Food and Drink
- Wine Bars
- Wild Donkey, Weightstone Vineyard Estate tasting room
- Street Food Stalls
- Raohe Night Market, Ningxia Night Market
- Popular International Cuisine
- Din Tai Fung (Xiao Long Bao), Mama Thai 11
- Best Food Delivery App
- Foodpanda, UberEats
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Beef Noodle Soup (Niu Rou Mian), Braised Pork Rice (Lu Rou Fan)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Vegan Taipei, Vege Creek (customizable stir-fry)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Ice Monster (Mango Shaved Ice), SunnyHills (Pineapple Cakes)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- PX Mart (Supermarket), Carrefour, traditional wet markets (Nangang/Shilin)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Shopee Taiwan, PChome 24h, MOMO
- Grocery Delivery
- UberEats (Mart), Foodpanda (Pandamart), Costco Online
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Xinyi District (Clubs/Rooftops), Maji Square (Outdoor drinking)
- Local Brewery
- Taihu Brewing (Draft Land), Sunmai Bar
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Taipei 101, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
- Museums & Art Venues
- National Palace Museum, Taipei Fine Arts Museum (TFAM)
- Historical Sites
- Longshan Temple, Bopiliao Historical Block
- Religious Sites
- Xingtian Temple (Daoist), Baoan Temple
- Annual Events
- Pingxi Lantern Festival (February), Dragon Boat Festival (June)
- Cultural Districts
- Dadaocheng (Old architecture and tea shops), Huashan 1914 Creative Park
- Theater Venues
- National Theater & Concert Hall, Taipei Performing Arts Center
- Local Markets
- Jianguo Holiday Flower & Jade Market
- Music Scene
- Legacy Taipei, Revolver (Live underground indie/rock)
- Street Art
- Taipei Cinema Park (Ximending Graffiti Lane)
- Cooking Classes
- CookInn Taiwan (Traditional Taiwanese dishes)
- Art Galleries
- Aki Gallery, Liang Gallery (Neihu District)
- Historic Buildings
- Presidential Office Building, Red House (Ximending)
- Local Heritage
- Tea culture in Maokong; indigenous cultural displays at Shung Ye Museum
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Yangmingshan National Park (Volcanic landscapes, 45 mins away)
- National Parks Nearby
- Taroko Gorge National Park (3 hours via TRA train)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Tamsui River Bike Path, Keelung River Riverside Park
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) for Taipei 101 views
- Birdwatching Locations
- Guandu Nature Park
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Generally restricted; designated BBQ areas in Riverside Parks during Mid-Autumn Festival
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- 7-Eleven/FamilyMart store-to-store delivery, Black Cat (Takkyubin)
- Tech Repair Services
- Guanghua Digital Plaza (The 'nerd' mall for all repairs)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Taipei City District Sports Centers (approx. $100 TWD/hour)
- Language Classes
- NTU ICLP, MTC at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Taipei Public Library (Main Branch - Da'an), National Central Library
- Community Centers
- Shilin District Community Center
- Gaming Lounges
- E-Sports Arena (i-Cafes widespread in Ximending)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Gambling is illegal; only government-sanctioned lotteries and 'Tom's World' arcades exist
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,200,000 TWD per ping (3.3 m²) (e.g., 40 m² = $14,500,000 TWD)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $600,000 TWD per ping (e.g., 40 m² = $7,200,000 TWD in New Taipei)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,100,000 TWD per ping (e.g., 60 m² = $20,000,000 TWD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $550,000 TWD per ping (e.g., 60 m² = $10,000,000 TWD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,000,000 TWD per ping (e.g., 80 m² = $24,200,000 TWD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $500,000 TWD per ping (e.g., 80 m² = $12,100,000 TWD)
- Corporate Tax
- 20% standard rate
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 21% for non-residents
- Tax System
- Territorial/Resident hybrid; Foreign income exempt up to $6.7M TWD under AMT
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 40%
- VAT
- 5% (Sales Tax/Business Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, implemented in 2023 for individual and corporate levels
- Property Tax
- 1.2% to 3.6% depending on usage (Self-occupied is lower)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Land Value Increment Tax + House and Land Transactions Income Tax (up to 45%)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Gold Card program offers 50% income tax reduction on salary over $3M TWD
Essentials
- City
- Taipei City, Taiwan
- Population
- 2,600,000 (Central Taipei), 7,000,000 (Greater Taipei Metro)
- Internet Speed
- Average 150 Mbps; widespread 1Gbps fiber available in most apartments
- Currency & Banking
- New Taiwan Dollar (TWD). 1 USD ≈ 32 TWD, 1 EUR ≈ 34.50 TWD
- Tap Water
- Potable at source, but usually boiled or filtered due to old building pipes
- Power
- 110V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets (same as USA/Canada)
- SIM Card
- Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile. Unlimited 4G/5G data for 30 days ≈ $800-$1,000 TWD
- Banking for Expats
- Mega Bank, CTBC, and Cathay United are nomad-friendly; Revolut (limited) and Wise work at most ATMs
- Accommodation
- 591.com.tw (Local site), My Room Abroad, Airbnb; Monthly rentals common
- Cashless Friendly
- Moderate; EasyCard (Metro card) used at all convenience stores; high-end malls accept Apple Pay
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Borderless House (Coliving), Zuker (Managed apartments)
- Budget Accommodation
- Star Hostel Taipei Main Station (approx. $800 TWD/night), Meander Taipei
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Ximending (Shopping/Nightlife) or Zhongshan District (Food/Culture)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Da’an District (High-end, cafes) or Xinyi (Near coworking/business hubs)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Impact Hub Taipei (Da'an), Hive Taipei ($500 TWD/day), FutureWard
- Best Cafe for Work
- Louisa Coffee (widespread, budget-friendly), Homey’s Cafe (Xinyi), Notch Coffee
- Networking Events
- Taipei Entrepreneurs Meetup, All Hands Taiwan (Professional networking)
- Social Events for Expats
- Language Exchange Taipei (Le Zinc Cafe), Taipei Expat Facebook Group events
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, LINE TAXI, 55688 Taiwan Taxi App
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- YouBike 2.0 (Public bikes, first 30 mins $5-10 TWD), WeMo Scooter (e-scooters)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Fulong Beach (1 hour by train from Taipei Main Station)
- Top Regional Airline
- EVA Air, China Airlines
- Top International Airline
- Starlux Airlines (Luxury regional/international)
- Highway Access
- National Highway No. 1 and No. 3 connect North to South
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Taipei Main Station (MTR, TRA, HSR, Airport Express hub)
- Public Transport Passes
- TPASS (30-day unlimited northern Taiwan transit for $1,200 TWD)
- Regional Travel
- Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR) - Taipei to Kaohsiung in 90 mins
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH), Adventist Hospital (priority English service)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Space Yoga (Anhe), Yoga Journey (Fuxing)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- World Gym, Fitness Factory, Taipei City Sports Centers (Pay-per-hour, $50 TWD)
- Laundry Services
- Wash Me (Self-service laundromats widespread in residential alleys)