This guide will explore the costs of traveling in Taiwan. Keep reading to find estimated costs for accommodation, transportation, eating, and more.
I’ve lived in Taiwan for more than 5 years — and am very familiar with the costs of traveling here. Thus, I wanted to write this guide on how much you’d need to travel to Taiwan.
I will also cover the costs of traveling to Taipei. Since it’s likely the most visited city. But the costs will be similar to traveling throughout the rest of Taiwan. Aside from entry fees to tourist attractions.
Use the table of contents to help you navigate:
Otherwise, 我們開始吧 (let’s get started).
Important Information
| How Much Cash to Carry | NT$3,000 |
| Currency to Take to Taiwan? | New Taiwan Dollar |
| Primary Payment Methods | Cash, Apple Pay, LINE Pay |
| Do I Tip? | No |
| Haggling Recommended? | Not for tourists |
| Tourist Tax Refund | 5% on goods over NT$2,000 |
Many of the amounts in this piece will overlap with the costs of living in Taiwan. However. You might want to cross-reference to get a better idea of how much you’ll spend.
How Much Money to Bring to Taiwan
After living in Taiwan for a while and visiting a good number of the popular attractions, here’s the amounts of money I’d recommend budgeting:
| Number of Days in Taiwan | Amount of Money to Budget Per Person |
|---|---|
| 3 Days | NT$5,985 – NT$21,940 |
| 5 Days | NT$7,275 – NT$64,700 |
| 10 Days | NT$14,550 – NT$129,400 |
These costs don’t include flights.
What could you possibly spend NT$129,400 on?
This price would be for those who want to spend A LOT on going out and eating out.
As someone who lives in Taiwan, I typically spend NT$3,000 (at most) a month on entertainment.
Otherwise:
These prices are estimates to the best of my ability.
What is the Cost of a Trip to Taiwan?
The following sections will cover average Taiwan travel prices for different types of travelers.
Average Trip
Here’s the price of an average trip to Taiwan for 3 days:
| Category | Cost Per Day | Cost Per 3 Days |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | NT$799 – NT$4,500 | NT$2,397 – NT$13,500 |
| SIM Card | NT$80 | NT$240 |
| Eating Out | NT$360 – NT$3,000 | NT$1,080 – NT$3,000 |
| Recreation/Entertainment | Free – NT$3,000 | |
| Transportation | NT$200 | NT$600 – NT$2,200 |
Notes:
- Transportation for 3 days also has costs for 3-day passes in mind (e.g., TSHR Pass).
- Eating out accounts for eating at higher-end restaurants.
- SIM card costs include calling credits.
- Accommodation will vary by where you choose to stay.
Want to save money? Check out the next section.
Budget Trip
The prices for a trip to Taiwan for 3 days when budgeting may look like this:
| Category | Cost Per Day | Cost Per 3 Days |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | NT$540 | NT$1,620 |
| SIM Card | NT$80 | NT$240 |
| Eating Out | NT$225 | NT$675 |
| Recreation/Entertainment | Free – NT$300 | |
| Transportation | NT$150 | NT$450 |
Notes:
- Accommodation costs consider you’re going hardcore with savings.
- For instance, staying with a host family or in a hostel.
- Eating out costs assumes you’ll only eat at family-owned restaurants or street food.
- Transportation costs assume you’ll walk to a lot of places and sometimes take the bus and/or MRT.
- Expect to pay NT$200+ daily if you take more public transportation.
If you have a eSIM-compatible phone, you could go even cheaper and pay NT$64 for 3 days.
I don’t recommend this.
Because eSIM is data-only. And I recommend having SOME calling credits in case of an emergency.
Let’s begin breaking down each of these categories.
Beginning with accommodations.
Accommodation Costs
Average prices for different types of accommodation throughout Taiwan’s most popular cities are:
| Accommodation Type | City | Average Price (1 Night) |
|---|---|---|
| Camping | All of Taiwan | NT$300 – NT$1,000 |
| Hotel | Taipei | NT$550 – NT$14,000 |
| Hostel | NT$540 – NT$3,000 | |
| Airbnb | NT$3,187 | |
| Bed & Breakfast | NT$2,696 | |
| Internet Café | NT$720 (12 hrs.) | |
| Hotel | Taichung | NT$588 – NT$6,000 |
| Hostel | NT$750 – NT$1,800 | |
| Airbnb | NT$2,470 | |
| Bed & Breakfast | NT$2,324 | |
| Hotel | Tainan | NT$799 – NT$4,500 |
| Hostel | NT$845 – NT$1,800 | |
| Airbnb | NT$2,933 | |
| Bed & Breakfast | NT$2,014 | |
| Hotel | Hualien | NT$546 – NT$4,500 |
| Hostel | NT$400 – NT$2,000 | |
| Airbnb | NT$3,249 | |
| Bed & Breakfast | NT$1,800 |
I found price estimates for hotels on Booking.com. These booking prices are for 2 adults and no children.
