Yilan Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ City |
Yilan City, Yilan County, Taiwan |
| 👥 Population |
Approximately 450,000 (County total) |
| 💻 Internet Speed |
Average 120 Mbps (Fiber widely available) |
| 💸 Currency & Banking |
New Taiwan Dollar (TWD). 1 USD ≈ 31.5 TWD, 1 EUR ≈ 34.2 TWD |
| 🚰 Tap Water |
Safe to drink after boiling; most nomads use filtered water dispensers |
| 🔌 Power |
110V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B (Same as USA/Canada) |
| 📶 SIM Card |
Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile. Unlimited 4G/5G data for 30 days ≈ $1,000 TWD |
| 💳 Banking for Expats |
Post Office Bank, Mega Bank, or Cathay United for local accounts; Revolut/Wise for ATM |
| 🛌 Accommodation |
Modern apartments and traditional homestays (Minsus) |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly |
Moderate. Line Pay and EasyCard are wide, but night markets are cash-only |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals |
Airbnb, Booking.com, and 591.com.tw for local listings |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation |
Yilan Youth Hostel (approx. $600 TWD/night) |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists |
Jiaoxi Township (Hot springs and restaurants) |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads |
Yilan City Center or Luodong (Near the train station and coworking) |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space |
Inno-Work (Yilan Science Park), approx. $300 TWD/day |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work |
Cafe Slow Train (near Yilan Station); high-speed Wi-Fi and ample outlets |
| 💼 Networking Events |
Yilan Youth Hub (occasional tech and startup meetups) |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats |
Foreigners in Taiwan Facebook Group; local language exchanges at 'The Wall' (occasionally) |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App |
Uber (limited coverage) and 55688 Taiwan Taxi App |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental |
YouBike 2.0 stations city-wide ($10-20 TWD/30 mins); Luodong Scooter Rental ($400 TWD/day) |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby |
Wai'ao Beach (Surfing paradise, 25 mins by train) |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline |
UNI Air (Operating from Taipei Songshan, 1.5 hours away) |
| ✈️ Top International Airline |
EVA Air, China Airlines (Operating from Taoyuan TPE Central) |
| 🛣️ Highway Access |
National Freeway No. 5 (Xueshan Tunnel connects to Taipei in 50 mins) |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub |
Yilan Railway Station and Luodong Railway Station |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes |
TPASS (Yilan-Taipei monthly pass approx. $1,200 TWD) |
| ✈️ Regional Travel |
Kama Bus or Capital Star Bus to Taipei City ($130 TWD one way) |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 Best Hospital |
National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University Hospital (Yilan City) |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers |
Jiaoxi Hot Springs (various public and private baths like Tangweigou) |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers |
World Gym Yilan Branch (Monthly memberships around $1,088 TWD) |
| 🧺 Laundry Services |
Self-service laundromats (24/7) widely available; average wash/dry $100 TWD |
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic |
Details |
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App |
Foodpanda and UberEats |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try |
Gao Zha (Fried broth) and Scallion Pancakes (Sanxing Green Onions) |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options |
Ren He Tang Vegetarian Restaurant; Loving Hut Yilan |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots |
Wei Jie Dessert (Tapioca and herbal jelly) |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots |
PX Mart (Chuan Lian) for groceries; Luodong Night Market for cheap eats |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store |
Shopee Taiwan, PChome, Momo Shop |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery |
Carrefour online delivery |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area |
The Wall (Yilan City) or craft beer bars in Jiaoxi |
| 🍻 Local Brewery |
Jim & Dad's Brew Company (Yuanshan Township) |
| 🍷 Wine Bars |
Mostly hotel-based bars in Jiaoxi like Mu Jiao Xi Hotel |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls |
Dongmen Night Market (under the Yilan Bridge) |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine |
Le Temps (French-inspired local ingredients) |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks |
Jimmy Park (Illustrated statues near Yilan Station) |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues |
Lanyang Museum (stunning architecture in Toucheng) |
| 🏰 Historical Sites |
Yilan Literature Museum (Japanese-style villa) |
| 🕍 Religious Sites |
Zhaoying Temple (Mazu worship) |
| 🎉 Annual Events |
Yilan International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival (July/August) |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts |
Yilan Brick Ark Museum and surrounding creative parks |
| 🎭 Theater Venues |
Yilan Performing Arts Center |
| 🛍️ Local Markets |
Nanmen Market (Traditional morning market) |
| 🎼 Music Scene |
Live music at Woods & Fire grill/bar |
| 🎨 Street Art |
Jimmy Liao’s flying train and murals at the station |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes |
Sanxing Onion Farm cooking experiences |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries |
Yilan Museum of Art |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings |
Memorial Hall of Founding of Yilan Administration |
| 🏴 Local Heritage |
Kavalan Tribe indigenous history displays at Lanyang Museum |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes |
Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby |
Taroko National Park (2 hours south via train/car) |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths |
Dongshan River Cycling Path |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints |
Guishan Island (Turtle Island) view from the coast |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations |
Wu-Wei-Pi Wetland |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots |
Strictly regulated; designated campsites like Wuliao are better |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service |
7-Eleven and FamilyMart (Store-to-store delivery is standard) |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services |
Tsann Kuen 3C (Electronics chain stores) |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots |
Yilan County Sports Park |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes |
National Ilan University - Chinese Language Center |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots |
Yilan County Cultural Affairs Bureau Library |
| 🏘️ Community Centers |
Yilan Science Park Hub |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges |
Internet cafes like 'E-Sport Club' near Yilan University |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls |
Arcades only; gambling is illegal in Taiwan |
BUSINESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. $180,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $7,200,000 TWD) |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. $130,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $5,200,000 TWD) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. $170,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $10,200,000 TWD) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. $120,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $7,200,000 TWD) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. $160,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $12,800,000 TWD) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. $110,000 TWD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $8,800,000 TWD) |
| 💼 Corporate Tax |
20% (Standard Taiwan rate) |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax |
21% for non-residents |
| 🏦 Tax System |
Territorial/Resident hybrid; Foreign source income capped at thresholds |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket |
40% |
| 🧾 VAT |
5% (Business Tax) |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules |
Yes, implemented since 2023 |
| 🏠 Property Tax |
Yes, Housing Tax and Land Value Tax (approx. 0.2% to 3.6%) |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax |
Land Value Increment Tax and Deed Tax (6%) |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads |
Taiwan Gold Card offers 50% income tax deduction on salary over $3M TWD |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING YILAN