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 occasions 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 12 months and I wish to take this chance to see the world and dwell 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 cherished your time there. I used to be questioning in case you may give me recommendations on being a Taipei digital nomad and/or in case you can join me to your folks there?
I respect your weblog and I hope to fulfill you so I can purchase you espresso. I actually love your content material!
– Wesley, Seattle, USA
Hello Wesley,
Thanks for studying the weblog and you might be proper – I really like Taipei! I’ve cultivated many friendships there and I maintain coming again as a result of it’s inexpensive and a enjoyable metropolis to be in.
Very first thing’s first: you possibly can have a snug month-to-month in Taipei with US$1,500. Consuming out is affordable, 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 if you’re in your 30s.
On this Taipei digital nomad information, I’ll let you know 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
- Foreign money: The foreign money in Taiwan known as 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 throughout the summer season.
- Web Pace: The common Web velocity in Taipei is 24 Mbps.
- Energy plug: Taiwan makes use of Kind A (two flat parallel pins) and kinds B (two flat parallel pins and a grounding pin)
- Greatest neighborhood to dwell in: I at all times favor Xinyi however for digital nomads, you possibly can take a look at Da’an and Nangang.
- Digital Nomad Insurance coverage: I exploit SafetyWing and I solely pay US$40 monthly for journey insurance coverage.
⁉️ Why dwell in Taipei?
The primary purpose why I selected to be a Taipei digital nomad is that it is extremely inexpensive. Certain, lease could 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 may even have meals for lower than US$5!
Taipei has an upbeat younger neighborhood so if you’re a digital nomad in your 30s, you’ll certainly meet like-minded people who’re additionally working remotely. I’ve made so many Taiwanese mates in Taipei by Couchsurfing and we’re nonetheless mates 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 effective base when exploring Taiwan because it has an environment friendly transport system. Taiwan can be a small nation so if you’re going to dwell right here for 3 months, you’ll certainly know Taiwan out and in.
Personally, what I cherished probably the most about dwelling in Taipei is the numerous selections of inexpensive 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 essential 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 known as the New Taiwan greenback (NTD). To translate that into US {dollars}, US$1 = NT$30. To have a greater concept of the price of dwelling in Taipei, see the desk under:
As noticed within the desk above, every part in Taipei is affordable aside from lease. With the increase of digital nomads and expats trying into transferring 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 procuring in Taipei is tremendous low cost, I didn’t prepare dinner in my condo in Taipei. I most likely solely cooked as soon as when my Taiwanese mates wished to attempt a dish in my nation however for the remainder of my keep there, I at all times ate out.
Road meals is lower than US$5 and every time I need to splurge on a weekend, I am going on high-end tasting menus within the finest eating places in Taipei (and on the earth) for US$130 (a 9-course meal).
In case you like cooking and wish to avoid wasting bucks whereas dwelling in Taipei as a digital nomad, supermarkets are your go-to. For less than US$5, you will 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 health club membership of US$49.
Relying in your way of life, it’s secure to say which you could dwell in Taipei for US$2,000 monthly (if you’re renting within the metropolis heart). In case you select different neighborhoods in Taipei, you possibly can reduce your dwelling bills to US$1,200 monthly.
Please keep in mind that I used to be a single girl once I was dwelling in Taipei in order typical, issues are at all times dearer when you find yourself dwelling by yourself. In case you are sharing this with a companion and a member of the family, then that’s a unique story however the very same pricing vary as above.
You may also like:
💻 Residing in Taipei as a digital nomad: the whole information
Greatest months to dwell in Taipei
I’d say that March & April and October & November are the very best months to dwell in Taipei, particularly in case 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 arduous 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 greater and long-term lease is more durable to search out. In case you’d wish to know what occurs in Taipei month by month, learn my article on the finest time to go to Taipei.
Web velocity in Taipei
I by no means had issues with the Web in Taipei. The connection is quick in all places within the metropolis so this was NEVER a problem 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 velocity in Taipei is 24 Mbps, sufficient for me to do my work which is heavy on importing and modifying photographs/movies. When I’m importing on Youtube, a 30-minute video is revealed 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’d extremely encourage you to get a sim card. The most effective service in Taiwan is Chunghwa. They’ve higher protection in the entire nation, particularly if you’re going to 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 favor Chunghwa over T-Star. A weekly limitless plan prices US$14 and I typically don’t even use all of this information 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 instantly upon arrival in Taipei.
Co-working areas in Taipei
The Hive
📍 No. 119號, Part 1, Chongqing S Rd, Zhongzheng
💲 from US$133 monthly
📞 +886 2 2382 0283
I’ve been so keen on The Hive due to their month-to-month neighborhood occasions. I’m significantly drawn to the glass wall format of this co-working area: gentle is de facto essential to me when on the lookout for a coworking area!
It’s not as loud as different coworking areas (besides when there are occasions, after all). If you want to take a name with out distractions, they’ve telephone cubicles that you should use for a assured quiet assembly together with your purchasers.
I paid US$133 for a shared area however if you would like your individual workplace desk, the price is round US$233 monthly. Add one other hundred {dollars} and also you’ll get a non-public 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 pal invited me for a yoga session at Hun’s terrace. I didn’t have any concept that it was a co-working area (I actually thought it was only a yoga studio) and this place stunned 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 area. In contrast to another co-working areas in Taipei, Hun stays divulge heart’s contents to 9:00 PM so that is the place I am going when I’ve to take calls from North America at night time.
FutureWard
📍 105, Taiwan, Taipei Metropolis, Songshan
💲 from US$180 monthly
📞 +886 2 2719 8622
FutureWard has two branches in Taipei: one in Songshan (handle 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 need to say I really like the vibe of the individuals on the Da’an department!