It’s the most expensive option, but it offers the most amenities.
I’d love to recommend Airbnb.
But…
The average prices I listed don’t account for security deposits, cleaning costs, and other fees. Plus, they generally have fewer amenities.
And in my experience with Airbnb in Taiwan, I’ve always needed to request someone to fix something. Whether a dead lightbulb or sink issue.
Perhaps I’m just unlucky.
Why would I list internet cafés?
24-hour internet cafés appear not to care if you sleep in them.
Some of them also offer unlimited ice cream and drinks. It gives you somewhere to game, read manga, watch TV, and chill without paying a lot.
Only sleep in these cafés if you’re not a light sleeper. The sounds from surrounding boxes will likely wake you up. In that case, bring earplugs and an eye mask to block out all sound and light.
Hostels are best for budgeting and meeting new people. Since Taiwan’s safe, you’re not in danger when staying at one of these.
But you’ll have to deal with dormitories. Unless you go for a private room.
I’ve never visited a bed & breakfast in Taiwan. I can’t provide any recommendations or insight based on experience. Check out other Taiwan travel blogs, Reddit and Forumosa posts, or videos for perspectives in that area.
Hotel Costs in Taiwan
I can only provide estimated costs. Prices will fluctuate (duh).
You should use any hotel search engine to find specific prices — like this one:
How to Save Money on Accommodation in Taiwan
Here are some of the best ways to save money on accommodation in Taiwan:
- Get a membership at internet cafés: You’ll pay lower rates.
- Sign up for house sitting: Pay an annual fee & babysit people’s homes and pets.
- Call the hotels: Ask whether they offer any specials.
- Volunteer in exchange for accommodation: Check sites like WWOOF and Workaway.
- Try a homestay: See whether the city you’re visiting will let you stay with a Taiwanese person.
Also, try opening an incognito or private tab in your browser and browsing hotel deal websites.
If you have a virtual private network (VPN) subscription, enable that as well. I use Proton VPN when doing this. It’s the only VPN I trust these days.
Many hotel websites may base pricing based on your location.
Disabling the website’s ability to track your cookies and location may affect your rates. Sometimes I’ve found different rates when using this “trick.” I don’t guarantee it’ll work.
The last tip may present a little confusion.
Homestays are a type of hospitality where you’ll stay with a host family. It’s a great way to learn about Taiwanese culture and save money.
These programs don’t seem to cost much. But availability will vary.
Great. You have a hotel.
Let’s see how much it’ll cost to fly to Taiwan.
Flight Costs
I’ll be honest. I can’t provide flight information. As I’m not an airline operator.
I can give you a widget that’ll help you gauge the flight pricing:
Now you booked your flight. You probably want to drool over Taiwanese food, now.
Costs to Eat Out in Taiwan
Costs for eating at restaurants, night markets, and fast food joints are as follows:
| Restaurant or Food | Cost for 1 Meal |
|---|---|
| Big Mac À La Carte & McDonald’s | $2.48 – $4.53 |
| Medium Cup Of Bubble Tea | NT$85 |
| Mom & Pop Restaurant | NT$75 – NT$120 |
| Chain Restaurant | NT$120 – NT$300 |
| Hot Food at Convenience Store | NT$45 – NT$100 |
| Night Market Food | NT$15 – NT$250 |
| Hot Pot | NT$100 – NT$250 |
| Bottle of Water | NT$8 – NT$20 |
| Drink at a bar | NT$150+ |
| Cappuccino | NT$81 |
On average, a meal in Taiwan will cost NT$100 to NT$300.
Going to higher-end restaurants will cost you NT$500 – NT$1,000 per dish. Most fine dining and casual chain restaurants will also charge a service fee.
This service fee is usually 10% of your order.
Don’t tip. The locals may find it offensive.
And you’ll save 15% or more on your order. Depending on how big of a tipper you are back in the States.
If you’re a coffee lover, there are 2 options I HIGHLY recommend:
- Latte at 7-Eleven: NT$45 – NT$70
- Save NT$5 by bringing your own cup.
- Download the Open Point app and buy a voucher (bulk coffees) to save NT$10 or more per coffee.
