Is dwelling in Taipei a part of your plan as a digital nomad? You’re in luck! Taipei is my favourite metropolis in Asia and I spent many months right here on completely different events and at completely different instances of my life. On this Taipei digital nomad information, I gives you an perception on how I lived in Taipei together with what I spent throughout my stint there.
📬 Reader Mail: Hello Trisha! I simply transitioned to distant work this yr and I want to take this chance to see the world and reside elsewhere. First, thanks a lot for all of your content material about being a digital nomad – it’s actually serving to me with my transition.
I’m going to Asia and my first cease is Taipei since there’s a direct flight from Seattle. I’ve seen many Taiwan articles in your weblog and I can see that you just beloved your time there. I used to be questioning should you can provide me tips about being a Taipei digital nomad and/or should you can join me to your mates there?
I respect your weblog and I hope to fulfill you so I should purchase you espresso. I actually love your content material!
– Wesley, Seattle, USA
Hello Wesley,
Thanks for studying the weblog and you’re proper – I really like Taipei! I’ve cultivated many friendships there and I hold coming again as a result of it’s reasonably priced and a enjoyable metropolis to be in.
Very first thing’s first: you may have a snug month-to-month in Taipei with US$1,500. Consuming out is reasonable, there are such a lot of issues to do, and the Web by no means fails! I discovered being a digital nomad in Taipei really easy and enjoyable, particularly in case you are in your 30s.
On this Taipei digital nomad information, I’ll inform you about all my experiences in my favourite metropolis in Asia. I hope you determine to push by! Good luck!
Xx,
Trisha
🇹🇼 Taipei digital nomad at a look
- Nation: Taiwan
- Inhabitants: 2,700,000 individuals
- Forex: The foreign money in Taiwan is named the New Taiwan greenback (NTD). US$1 = NT$30.
- Climate: Taipei has 4 seasons however anticipate it to be extra tropical climate with lengthy months of rain and humidity in the course of the summer time.
- Web Pace: The common Web pace in Taipei is 24 Mbps.
- Energy plug: Taiwan makes use of Sort A (two flat parallel pins) and kinds B (two flat parallel pins and a grounding pin)
- Finest neighborhood to reside in: I all the time favor Xinyi however for digital nomads, you may take a look at Da’an and Nangang.
- Digital Nomad Insurance coverage: I take advantage of SafetyWing and I solely pay US$40 per thirty days for journey insurance coverage.
⁉️ Why reside in Taipei?
The primary cause why I selected to be a Taipei digital nomad is that it is vitally reasonably priced. Certain, lease might be greater than US$1,000 however for the remainder of the issues that you just want whereas dwelling in Taipei, the prices are at a minimal. You’ll be able to even have meals for lower than US$5!
Taipei has an upbeat younger group so in case you are a digital nomad in your 30s, you’ll certainly meet like-minded people who’re additionally working remotely. I’ve made so many Taiwanese buddies in Taipei by Couchsurfing and we’re nonetheless buddies up till at present!
There are additionally many issues to do in Taipei and most of them, you don’t even must pay for. Taipei is an efficient base when exploring Taiwan because it has an environment friendly transport system. Taiwan can be a small nation so if you will reside right here for 3 months, you’ll certainly know Taiwan out and in.
Personally, what I beloved essentially the most about dwelling in Taipei is the various selections of reasonably priced eats. Taiwan prioritizes good eating and meals is a giant a part of their tradition so that you’ll by no means run out of choices. I really feel like that is vital to say as a result of there are some cities on the earth the place I used to be not impressed with the restaurant scene.
💰 Price of dwelling in Taipei
The foreign money in Taiwan is named the New Taiwan greenback (NTD). To translate that into US {dollars}, US$1 = NT$30. To have a greater thought of the price of dwelling in Taipei, see the desk beneath:
As noticed within the desk above, every part in Taipei is reasonable apart from lease. With the growth of digital nomads and expats trying into shifting to Asia, lease has elevated by the years however once I lived there between 2016-2018, I used to be nonetheless capable of finding housing for lower than US$1,000, which is out of the Taipei heart.
I’ve to be sincere – even when grocery buying in Taipei is tremendous low cost, I didn’t cook dinner in my condo in Taipei. I most likely solely cooked as soon as when my Taiwanese buddies wished to strive a dish in my nation however for the remainder of my keep there, I all the time ate out.
Road meals is lower than US$5 and each time I need to splurge on a weekend, I’m going on high-end tasting menus within the greatest eating places in Taipei (and on the earth) for US$130 (a 9-course meal).
