What Is the Best City in Taiwan To Live In?

If you don’t mind paying more, then the best city in Taiwan to live in is Taipei. You’ll have access to public transportation, plenty of English support, and western amenities. Another great city to choose is New Taipei.

I’ve stayed in Taiwan for more than 5 years and have learned much about living in different cities. I want to help those considering moving here choose the best city to live in.

9 Major Cities in Taiwan

City	Area	Population
New Taipei	793 mi2 | 2053 km2	4.015 million
Taipei	104.9 mi2 | 271 km2	2.553 million
Taichung	855 mi2 | 2214 km2	2.817 million
Tainan	846 mi2 | 2191 km2	1.881 million
Kaohsiung	1,140 mi2 | 2952 km2	2.773 million
Taoyuan	471 mi2 | 1219 km2	2.245 million
Chiayi	23.18 mi2 | 60 km2	270,254
Taitung	42.38 mi2 | 109 km2	106,929
Yilan	828 mi2 | 2144 km2	454,287

Kaohsiung has the most area, while New Taipei has the highest population. Many will often confuse New Taipei with Taipei.

However, they’re separate cities.

The former surrounds the latter, yet they are both still connected.

Chiayi has the lowest population, yet it’s still connected to most of Taiwan’s major cities through the High-Speed Rail (HSR). The HSR is Taiwan’s bullet train that runs 220 miles (350 kilometers) along the country’s west coast.

As you read through the following sections, I’ll cover the following points to help you make a decision:

1. Brief description of each city
2. Average living costs
3. Public transportation availability
4. Climate
5. Shopping & recreation
6. Whether a city is English-friendly
7. Pros & Cons
8. Best places to live in each city

Let’s get to it.

1. New Taipei City

Cost of living in	NT$35,590/mo.
Cost of rent in	NT$14,714/mo.
Average temperature in	67 ℉ (19.8 °C)-92 ℉ (33.36 °C)
Population	4.015 million

New Taipei marries Taipei’s benefits and affordable living. Get to most places throughout the city with ease due to the north’s public transportation.

If you’re not bound by commuting to work, move to Tamsui, which offers new and affordable apartments. Otherwise, staying in the Banqiao District puts you beside a bus and HSR stations.

Best of all, it connects to the Circular Line metro station, which once it’s complete, will take you around a good portion of Taipei and New Taipei.

With access to an HSR station, you’ll never find yourself short of things to do. New Taipei is home to various cultural attractions like:

• Houtong Cat Village
• Jiufen Old Street
• Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf
• Wulai

Pros & Cons of Living in New Taipei City

Pros

• Affordable
• Convenient
• Adjacent to Taipei

Cons

• Plenty of areas without sidewalks
• Some areas (outskirts) require you to have a car/motorbike

Best Places to Live in New Taipei

Here are the best neighborhoods/areas to consider in New Taipei:

• Banqiao: affordable & close to train station
• Tamsui: affordable & modern housing

2. Taipei City

Cost of living in	NT$42,954/mo.
Cost of rent in	NT$19,736/mo.
Average temperature in	58 ℉ (14.56 °C)–78 ℉ (25.66 °C)
Population	2.553 million

By far one of Taiwan’s most convenient cities. Hence, why most westerners will flock there.

It has convenience stores and hypermarkets everywhere. You’ll also find clinics and hospitals at almost every corner. To top it all off, Taipei has the best public transportation I’ve seen.

You can get anywhere in the city quickly without driving. It’s also affordable.

Though this city has the highest living cost, if you have a decent job, you have nothing to worry about.

Some families will choose Da’an District due to its access to family-friendly hotspots like Da’an park. Whereas, others will pick Neihu due to it being close to the Taipei American School.

If you’re younger and have plenty of disposable income, you’ll love Xinyi District. It’s expensive, but it’s home to a good number of nightclubs and bars.

Here’s a digital nomad’s guide to Taipei.