- Anything at Simple Kaffa: NT$100+
Simple Kaffa is a third-wave coffee shop chain opened by a World Barista Champion. The best coffee I’ve tasted.
7-Eleven uses some great-tasting coffee beans. Though, I’ve tried Simple Mart coffee recently, and their drinks taste similar.
See whether a nearby Simple Mart has a discount before buying.
I digress:
Though, uncommon. You may find yourself with food poisoning.
You’ll also need to invest money in stomach medicine (e.g., Imodium). I’ve seen this at pharmacies for less than NT$200.
Then, you will need to replenish your electrolytes. Super Supau is the cheapest way to do this. It’s NT$25 per bottle.
You might have a bit more serious bout of food poisoning. A clinic visit without insurance may cost around NT$500. A hospital visit will likely cost you NT$300 – NT$3,000 (without NHI).
You might want to save money on eating all this tasty food.
How to Save Money on Eating Out in Taiwan
Save money on eating out in Taiwan by not eating out. Or by buying food at local restaurants.
Most of the time, family-owned or small restaurants won’t have English menus. Nor speak English. If you have a Taiwanese friend, bring them and see if they can order for you.
If the restaurant has menus with pictures of their food, point to the item you want.
But then there’s the scenario of whether you enjoy spicy food, how big of a bowl you want, and other add-ons.
Even if you remember specific Mandarin phrases or menu items, shop owners sometimes throw curveballs.
Tourist night markets (e.g., Shilin) will have many English-speaking street food stall owners. But will charge more for their food.
The safest route involves buying food from convenience stores like 7-Eleven and Family Mart. Both don’t charge much. They also will microwave many food items and offer free seating.
At 7-Eleven, I’ve seen large rice curry dishes for NT$75. I usually get the chicken curry. It’s actually filling.
You’ll need a way to get to all these shops.
Costs to Get Around Taiwan
Here are costs based on the type of public transportation you take for a one-way trip:
| Transportation | One-Way Trip | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| MRT | NT$20 – NT$65 | Quick city travel |
| YouBike Rental | NT$10 – 40 per 30 minutes | Exercise |
| City Bus | 1 segment: NT$15 | Budget |
| High Speed Rail (HSR) | NT$35 – NT$2,500 | Intercity travel (speed) |
| Slower Train | NT$11 – NT$836 | Intercity travel (budget) |
| Tourist Shuttle bus | * NT$350 | Tourists |
| Ferry (To Outlying islands) | NT$819 – NT$1,700 | Reaching outlying islands |
| Taxi | NT$16 – NT$25 per km | Convenience |
| Uber | NT$120 – NT$1,200 per trip |
Notes:
- Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung have mass rapid transit (MRT).
- YouBike 2.0 rentals in Taipei City are free for the first 30 minutes.
- * Unable to find a concrete source.
- City bus rates will increase to:
- 2-segment trip: NT$30
- 3-segment trip: NT$45
Taxis vs. Uber. Which is a better option in Taiwan?
I haven’t seen any instances where taxi drivers have scammed people. But Uber guarantees your rates and often has more comfortable vehicles.
Uber drivers operate as taxi drivers in Taiwan. From my experience, Uber’s better than a taxi. So long as you don’t take one during peak hours.
Are these the only rideshare options?
There are others (e.g., yoxi and LINE Taxi). But Taiwan does not have DiDi, Grab, Lyft, or Bolt.
I’ll have money-saving tips in all the linked guides in the table.
However:
I’ll give you the gist of what I cover.
But first, there’s one overall tip — consider getting a TPASS.
You’ll pay a monthly fee for unlimited access to many public transportation mediums throughout different regions. This is mostly for commuters. But if you’re staying in Taiwan for longer, or will use transportation a lot, it might help in savings.
Let’s move into more transportation-specific tips.
1. MRT Money-Saving Tips:
- Certain Taipei FunPASSes give you unlimited rides on MRTs and buses (in Taipei) and free entry to a lot of attractions.
- Use Bus+ or Go! Taipei Metro to calculate MRT costs between stations.
- Check the metro passes available in your city — these can save you money if you use the MRT a lot.
- Sometimes KLOOK and KKday offer freebies when getting MRT and HSR tickets through them.
2. HSR Money-Saving Tips:
- Taiwan offers tourists HSR or HSR x TRA Joint Passes for unlimited rides on one or both train types.
- These are best for folks who will ride either type of train a lot.
- Book a month ahead through the T Express app or THSR website for potential discounts of up to 35% off.
- KLOOK and KKday typically offer 15% off TSHR tickets.
- They also offer 5% off when booking through their apps for the first time.
