The Global Expat Hub🎥 Drone footage coming soon
Countries / Taiwan
Taiwan
One of Asia's safest, friendliest and most affordable developed places, with national health insurance that expats rave about; earthquakes, typhoons and geopolitics hang over it.
RegionEast Asia
CapitalTaipei
CurrencyNew Taiwan dollar
LanguageMandarin Chinese
Expat saturationModerate (3% foreign born)
Living cost · Mid-rangefrom $1,900/mo
Drone reel · 4K · muted loop
▶
🇹🇼 Taiwan from aboveTaiwan in 60 secondsAerials of Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung. Replace this slot with the video element; the text stays overlaid.
Ad
CCasa Nova Rentals
Month-to-month homes in Taipei.
Furnished, utilities included, no deposit games. Move in from your phone.
Browse homes →From $900/month
Sample creative · fictional advertiserAd
⚓Anchor Tax Advisors
Two countries. One tax return.
Cross-border tax for Americans and Britons living in Taiwan. Fixed fees, no surprises.
Book a call →Licensed in the US, UK & EU
Sample creative · fictional advertiserAd
◎Orbit Money
Dollars to New Taiwan dollar at the real rate.
No hidden fees. Most transfers land the same day.
Send money →First transfer free
Sample creative · fictional advertiserYour moveSets your plan and the listings on flights, hotels, rentals, furnishings, moving and retirement.
Your plan for Taiwan checklist · timeline · cost breakdown
Affordable move$9,800estimated first-year setup · about 33 weeksMid-range move$19,550estimated first-year setup · about 28 weeksLuxury move$56,050estimated first-year setup · about 20 weeksRetirement move$28,400estimated setup incl. visa, insurance and advice · about 48 weeks
Estimates for one adult before ongoing rent and living costs; couples and families scale up. Tap a plan for the full breakdown.
Taiwan by the numbers editorial estimates in US dollars
Worth of the dollar$1 ≈ NT$30.01 New Taiwan dollar ≈ $0.033 · snapshot, changes daily · Current rate ↗
Utilities · 85 m² flat$90/moElectric, water, sewer & garbage
Home internet$25/moBroadband, typical plan
Wi-Fi & connectivity score92/100Median fixed broadband ≈ 220 Mbps
Internet reliability90/100Very dependable; rare drops or outages
English day-to-dayModerateHow far English gets you
Remote-work time zoneHard for US & EU (Asia hours)Hard for US & EU (Asia hours)
Phone & eSIM$15/moLocal plan · travel eSIM ≈ $12/10 GB
Walkability of cities82/100Car-optional in the main cities
Air quality52/100Moderate; Kaohsiung and the west coast worse in winter; Hualien and the east clean
Healthy food & food safety76/100TFDA follows Codex; strong night-market oversight; some past additive scandals
Severe weather & hazards80/100 riskEarthquakes (2024 Hualien), typhoons and landslides; excellent preparedness
Drive on theRightLeft-hand-drive cars · Licence & vehicles →
Time zoneCST (UTC+8)CST (UTC+8), no DST; 13 hours ahead of New York in winter
Literacy99%Adult literacy rate
Cost to give birthNHI-covered ~$300NHI-covered ~$300 / private $2,000–4,000
Rural land$50,000+ per acre farmlandper acre · $50,000+ per acre farmland; foreigners face reciprocity rules
Beauty of cities78/100Architecture, setting, upkeep and green space
Petrol / fuel$0.95/L≈ $3.60 per US gallon
Doctor visit$15Basic clinic visit, paid privately
Emergency room$60Uninsured visit, before treatment
Dentist$25 / $40Check-up & cleaning / one filling
Life expectancy81 yrsAt birth
Unemployment3%National rate
Remote work & digital nomadsWelcomedEmployment Gold Card doubles as a nomad visa: open work rights, no job needed
🌤️ Climate
Subtropical north, tropical south; hot humid summers, mild damp winters, typhoons Jul–Oct, plum rains in May.
Winter · Jan16°C61°F
Spring · Apr22°C72°F
Summer · Jul29°C84°F
Autumn · Oct24°C75°F
Mean temperatures for Taipei.
🌧️ Rain & snow
Rainfall about 2,500 mm (98 in) a year.
Snow High mountains only.
⚖️ The law
Official legislationLaws & Regulations Database (Ministry of Justice) ↗
OverviewLaw of Taiwan on Wikipedia ↗
Driving On the right. Licence rules →
🏛️ Taxes
Property tax House tax 1.2% and land value tax, both on low assessed values; typically $200–600/yr.