For those who like cooking and want to avoid wasting bucks whereas dwelling in Taipei as a digital nomad, supermarkets are your go-to. For less than US$5, you may get 1 lb of boneless hen breast. A kilo of greens (i.e. potatoes) ranges from US$3 – US$6 and a dozen eggs prices US$3.
Different issues that I spent embrace cleansing assist (US$13 per hour), haircut (US$25), massages (US$90), and a month-to-month gymnasium membership of US$49.
Relying in your life-style, it’s secure to say that you could reside in Taipei for US$2,000 per thirty days (in case you are renting within the metropolis heart). For those who select different neighborhoods in Taipei, you may reduce your dwelling bills to US$1,200 per thirty days.
Please keep in mind that I used to be a single lady once I was dwelling in Taipei in order ordinary, issues are all the time dearer when you’re dwelling by yourself. If you’re sharing this with a accomplice and a member of the family, then that’s a unique story however the very same pricing vary as above.
You may also like:
💻 Dwelling in Taipei as a digital nomad: the whole information
Finest months to reside in Taipei
I might say that March & April and October & November are the perfect months to reside in Taipei, particularly should you solely plan to remain right here for one month. The wet season is from November to March and also you truthfully don’t need to be in Taipei throughout these months – it is going to be onerous to get round!
July and August are excessive seasons so that you’d wish to keep away from that too as a result of that is the time when costs are increased and long-term lease is tougher to search out. For those who’d wish to know what occurs in Taipei month by month, learn my article on the greatest time to go to Taipei.
Web pace in Taipei
I by no means had issues with the Web in Taipei. The connection is quick in every single place within the metropolis so this was NEVER a difficulty for me as a Taipei digital nomad. The month-to-month Web invoice in my condo was lower than US$25 and a few landlords will already embrace this invoice in your lease.
The common Web pace in Taipei is 24 Mbps, sufficient for me to do my work which is heavy on importing and modifying pictures/movies. When I’m importing on Youtube, a 30-minute video is printed inside 10 minutes. The speeds are actually nice in Taipei and also you don’t have to fret about work productiveness.
Taipei sim card
If you can be dwelling in Taipei for greater than 30 days, I might extremely encourage you to get a sim card. One of the best service in Taiwan is Chunghwa. They’ve higher protection in the entire nation, particularly if you will do hikes in distant and mountain areas.
T-Star is extensively utilized by people who find themselves dwelling in Taipei Metropolis because it’s cheaper however I nonetheless choose Chunghwa over T-Star. A weekly limitless plan prices US$14 and I typically don’t even use all of this knowledge plan since I work from home or in cafes.
Under are extra pay as you go plans for Chunghwa:
- 3 days limitless plan: US$10
- 5, 7, and 10 days limitless plan: US$17
- 15 days limitless plan: US$23
- 30 days limitless plan: US$33
There are Chunghwa kiosks in each Terminals 1 and a couple of of Taipei Worldwide Airport so you should purchase a sim card immediately upon arrival in Taipei.
Co-working areas in Taipei
The Hive
📍 No. 119號, Part 1, Chongqing S Rd, Zhongzheng
💲 from US$133 per thirty days
📞 +886 2 2382 0283
I’ve been so keen on The Hive due to their month-to-month group occasions. I’m significantly drawn to the glass wall format of this co-working house: mild is admittedly vital to me when on the lookout for a coworking house!
It’s not as loud as different coworking areas (besides when there are occasions, in fact). If you should take a name with out distractions, they’ve cellphone cubicles that you need to use for a assured quiet assembly along with your shoppers.
I paid US$133 for a shared house however if you would like your personal workplace desk, the price is round US$233 per thirty days. Add one other hundred {dollars} and also you’ll get a personal workplace at The Hive.
Hun
📍 No.1, Yumen St, Zhongshan
💲 from US$3 per hour
📞 +886 2 2586 9363
I found Hun when an expat good friend invited me for a yoga session at Hun’s terrace. I didn’t have any concept that it was a co-working house (I actually thought it was only a yoga studio) and this place shocked me! It’s like a digital nomad constructing!
I like working at my condo in Taipei so the primary plan I attempted at Hun was the US$3 per hour devoted desk house. Not like another co-working areas in Taipei, Hun stays confide in 9:00 PM so that is the place I’m going when I’ve to take calls from North America at evening.