- Standard seats cost much less than Business ones.
3. Bus Money-Saving Tips:
- Consider 4-, 9-, or 24-hour passes for the Taipei Double Decker Sightseeing bus.
- This will save money and get you to most major tourist spots in Taipei in style.
Getting an EasyCard, iPass, or iCash 2.0 will save you time sifting through your wallet for change. And most public transportation in the country allows you to use these to enter.
EasyCards are the most accepted cards. Meanwhile, you can’t use iCash 2.0 for YouBike rentals.
I recommend reserving an EasyCard online to accumulate credit card rewards and points from KKday or KLOOK.
What if you want to drive yourself around?
Private Transportation
Those who want more control of their transportation will pay the following rates [1, 2]:
| Transportation | Price |
|---|---|
| Car Rental | $65 – $260 per day |
| Parking Garage (Or Lot) | Cars: NT$20 – NT$60/hr. |
| Motorbikes: NT$0 – NT$60/hr. | |
| Motorbike Rental | NT$100 – NT$800/day |
| Gas | NT$116/gal. |
| Battery Rental (For Electric Motorbikes) | NT$529 – NT$1,269/mo. |
You’ll need an international driving permit to rent a car in Taiwan. And a motorbike.
However:
Rentals get more complicated when it comes to scooters. Most cities require you to have a Taiwan driver’s license to rent them. In some cities, they’re lenient and only require an international driving permit.
Learn how much it’ll cost to entertain yourself in Taiwan.
Entertainment Costs
This section is where things will get a bit weird.
Here’s how I’ll structure it:
- General vices and entertainment
- Alcohol
- Taipei attractions
- Kaohsiung attractions
- Taichung attractions
Let’s dig in.
1. General Costs for Entertainment & Vices
Here’s what you’ll usually pay regarding recreation in Taiwan:
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Pack of Cigarettes | NT$90 – NT$129 |
| Nightclub Entry Fee | NT$300+ |
| Movie Theater Ticket | NT$581 |
| KTV | NT$500/hr; plus |
| NT$150 per person | |
| Night Market Entry | Free |
| World Gym One-Day Pass | NT$650 |
| Vape Juice | Illegal |
I don’t know much about nightclubs. Meaning I can’t help you save money in this area. Perhaps locals can better help.
I haven’t seen smoke shops in Taiwan. Thus, there aren’t reliable ways to save money on cigarettes. They still cost less than packs in other countries.
Do you love to let the liquor do the talking? You’ll love this next section.
2. Alcohol
Prices for drinks in Taiwan are as follows:
| Drink or Venue | Price |
|---|---|
| Tall Boy Taiwan Beer at 7-Eleven | NT$100 |
| 1 Cocktail at A Bar In Taipei | NT$400 |
| 1 Bottle of Mid-Range Wine | NT$350 |
| 1 Beer at a Local Bar | NT$180 |
I’m not much of a drinker these days. When I do drink, I’ll get cans of Long Island iced tea or beers from 7-Eleven.
In many scenarios, I see tourists strolling the streets with Taiwan beer cans they bought from a convenience store. Because it’s legal to drink in public.
Here’s a perspective from another foreigner exploring bars in Taipei:
Perhaps he can provide better insight into Taiwan’s beer pricing.
You almost have everything situated. There’s only SIM cards.
3. Popular Taipei & New Taipei Attraction Entry Fees
Here are the entry fees for major tourist attractions in Taipei and New Taipei:
| Tourist Hotspot | Admission |
|---|---|
| Taipei Zoo | NT$50 – NT$100 |
| Taipei 101 Observatory | NT$300 |
| Taipei 101 (101st Floor) | NT$1,000 – 3,000 |
| National Palace Museum | NT$150 – NT$350 |
| Miniatures Museum | NT$150 – NT$250 |
| Miramar Ferris Wheel | NT$150 – NT$200 |
| Taipei Water Park | NT$90 |
| Fort San Domingo | NT$80 |
| Yehliu Geopark | NT$120 |
| Children’s Amusement Park | NT$200 |
Many folks will bundle Taipei and New Taipei when talking about anything in Taiwan. However. The government considers both as separate administrative regions.
That’s how I’ll label them.
As mentioned, getting a sightseeing bus pass will save you money when going between many of these attractions. It’s a fantastic way to get around on a nice day. Plus, you get a cool tour.
Then there’s the Taipei FunPASS and KLOOK Pass.
Here’s what each is best for:
- Taipei FunPASS: Self-guided travel
- KLOOK Pass: Day tours
Taipei FunPASS offers free entry to many of the attractions above (and more) in Taipei and New Taipei cities.