Local & regional income tax None regional; national 5–40%.
🎓 University
Not free but cheap: public ~$2k/yr, private $3–4k/yr.
📱 Phone & eSIM
Carriers Chunghwa, Taiwan Mobile, Far EasTone.
Average cost Local SIM or eSIM with generous data about $15/month; a 30-day travel eSIM (Airalo, Holafly, Saily and similar) around $12 for 10 GB.
🎁 Schemes to attract expats
- Employment Gold Card with 50% tax break on income above ~$100k for 5 years
- National Health Insurance for ~$30/mo after 6 months
- Very low property and living costs for a developed economy
- Entrepreneur visa
Figures are national averages for planning, not quotes; big cities run higher. Tax schemes change often and carry conditions. Verify before you rely on them.
Official sources for Taiwan embassies, warnings, law and reference
American Institute in Taiwan (de facto embassy)↗All embassies and consulates in Taiwan↗US State Department travel advisory↗UK FCDO travel advice↗Laws & Regulations Database (Ministry of Justice)↗Law of Taiwan (Wikipedia)↗Taiwan on Wikipedia↗Taiwan Tourism Administration (official tourism board)↗Numbeo cost-of-living data↗
Government, intergovernmental and reference sites only; no reviews or opinion. Links open in a new tab.
Ratings & warnings independent
Visa informationTypes, step-by-step application, where to applyPassport renewalOfficial renewal links and timingLiveability scoreThe rating and what drives itSafety ratingCrime, stability and what the number meansTravel warningsState Department and UN advisories, liveRegional information & cuisineWhere to live and what you'll eatCommunity & meetupsFinding your people
Follows your Mid-range tier partner listings match your budget
FlightsGateways, routes and fares for your research tripHotels & accommodationWhere to stay while you scout, with videoRental propertiesNeighbourhoods, prices and how renting worksFurnishings & home setupFurniture, appliances, utilities and internetMoving & shippingGetting your life across the oceanRetirementVisas, costs and where retirees settle
Services & daily life one labelled partner per page
Airport taxis & transfersOfficial cabs, apps, rail links and faresTransportationGetting around, driving and licencesTrains, buses & ticketsIntercity travel and where to bookSchoolsInternational, bilingual and local optionsChild care & nanniesNurseries, nannies, au pairs and costsUniversitiesDegrees, fees and student visasPets: vets, boarding & relocationBringing animals, finding a vet and careLanguage classesLearning before and after you landBest restaurantsWhere locals and expats actually eatHospitals & healthcare accessHow to see a doctor, hospitals, insuranceBanking & money transferAccounts, transfers and currencyTax & legal helpResidency, treaties and who to hireJobs boardRoles open to foreigners, updated weeklyCoworking & remote workWork rights, spaces and freelancing
Rated & officialPartners in three tiersOne labelled partner
Life in Taiwan faith, wellbeing, shopping and play
✨
Interested in where astrology says you should live?Click here for more info on astrocartography and Taiwan.
Click here →🕊️ Religious servicesChurches, mosques, synagogues, temples and more🧘 Wellness & spiritualityYoga, retreats, meditation, spas and practitioners🛍️ Retail recommendationsWhere to shop for clothes, tech, homeware and gifts🧺 Groceries & marketsSupermarkets, local markets and what things cost🥾 Recreation & tour guidesOutdoors, sport, day trips and licensed guides📱 Phone & eSIMCarriers, eSIMs, plans and what they cost⛴️ Boats & ferriesFerry routes, marinas, boat rental and ownership🏖️ Beaches, lakes & riversSwimming, water quality and the best spots🚗 Vehicles & driving licenceRent or buy a car, and how to get a local licence🖼️ Art galleries, museums & librariesWhat's free, what costs, and where to start Holidays & festivalsNational holidays, closures and the festivals worth planning around
Holidays & festivalsNational holidays, closures and the festivals worth planning aroundJobs board · Taiwan
Search for jobs for free, or post a job for $100 USD.
Roles open to foreigners in Taiwan: remote work you can do from Taipei, and in-person jobs with employers who hire from abroad. Free for job seekers, always. Employers pay a flat $100 per listing, live for 60 days.
Latest listings. Example listings shown until the first real posts go live.
Example · Senior Software Engineer (React / Node)Northwind Labs · Remote, US or EU hours
$95,000–130,000USD
Example · English Teacher (adults & business)International Language Centre · Taipei · in person
NT$66,000–NT$96,000/moTWD