FutureWard
📍 105, Taiwan, Taipei Metropolis, Songshan
💲 from US$180 per thirty days
📞 +886 2 2719 8622
FutureWard has two branches in Taipei: one in Songshan (tackle above) and one other one in Da’an, which is a digital nomad neighborhood. I’ve tried each however Songshan is far nearer to the place I labored. Though I have to say I really like the vibe of the individuals on the Da’an department!
My favourite factor about FutureWard is that you could report clear audio by renting their quiet recording rooms. That is one thing I’ve by no means seen in any coworking house on the earth. It is a nice house for digital nomads who’ve their very own podcasts!
Join
📍 106, Taiwan, Taipei Metropolis, Da’an
💲 from US$380 per thirty days
📞 +886 2 2741 4242
One other sizzling coworking house within the Da’an neighborhood, I really like Join due to the younger professionals that come right here day by day. There’s a lot to be taught from these individuals and that is the one cause why I’m going to coworking areas. I often work from home however that is the place to attach once I select to work exterior.
Though I might all the time choose standing tables, the advantage of Join is that they’ve ergonomic chairs that provide you with consolation in your work. I’ve had again issues ever since I grew to become a digital nomad so these chairs are a deal with for me!
Taipei cafes for digital nomads
Wherever I’m touring and discovering cafes to work in, I all the time really feel observe the tradition first.
In some international locations, individuals don’t actually go to work in a restaurant to take a seat and work however in Taipei cafes, you will notice many younger professionals on their computer systems so I in some way didn’t really feel misplaced.
There are various Taipei cafes which have plugs, good meals, and a snug desk for working. When staying in Taipei cafes for greater than 4 hours, be sure you order sufficient (no less than 1 huge meal and a couple of drinks).
Under are my favourite cafes in Taipei the place I all the time sit and work:
Yaboo Cafe (Da’an)
📍 No. 26, Lane 41, Yongkang St, Da’an District
📞 +886223912868
It is a cafe that’s type of a coworking house. There are huge shared tables in a library format and the entire tables have sockets close by – you don’t have to fret about shifting to a different desk when your laptop computer runs out of battery.
They’ve a terrific espresso choice (from chilly brew to tea) and the meals is generally candy bread however there are savory plates, too!
Fika Fika Cafe (Zhongshan)
📍 No. 33, Yitong St, Zhongshan
📞 +886 2 2507 0633
Fika Fika Cafe is likely one of the smallest Taipei cafes however what I really like about that is the outside space, the perfect space to work in when it’s not raining in Taipei. The espresso is admittedly nice and plenty of younger Taiwanese hang around right here for a every day dose of their frappe.
College students additionally come right here for group research so you’ll usually see the big tables with a gaggle of scholars in uniform. Though it’s all the time full, I had no hassle with noise as everybody was doing their very own factor.
Elsewhere Cafe (Zhongzheng)
📍 No. 5號, Part 3, Chongqing S Rd, Zhongzheng
📞 +886 2 3393 2018
Elsewhere Cafe has a terrific set-up: all the massive wood tables are in the course of the room surrounded by bookshelves with a whole lot of books on show. You’ll be able to borrow the books while you’re within the cafe however most significantly, because it has a library set-up, working right here has been conducive for me.
Triangle Backyard Cafe (Datong)
📍 103, Taiwan, Taipei Metropolis, Datong
📞 +886 2 2556 1773
Triangle Backyard Cafe jogs my memory of my time in Tbilisi, Georgia the place there are completely different seating areas with distinctive units of classic tables and chairs. The working areas are snug and this cafe has created a following among the many younger digital nomads of Datong due to the nice working ambiance and their improbable collection of meals.
Expat and digital nomad communities in Taipei
Taipei just isn’t solely a digital nomad hub. There are additionally many expats and foreigners dwelling right here full-time. As a solo feminine traveler, I didn’t have a tough time assembly individuals in Taipei.
At first, I used Couchsurfing (CS) closely to attach with different vacationers. I felt prefer it was the correct channel to search out like-minded people like me who is consistently hopping the globe. I truthfully did join with one particular person on CS and after that, this particular person linked me to all of his Taiwanese buddies and I used to be capable of be a part of a group.
I even have a really shut good friend from dwelling who’s Taiwanese-Filipino. Her husband and she or he moved to Taipei so once I got here, I knew somebody immediately. Since they’re a Taiwanese and American couple, their teams of friends are additionally very numerous so by them, I used to be capable of meet different individuals dwelling in Taipei.
For positive, should you don’t know anybody, one of the best ways to attach is thru current teams on Fb. Listed here are some teams that I like to recommend:
Useful apps to make use of in Taipei
Each nation has their very own app and on this part, I’ll share with you all of the apps that might be useful for touring or dwelling in Taipei:
- Enjoyable Now: an app for reserving eating places, spa appointments, salon, meals supply, attraction tickets, and plenty of extra!
