cafe for Work

Spoon in Pocket (Hengchun Old Town); beautiful garden setting, good Wi-Fi, and power outlets

Networking Events

Kenting Surf Community meetups at Nanwan Beach bar areas

Social Events for Expats

'Kenting International' Facebook group for community dinners and environmental beach cleanups

Transportation

Best Taxi/Ride App

Uber is not available; use FindTaxi app or local yellow cabs (Hengchun Taxi: 08-889-2045)

Bike/Scooter Rental

Kenting Scooter Rental; Electric scooters (no license req) approx. 600 TWD/day; Gas scooters (license req) approx. 400 TWD/day

Best Beach Nearby

Baishawan (White Sand Bay) for sunsets or Nanwan (South Bay) for surfing and water sports

Top Regional Airline

Mandarin Airlines (flights to Taipei from nearby Hengchun Airport are rare; use Kaohsiung KHH instead)

Top International Airline

China Airlines and EVA Air via Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH)

Highway Access

Provincial Highway 26 connects all major points; Highway 1 connects north to Kaohsiung

Main Train/Transit Hub

Zuoying HSR Station (Kaohsiung), then take the 'Kenting Express Bus' (approx. 2 hours, 350 TWD)

Public Transport Passes

Kenting Shuttle Bus (Kenting Shuttle Pass: 150 TWD/day) covers all major scenic spots

Regional Travel

9188 or 9189 'Kenting Express' bus to Kaohsiung for high-speed rail access to the rest of Taiwan

Health and Wellness

Best Hospital

Hengchun Tourism Hospital (Ministry of Health and Welfare), No. 188, Hengnan Rd

Yoga & Wellness Centers

Origin Yoga & Wellness (Baishawan area); offers retreats and drop-in beach meditation

Gyms & Fitness Centers

Hengchun Town Sports Park; includes basic gym facilities and a public swimming pool

Laundry Services

Chao Jie Self-Service Laundry (Hengchun); approx. 100 TWD for a wash and dry cycle

Food and Drink

Best Food Delivery App

Foodpanda serves Hengchun and parts of Kenting; limited availability compared to Taipei

Best Local Dish to Try

Green Bean Garlic (Lu Dou Suan) - a warm/cold dessert found in Hengchun Town

Vegan/Vegetarian Options

Kenting Mamma Mia (Vegetarian-friendly Italian) or local 'Zhai' (Buddhist) buffets in Hengchun

Best Dessert Spots

He He Chocolate (Hengchun) - locally sourced Pingtung cacao

Affordable Shopping Spots

Hengchun Sunday Night Market; street food starting at 30 TWD

E-commerce/Online Store

Shopee Taiwan or PChome (delivery to local 7-Elevens is extremely common)

Grocery Delivery

PX Mart (Pingtung) online; however, most locals visit the Hengchun PX Mart in person

Bar/Nightlife Area

Kenting Main Street Night Market (outdoor bars) or Nanwan beach bars like 'The Wood'

Local Brewery

30M Bar (Hengchun) - offers Taiwan craft beers and beach-themed cocktails

Wine Bars

Le Coq Bar (Nanwan); great wine list with ocean views

Street Food Stalls

Fried Milk (Zha Xian Nai) on Kenting Main Street (approx. 25 TWD)

Popular International Cuisine

Warung Didi (Indonesian/Thai fusion) is a legendary local favorite

Culture and Attractions

Must-See Landmarks

Eluanbi Lighthouse, the southernmost point of Taiwan

Museums & Art Venues

National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium (Checheng, 20 mins from Kenting)

Historical Sites

Hengchun Ancient City Gates (East, West, South, and North gates still stand)

Religious Sites

Gaoan Temple (Hengchun); dedicated to Fudegong

Annual Events

Taiwan Greetings (formerly Spring Scream) music festival in April

Cultural Districts

Hengchun Old Street (Ximen Road) for traditional architecture

Theater Venues

Hengchun Folk Music Center (dedicated to the 'Yueqin' traditional guitar)

Local Markets

Hengchun Farmers' Market for local onions and tropical fruits

Music Scene

Live acoustic sets at various guesthouses on Kenting Main Street

Street Art

Hengchun Old Town murals depicting local life and ocean conservation

Cooking Classes

Specialty classes offered by boutique Minshus (e.g., teaching how to make scallion pancakes)

Art Galleries

Hidden South Gallery (Hengchun); features local coastal artists

Historic Buildings

A-Gong’s House (Hengchun) - a preserved 100-year-old courtyard home

Local Heritage

Sika Deer conservation programs at Sheding Nature Park

Nature and Outdoor Activities

Nearby Nature Escapes

Longpan Park; vast limestone grasslands with dramatic Pacific Ocean cliffs

National Parks Nearby

Kenting National Park (Taiwan's first national park, encompassing the whole area)

Cycling/Walking Paths

Cycling Route 1 (The section along the coast from Checheng to Kenting)

Scenic Viewpoints

Guanshan for sunset; voted by CNN as one of the best sunset spots in the world

Birdwatching Locations

Sheding Nature Park for the migration of Gray-faced Buzzards in October

Bonfire-Friendly Spots

Generally restricted within the National Park; authorized fire pits at certain beach campsites like 'Happy Panda'

Other Services and Amenities

Parcel Delivery Service

7-Eleven 'Black Cat' (Takkyubin) service is the most reliable for domestic shipping

Tech Repair Services

Computer/phone repair shops near the Hengchun Transit Station

Table Tennis Spots

Hengchun Community Center (Public access)

Language Classes

Individual tutors found via local community boards; no formal language schools in Kenting

Libraries & Study Spots

Hengchun Town Library (Quiet environment, free Wi-Fi)

Community Centers

Hengchun Town Hall (Social Welfare Building)

Gaming Lounges

Limited; internet cafes (Wangba) are found on the main road of Hengchun

Casino & Gaming Halls

Illegal in Taiwan; only 'Pachinko' style amusement arcades are permitted