Pros & Cons of Living in Taipei City

Pros

• Most sidewalks than most cities
• Plenty of English-speaking landlords
• Convenient to navigate
• More international schools

Cons

• Expensive

Best Places to Live in Taipei City

Here are some of the best areas to live in Taipei:

• Tianmu: close to Taipei American School
• Zhongshan District: plenty of parks & shopping areas
• Beitou: close to the mountains
• Muzha: quiet & more modern buildings

3. Taichung City

Cost of living in	NT$37,624/mo.
Cost of rent in	NT$11,937/mo.
Average temperature in	72 ℉ (22.66 °C)–90 ℉ (32.5 °C)
Population	2.817 million

Taichung is Taiwan’s second most populated city that resides in the nation’s center. It’s not condensed like Taipei, so things are much more dispersed. While the city is slowly adding more transportation, you may want to consider buying a motorbike if you live here.

Or rent a motorbike when you need it for a fair price.

When you need a weekend getaway, you’ll seldom find yourself short of things to do. For instance, there’s the National Taichung Theater. Or, if you want to embrace nature, walk along the city’s restored Shin Sei Green Waterway.

Most foreigners will live in the West District or Xitun. You’ll need to pay a lot for bills though.

To avoid living among a ton of foreigners, check out Beitun. There are plenty of metro stations here, and you’ll have some pleasant areas to explore.

Pros & Cons of Living in Taichung City

Pros

• Better weather than Taipei
• Somewhat convenient
• More foreigners to mingle with compared to other cities outside Taipei & New Taipei

Cons

• Not as many public transportations as Taipei; may need a car or scooter
• Not many cycling paths compared to other cities

Best Places to Live in Taichung

Some of the best areas to live in Taichung City are:

• Beitun District: close to American School in Taichung
• Xitun District: more foreigners to mingle with
• Dakeng: has houses with gardens

4. Tainan City

Cost of living in	NT$31,492/mo.
Cost of rent in	NT$8,750/mo.
Average temperature in	74 ℉ (23.6 °C)–90 ℉ (32.53 °C)
Population	1.881 million

If you want nightlife, you won’t like Tainan. However, it’s Taiwan’s oldest city—the nation’s birthplace [1].

If you prefer living in a place ripe with Taiwan’s cultural relics and has some western amenities, then choose here. For instance, you’ll find some western restaurants to indulge in when you don’t feel like having Taiwanese food.

You’ll need a vehicle when living here, though. But with how much you’ll save on living costs, the southern city may be worth it to you.

Pros & Cons of Living in Tainan City

Pros

• Good traditional food options

Cons

• Has some of the most air pollution in Taiwan
• You’ll need a scooter or car to get around
• Fewer restaurant options

5. Kaohsiung City

Cost of living in	NT$24,872/mo.
Cost of rent in	NT$10,555/mo.
Average temperature in	75 ℉ (24.33 °C)–89 ℉ (32 °C)
Population	2.773 million

If you want most of the comforts Taiwan and New Taipei offer without paying too much, check out Kaohsiung. They don’t have tremendous English support, but it’s a great area to practice your Mandarin Chinese skills.

Looking for night markets?

Don’t worry. This city has Liuhe Night Market among other markets.

You may find a lot of air pollution in Kaohsiung. This isn’t ideal for you who are sensitive to pollutants.

To have access to Kaohsiung Metro, you’ll want to check out Zuoying. It’s an affordable area and close to various shopping centers and bars.

Pros & Cons of Living in Kaohsiung

Pros

• More laid-back than other cities
• Close to Kenting (beach area)
• More affordable rent

Cons

• Bad air quality
• Not many food options compared to other cities
• Sweltering heat during the summer
• Not as easy to get around as Taipei
• Fewer options for fine dining & craft beer

Best Places to Live in Kaohsiung

The best areas to live in Kaohsiung are as follows:

• Zuoying District: close to Kaohsiung American School
• Hanshin: many nearby western restaurants
• Yancheng District: Many small eateries & historical buildings

6. Taoyuan City

Cost of living in	NT$26,219/mo.
Cost of rent in	NT$8,600/mo.
Average temperature in	56 ℉ (13.70 °C)–90 ℉ (32.55 °C)
Population	2.245 million

Taoyuan is home to Taiwan’s biggest airport and also has the most expats from Southeast Asia [2]. It’s convenient with its metro system and offers plenty of amenities.