- Go Taipei Metro: for navigating the Taipei rail with ease. There are various practice strains in Taipei and that is the perfect app to grasp them.
- Google maps: for navigation and discovering your approach from level A to B
- KKday: Kkday is a journey company that’s extensively used not simply in Taiwan however throughout Southeast Asia.
- Line: that is Asia’s Whatsapp so should you reside right here, you will need to have this messaging app!
- Pleco: the perfect English to Chinese language translation app utilized by expats
- Taiwan Information With Me: use this app to customise your personal journeys inside Taiwan. It makes use of filters to provide the greatest outcomes so you may all the time plan your travels utilizing this app.
- Taiwan Climate: essentially the most correct climate app that can inform you real-time climate wherever in Taiwan
- Tour Taiwan: an app to search out the perfect eating places, issues to do, and sights in Taiwan.
- Journey Taipei: right here, you will see that all the most recent occasions and festivals occurring within the capital.
- YouBike: Taiwan is a bicycle/bike nation so this app will show you how to discover the perfect month-to-month and weekly leases for bicycles and motorbikes.
- Uber: greatest taxi app in Taipei
Discovering housing in Taipei
Whereas you will discover housing on-line earlier than shifting to Taipei, it’s nonetheless greatest so that you can take a look at locations when you’re already there. First, establish the neighborhood that you just need to reside in.
Personally, I really feel like Da’an and Datong are nice neighborhoods for digital nomads. Nangang is one other up-and-coming neighborhood to take a look at the place lease costs are comparatively decrease than in Taipei Metropolis heart.
You could find housing in these neighborhoods for lower than US$1,000 however please be aware that some residences or condominiums in Taipei are actually small. My greatest recommendation is to discover a house that can suit your funds and don’t work from home whereas in Taipei. Add a co-working house to your month-to-month funds to make sure productiveness and luxury.
Under are some web sites that you could take a look at when on the lookout for month-to-month leases in Taipei:
- 591.com.tw: nice for locating residences in Taipei beneath US$1,000
- Craigslist Taipei: discover lengthy or quick time period lease and even condos on the market
- MyRoomAbroad.com: a terrific web site for single people who find themselves on the lookout for a room beneath US$800. This isn’t simply utilized in Taipei however all main cities in Asia.
- Taipei Residence Rental Community: a web site the place you will discover far more listings than another web sites
- Tealit: a terrific web site not only for discovering housing but additionally for locating native job boards in Taiwan
For those who don’t discover something appropriate on the web sites above, you may all the time depend on Fb teams like Taiwan Residences and Roommates and Rental Residences in Taiwan.
Taiwan digital nomad visa
In the intervening time, Taiwan doesn’t provide a digital nomad visa however all guests from everywhere in the world are entitled to a 90-day keep, which makes it very handy for digital nomads. You’ll be able to exit each 90 days and are available again and not using a downside. This is likely one of the best methods to resume your vacationer visa in Taiwan.
For those who plan to reside in Taiwan for greater than 3 months, you’re required to use for an ARC (Alien Resident Certificates) which you’ll have to do in your house nation. That is pointless except you will reside in Taiwan completely. The method could be very tedious and tremendous costly.
Another choice is to use for a Taiwan Entrepreneur Visa. That is a neater choice than the ARC. All you need to do is to show that you’ve got US$70,000 within the financial institution and might assist your self whereas dwelling in Taiwan.
I all the time enter Taiwan with a traditional vacationer visa and I by no means had an issue going out and in. Please be aware that not all nationalities get 90 days visa when coming into Taiwan so higher examine earlier than you permit. Some residents are solely given 14 days (i.e. Southeast Asian international locations just like the Philippines).
✈️ Prepared to your journey to Taipei? This weblog thrives on reader questions so be at liberty to ask questions on dwelling in Taipei or Taipei digital nomad life-style through the use of the remark field beneath. You can too join 1-on-1 teaching with me should you want extra assist!
Trisha is a kind of individuals who left their snug life to journey the world and study life. Her model is to remain in a single place she likes for 3 months (or extra) to know what it feels wish to eat, cook dinner, communicate, and sleep in one other tradition that isn’t hers. She’d wish to imagine she’s not historically touring however she simply chooses to be some other place on a regular basis. In no specific order, her favourite cities on the earth are Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, Mexico Metropolis, and Tel Aviv.
