Essentials
- City
- Tainan City, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
- Population
- Approx. 1.85 million
- Internet Speed
- High-speed fiber widely available; average 120 Mbps download / 50 Mbps upload.
- Currency & Banking
- New Taiwan Dollar (TWD). 1 USD ≈ 31.5 TWD; 1 EUR ≈ 34.2 TWD.
- Tap Water
- Not recommended for direct drinking; use 24/7 water dispensing stations (approx. 2 TWD per liter) or boiled/filtered water.
- Power
- 110V, 60Hz. 🔌 Type A and Type B sockets (same as USA/Canada).
- SIM Card
- Chunghwa Telecom or Taiwan Mobile; Unlimited 4G/5G data for 30 days costs approx. 1,000 TWD.
- Banking for Expats
- CTBC Bank and Mega Bank are expat-friendly. Most nomads use Revolut or Wise for ATMs.
- Accommodation
- Mix of traditional townhouses and modern apartments. 591.com.tw is the primary local listing site.
- Cashless Friendly
- Moderately; major stores take cards/EasyCard, but night markets and small eateries are 'Cash Only'.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and local Facebook groups like 'Tainan Apartment Rentals'; avg. 15,000–25,000 TWD per month.
- Budget Accommodation
- U.I.J Hotel & Hostel (approx. 800 TWD/night for dorms, West Central District).
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- West Central District (Shengli Rd, Guohua St area) for proximity to temples and food.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- East District near National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) for better cafes, libraries, and younger vibe.
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Planett (No. 49, Section 1, Fuqian Rd); focus on creatives and remote workers, daily pass approx. 300 TWD.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Room A (No. 19, Lane 72, Section 1, Ximen Rd); a 'reading cafe' where you pay by the hour (approx. 60 TWD/hr) including coffee.
- Networking Events
- Tainan Digital Nomad Meetup (via Facebook) or events at the Startup Hub Tainan.
- Social Events for Expats
- Language Exchange Tainan held weekly at various bars like Dirty Roger.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber is reliable; Line Taxi is the local favoriteintegrated into the Line messenger app.
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- YouBike 2.0 stations are everywhere (first 30 mins approx. 10 TWD). For scooters: J-D Rent near Tainan Station (approx. 400 TWD/day).
- Best Beach Nearby
- Yuguang Island (Anping District); popular for sunset views and beginner surfing.
- Top Regional Airline
- Uni Air or Mandarin Airlines (operating from Tainan Airport TNN).
- Top International Airline
- EVA Air or China Airlines (usually via Kaohsiung KHH or Taipei TPE).
- Highway Access
- National Highway 1 (Sun Yat-sen Freeway) and Highway 3 pass through the city.
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Tainan Railway Station (TRA) for local trains; Tainan HSR Station (Shalun) for 90-min trips to Taipei.
- Public Transport Passes
- T-Pass (Southern Taiwan) offers 30-day unlimited bus/train travel for 999 TWD.
- Regional Travel
- TRA Local Express trains to Kaohsiung take 45 minutes (approx. 70 TWD).
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKUH) - excellent English-speaking staff.
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Space Yoga Tainan or local studios near the East District.
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- World Gym Tainan (various locations) or Being Fit (7-Eleven brand fitness centers, pay-per-hour).
- Laundry Services
- Golden Coin 24H Coin Laundry (widely available in West Central District).
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Foodpanda and UberEats are both dominant.
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Beef Soup (Tainan Beef Soup at No. 570, Section 2, Anping Rd) and Danzai Noodles.
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Chih-Kan Huai-An Vegetarian (near Chihkan Tower); high-quality traditional Buddhist vegetarian.
- Best Dessert Spots
- Lily Fruit Room (No. 199, Section 1, Fuqian Rd) for traditional fruit shaved ice.
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Tainan Flower Night Market (Thurs/Sat/Sun) for cheap bulk snacks and goods.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Shopee Taiwan, PChome, and MOMO Shopping.