Some of the passes also offer unlimited usage of the Taipei/New Taipei metros and city buses.
I compare these passes in detail in another guide.
The KLOOK Pass offers 35% off entry to many of these destinations plus day tours.
4. Popular Kaohsiung Attraction Entry Fees
Here are the admission costs to popular Kaohsiung spots:
| Tourist Hotspot | Admission |
|---|---|
| Dream Mall Ferris Wheel | NT$120 – NT$150 |
| National Science and Technology Museum | NT$100 |
| Love River Tour | NT$130 |
| Shoushan Zoo | NT$40 |
| E-DA Theme Park | NT$670 |
| Suzuka Circuit Park | NT$288 |
Most of the places that I like (e.g., Fo Guan Shan) are free to enter. Most of the paid-entry attractions are amusement parks.
There’s also a KLOOK Pass for Kaohsiung. It’ll give you up to 30% off entry to the attractions above and more.
I found a Kaohsiung Fun Pass, but the site wouldn’t let me buy it.
Thus, I don’t believe it’s available anymore.
Let’s finish things off with Taichung.
5. Popular Taichung Attraction Entry Fees
Here are the general admission fees for Taichung attractions:
| Tourist Hotspot | Admission |
|---|---|
| Lihpao Land Theme Park | NT$800 – NT$1,300 |
| National Museum of Natural Science | NT$50 – NT$100 |
| Mitsuit Outle SNOWTOWN | NT$480 |
| Lavender Cottage | NT$188 |
If you’re read through the previous sections, I believe you can predict what I’ll type.
Yes, there is a KLOOK Pass for Taichung. It’ll give you up to 60% off of select attractions.
However.
There’s no fun pass variation for Taichung.
There doesn’t need to be. Since many of the popular attractions are free to enter.
Now that you have everything above. Let’s see the pricing for SIM cards and Wi-Fi.
SIM Card & Portable Wi-Fi
Costs for prepaid SIM cards in Taiwan are as follows:
| Telecom | Price | Number of Days | Calling Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chunghwa Telecom | NT$300 – NT$1,000 | 3 – 30 days | NT$50 – NT$430 |
| Taiwan Mobile | NT$100 – NT$1,000 | 3 days | NT$100 – NT$300 |
| FarEasTone | NT$100 – NT$999 | 1 – 30 days | NA |
I use Chunghwa Telecom and have found they offer the most reliable coverage.
Regarding speed. Taiwan Mobile has the lowest median latency (18 ms) [3]. Chunghwa Telecom offers the highest download speeds [4].
Taiwan offers data-only eSIM. If you’re an iPhone 14 (US model) user, you should consider getting an unlocked phone to take to Taiwan. Unless you’re okay with only using data.
Most Taiwanese will use the LINE app for communication. Thus, calling and SMS credits won’t make the biggest difference.
Business travelers may have the opposite situation. Check with your employer or Taiwanese counterparts to see their communication method before traveling. So long as your company doesn’t already give you a SIM card.
Portable Wi-Fi will cost as little as NT$99 per day. I don’t recommend going this route unless you have multiple devices you want to connect to a Wi-Fi hotspot.
If you’re traveling to a city, you’ll find free Wi-Fi everywhere. At convenience stores, supermarkets, the streets, public transportation, hotels, and more.
I go over the details of getting a tourist SIM card in Taiwan in a separate piece.
Let’s finish this off with some FAQs.
FAQs
How Far Does a Dollar Go in Taiwan?
$1.00 in Taiwan can get you a few food items if you visit family-owned restaurants. It’ll also get you at least 3 small teas or coffees from convenience stores.
Is Taiwan Expensive to Visit?
Taiwan offers moderate travel costs. Major cities like Taipei are pricier, but budget options exist. Outside tourist areas, accommodations, food, and transport are affordable. Taiwan’s efficient public transit system makes exploring easy and cost-effective. It’s comparable to South Korea and Japan in terms of expenses.
Is it Cheaper to Travel to Taiwan or Japan?
Taiwan is generally cheaper to travel to than Japan. Flight costs are often lower, and daily expenses like food and accommodation are more affordable. While both destinations offer unique experiences, Taiwan provides better value for budget-conscious travelers seeking an Asian adventure.
Sources
- Parking lots situation. Department of Transportation, Taipei.
- Taiwan Gasoline prices. GlobalPetrolPrices. 2024.
- Taiwan median country speeds. Speedtest. 7/2024.
- Fixed broadband performance. Ookla. 12/21/2021.