My favourite factor about FutureWard is which you could file clear audio by renting their quiet recording rooms. That is one thing I’ve by no means seen in any coworking area on the earth. This can be a nice area for digital nomads who’ve their very own podcasts!
Join
📍 106, Taiwan, Taipei Metropolis, Da’an
💲 from US$380 monthly
📞 +886 2 2741 4242
One other sizzling coworking area within the Da’an neighborhood, I really like Join due to the younger professionals that come right here day-after-day. There’s a lot to be taught from these individuals and that is the one purpose why I am going to coworking areas. I often work from home however that is the place to attach once I select to work outdoors.
Though I’d at all times favor standing tables, the benefit of Join is that they’ve ergonomic chairs that offer you consolation in your work. I’ve had again issues ever since I turned 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 at all times 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 by some means didn’t really feel misplaced.
There are lots of 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 to order sufficient (at the very least 1 large meal and a couple of drinks).
Under are my favourite cafes in Taipei the place I at all times sit and work:
Yaboo Cafe (Da’an)
📍 No. 26, Lane 41, Yongkang St, Da’an District
📞 +886223912868
This can be a cafe that’s sort of a coworking area. There are large shared tables in a library format and all the tables have sockets close by – you don’t have to fret about transferring to a different desk when your laptop computer runs out of battery.
They’ve an important 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 very best space to work in when it’s not raining in Taipei. The espresso is de facto nice and plenty of younger Taiwanese hang around right here for a day by day dose of their frappe.
College students additionally come right here for group examine so you’ll typically see the massive tables with a gaggle of scholars in uniform. Though it’s at all times 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 an important set-up: all the large wood tables are in the course of the room surrounded by bookshelves with tons of of books on show. You may borrow the books if you are 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 comfy and this cafe has created a following among the many younger digital nomads of Datong due to the good working ambiance and their incredible number of meals.
Expat and digital nomad communities in Taipei
Taipei shouldn’t be 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 right channel to search out like-minded people like me who is continually hopping the globe. I truthfully did join with one individual on CS and after that, this individual related me to all of his Taiwanese mates and I used to be capable of be a part of a neighborhood.
I even have a really shut pal 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 various so by them, I used to be capable of meet different individuals dwelling in Taipei.
For positive, in case 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 can 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 lots of prepare strains in Taipei and that is the very best app to grasp them.
- Google maps: for navigation and discovering your manner 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 in case you dwell right here, you have to have this messaging app!
- Pleco: the very best English to Chinese language translation app utilized by expats
- Taiwan Information With Me: use this app to customise your individual journeys inside Taiwan. It makes use of filters to provide the finest outcomes so you possibly can at all times plan your travels utilizing this app.
- Taiwan Climate: probably the most correct climate app that may let you know real-time climate anyplace in Taiwan
- Tour Taiwan: an app to search out the very best eating places, issues to do, and sights in Taiwan.
- Journey Taipei: right here, you can see all the newest occasions and festivals occurring within the capital.
- YouBike: Taiwan is a bicycle/bike nation so this app will enable you discover the very best month-to-month and weekly leases for bicycles and motorbikes.
- Uber: finest taxi app in Taipei
Discovering housing in Taipei
Whereas you could find housing on-line earlier than transferring to Taipei, it’s nonetheless finest so that you can take a look at locations when you find yourself already there. First, determine the neighborhood that you just need to dwell 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 notice that some flats or condominiums in Taipei are actually small. My finest recommendation is to discover a area that may suit your finances and don’t work from home whereas in Taipei. Add a co-working area to your month-to-month finances to make sure productiveness and luxury.
Under are some web sites which you could take a look at when on the lookout for month-to-month leases in Taipei:
- 591.com.tw: nice for locating flats in Taipei under US$1,000
- Craigslist Taipei: discover lengthy or quick time period lease and even condos on the market
- MyRoomAbroad.com: an important web site for single people who find themselves on the lookout for a room under US$800. This isn’t simply utilized in Taipei however all main cities in Asia.
- Taipei House Rental Community: a web site the place you could find rather more listings than another web sites
- Tealit: an important web site not only for discovering housing but in addition for locating native job boards in Taiwan
In case you don’t discover something appropriate on the web sites above, you possibly can at all times rely on Fb teams like Taiwan Residences and Roommates and Rental Residences in Taiwan.
Taiwan digital nomad visa
For the time being, Taiwan doesn’t supply 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 may exit each 90 days and are available again with no downside. This is likely one of the best methods to resume your vacationer visa in Taiwan.
In case you plan to dwell in Taiwan for greater than 3 months, you might be required to use for an ARC (Alien Resident Certificates) which you’ll have to do in your house nation. That is pointless until you’re going to dwell in Taiwan completely. The method may be very tedious and tremendous costly.
Another choice is to use for a Taiwan Entrepreneur Visa. That is a better possibility than the ARC. All it’s important 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 at all times enter Taiwan with a traditional vacationer visa and I by no means had an issue going out and in. Please notice that not all nationalities get 90 days visa when getting into Taiwan so higher test earlier than you allow. Some residents are solely given 14 days (i.e. Southeast Asian international locations just like the Philippines).
✈️ Prepared in 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 way of life through the use of the remark field under. You may as well join 1-on-1 teaching with me in case you want extra assist!
Trisha is a kind of individuals who left their comfy life to journey the world and study life. Her fashion is to remain in a single place she likes for 3 months (or extra) to know what it feels wish to eat, prepare dinner, converse, 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 someplace else 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.