- Grocery Delivery
- PX Mart (via Foodpanda) or Carrefour Online.
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Hai’an Road (Art Street) - lined with open-air bars and izakayas.
- Local Brewery
- Taihu Brewing Tainan (Taproom Tainan) in the West Central District.
- Wine Bars
- The Drunken Muse (No. 20, Lane 104, Sec. 2, Zhongshan Rd).
- Street Food Stalls
- Guohua Street Section 3 for the highest density of historical snacks.
- Popular International Cuisine
- KADOYA Patisserie (Japanese style) or various Thai restaurants in the East District.
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Chihkan Tower (Fort Provintia) and Hayashi Department Store.
- Museums & Art Venues
- Tainan Art Museum Building 2 - an architectural masterpiece (Entrance: 200 TWD).
- Historical Sites
- Anping Old Fort (Fort Zeelandia) and the Anping Tree House.
- Religious Sites
- Tainan Confucius Temple (first in Taiwan) and Grand Matsu Temple.
- Annual Events
- Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival (usually February/March).
- Cultural Districts
- Blueprint Culture & Creative Park (Ximen Rd).
- Theater Venues
- Tainan Cultural Center.
- Local Markets
- Shengli Morning Market for a traditional local vibe.
- Music Scene
- TCRC (The Checkered Record Club) - famous live house and cocktail bar.
- Street Art
- Shennong Street - preserved historical street with murals and lanterns.
- Cooking Classes
- Tainan Cooking Class (near Chihkan Tower) focuses on traditional snacks.
- Art Galleries
- In-Art Gallery (No. 83, Section 2, You'ai St).
- Historic Buildings
- National Museum of Taiwan Literature (housed in the former Tainan State Hall).
- Local Heritage
- Traditional puppet theater and the 'Tainan-style' sweet-flavor preference in cooking.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Sicao Mangrove Green Tunnel (approx. 200 TWD for a raft tour).
- National Parks Nearby
- Taijiang National Park (wetlands and migratory birds).
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Tainan Canal cycle path - loops around Anping and the shoreline.
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Anping Harbor/Sunset Platform.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Qigu Salt Pan Wetlands (especially for Black-faced Spoonbills in winter).
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Generally restricted; some private campsites in the mountainous Gueidan area allow fires.
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- 7-Eleven and FamilyMart (store-to-store delivery is the standard for Taiwan).
- Tech Repair Services
- Tainan Beimen Road (Electronic street) near the TRA station.
- Table Tennis Spots
- Tainan Municipal Table Tennis Court near the Sports Park.
- Language Classes
- NCKU Chinese Language Center (CLC); offers intensive seasonal courses.
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Tainan Public Library (Main Branch in Yongkang) - world-class facilities and study pods.
- Community Centers
- West Central District Social Center.
- Gaming Lounges
- Various internet cafes near Beimen Road (e.g., Target Internet Cafe).
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Gambling is illegal in Taiwan; only state-sanctioned lotteries and 'Amusement Centers' (pachinko-style) exist.
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 130,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 5,200,000 TWD).
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 90,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 3,600,000 TWD).
- 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. 100,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 6,000,000 TWD).
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 150,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 12,000,000 TWD).
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 110,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 8,800,000 TWD).
- Corporate Tax
- Standard rate is 20%.
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 21% for non-residents.
- Tax System
- Progressive tax on Taiwan-sourced income; Residents (183+ days) taxed on world income in some specific categories (AMT).
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 40%.
- VAT
- 5% (Business Tax).
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Effective since 2023; stricter reporting for offshore companies.
- Property Tax
- Annual House Tax (1.2% to 3.6%) and Land Value Tax.
- Property Transaction Tax
- Combined House and Land Tax (15% to 45% based on holding period).
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Taiwan Employment Gold Card offers a 50% tax deduction on income over 3M TWD for the first 3 years.