Essentials
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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