If you don’t want to live in New Taipei and Taipei, this northern city is a great alternative.

Prices are lower and things are more spread out. You’ll also have plenty of places to take walks or hike if needed.

Many foreigners seem to choose Yangmei or Zhongli neighborhoods.

Pros & Cons of Living in Taoyuan

Pros

• Close to the airport

Cons

• Lacks public transportation

Best Places to Live in Taoyuan

Some great places to live in Taoyuan are:

• Luzhu District: close to Taoyuan American School
• Zhongli District: many bars, malls, & shopping centers
• Taoyuan District: close to mountains
• Yangmei: many modern apartments

7. Chiayi City

Cost of living in	NT$24,758/mo.
Cost of rent in	NT$6,666/mo.
Average temperature in	72 ℉ (22.66 °C)–72 ℉ (22.66 °C)
Population	270,254

A city famous for its turkey rice [3]. And turkeys.

The previously mentioned, along with affordable prices, makes this city a lovely place for you who love Taiwanese cuisine.

It’s inconvenient to access, but if you have the money for a vehicle, that doesn’t matter.

Pros & Cons of Living in Chiayi

Pros

• Surrounded by nature
• More affordable

Cons

• Not much to do
• Not convenient as other cities

8. Taitung City

Cost of living in	NT$28,454/mo.
Cost of rent in	NT$24,942/mo.
Average temperature in	74 ℉ (23.6 °C)–89 ℉ (31.96 °C)
Population	106,929

Usually, when heading east, you won’t find many people or massive cities like Taiwan’s west. Taitung is sort of an exception. You’ll find many businesses like most bigger cities have like Carrefour.

They also don’t have much pollution.

However, there are not many reasons to move there aside from wanting a laid-back lifestyle. Work options are limited. But you’ll also have access to the countryside, which means plenty of hiking paths.

If you want to visit somewhere like Taipei or Kaohsiung, prepare to spend hours on a train.

They don’t have an HSR.

Pros of Living in Taitung

Pros

• Beautiful
• Air isn’t as polluted as the rest of Taiwan

Cons

• You’ll need a car
• Lack of amenities for foreigners (e.g., American restaurants)
• Frequent military jets pass overhead
• Frequent earthquakes
• Businesses close early

9. Yilan City

Cost of living in	NT$22,895/mo.
Cost of rent in	NT$8,833/mo.
Average temperature in	66 ℉ (19.33 °C)–89 ℉ (32 °C)
Population	454,287

Yilan’s a tiny city along Taiwan’s eastern coast. It’s fairly spread out and doesn’t offer much public transportation aside from buses. You’ll need to buy or rent vehicles when living here.

This city also has plenty of earthquakes that happen off its shores. You’ll face the brunt of the trembling.

It’s a beautiful area, though. You’ll find plenty of houses. If you’re wondering, foreigners can buy real estate in Taiwan if there are reciprocal laws in your country [4]. For example, US citizens can buy land.

You’ll also find cleaner air here and bigger apartments. At the cost of foreigner amenities like bars, though.

Are you a surfer?

Great. You’ll find plenty of opportunities to catch a wave.

Pros of Living in Yilan

Pros

• Affordable real estate
• Cleaner air
• Bigger apartments & houses
• More arable land

Cons

• Frequent earthquakes
• Lack of amenities for foreigners
• You’ll need a car
• Bears the brunt of typhoons

Average Cost of Living for an Expat by City

City	USD	NTD
New Taipei	$1242 (1)	NTD$35,590
Taipei	$1499 (2)	NTD$42,954
Taichung	$1313 (2)	NTD$37,624
Tainan	$1099(2)	NTD$31,492
Kaohsiung	$868 (2)	NTD$24,872
Taoyuan	$915 (1)	NTD$26,219
Chiayi	$864 (1)	NTD$24,758
Taitung	$993 (1)	NTD$28,454
Yilan	$799 (1)	NTD$22,895

* livingcost.org

† Nomadlist

These prices include rent, food, and utilities. Public transportation will vary based on your preferences.

Taipei is by far the nation’s most expensive city, but that comes with all the English support and convenience. Whereas, Yilan has the lowest costs without much support.

Keep in mind that when living outside Taipei and New Taipei, you won’t have the comforts of convenient public transportation. Thus, you’ll likely need to buy a motorbike or car, which will add more to your living costs.

If you make at least $2098 per month and set 40% of your income aside for rent, live in whatever city you want without any issues. These prices are at the higher end of the spectrum, too.

You’ll likely find cheaper apartments that still offer plenty of amenities. For example, $1000 for rent in New Taipei would get you a modern apartment.

Public Transportation by City

City	HSR Station?	International Airport?	Rail Stations (#)
New Taipei	Yes	No	14 (Danhai LRT)
Taipei	Yes (x2)	Taipei Songshan Airport	131 (Taipei Metro)
Taichung	Yes	Taichung International Airport	18
Tainan	Yes	Tainan Airport	None
Kaohsiung	Yes	Kaohsiung International Airport	61
Taoyuan	Yes	Taoyuan International Airpor	21
Chiayi	Yes	Domestic only	None
Taitung	No	Domestic only	None
Yilan	No	No airports	None

Taoyuan has the most popular airport in Taiwan, having more than 30 million passengers per year.

It’s an ideal airport for landing in, especially if you want to reach cities along Taiwan’s west coast.

You can also reach a good portion of Taoyuan by using a combination of their MRT system and bus. If you want to reach Taipei or New Taipei, take the Taoyuan MRT.

New Taipei and Taipei both offer the most convenient public transportation. Though, I said Taipei has 131 stations, many of which are in New Taipei.

For places you can’t access with the metro, rent a YouBike or take a bus.

If you’re in central Taiwan, Taichung now has a metro that’ll take you through a good portion of the city. Otherwise, you’ll need a motorbike.

Kaohsiung has a light rail that’ll take you through a good portion of the city.

Tainan, Chiayi, and Taitung don’t have the luxury of rapid transits.

Climate in Taiwan by City

City	Avg. Rain (per. year)	Winter Avg.	Summer Avg.
New Taipei	165.5 days	67 ℉ (19.8 °C)	92 ℉ (33.36 °C)
Taipei	13.91 days	58 ℉ (14.56 °C)	78 ℉ (25.66 °C)
Taichung	115.7 days	72 ℉ (22.66 °C)	90 ℉ (32.5 °C)
Tainan	87.4 days	74 ℉ (23.6 °C)	90 ℉ (32.53 °C)
Kaohsiung	88.6 days	75 ℉ (24.33 °C)	89 ℉ (32 °C)
Taoyuan	221.54 days	56 ℉ (13.70 °C)	90 ℉ (32.55 °C)
Chiayi	145.83 days	72 ℉ (22.66 °C)	90 ℉ (32.33 °C)
Taitung	124.9 days	74 ℉ (23.6 °C)	89 ℉ (31.96 °C)
Yilan	280.08 days	66 ℉ (19.33 °C)	89 ℉ (32 °C)

Sources for average weather and rain days per year:

• ncei.noaa.gov
• weather-atlas.com/en/Taiwan

Out of this list, Yilan has the most rainy days, while Tainan has the least. The Taoyuan has the lowest average temperatures during the winter. And Kaohsiung has the warmest winters.

No matter where you go in Taiwan, you’ll encounter heat. New Taipei; however, has the highest averages during the summer. Whereas, Taipei has the lowest average during the summer.

Taiwan has a subtropical climate. That means it’s humid. Because of this, you’ll need to keep in mind that humidity will impact these temperatures.

Taiwan Food, Culture, & Entertainment You’ll Find

Taiwan’s a little smaller than the U.S. states of Delaware and Maryland combined [5]. Because of this, you don’t need to worry about constraining yourself to one city to access certain tourist spots.

You may want to situate yourself near certain places, though. That way, you’re not bored when you get off work.

Taiwan Beaches

You’ll find most of Taiwan’s best beaches along the East Coast. Or in Kenting.

If you want to live within a reasonable distance from a beach, try New Taipei’s Tamsui. You could rent a YouBike, catch a bus, or take the Danhai LRT and reach beaches like Baishawan or Laomei.

Taiwan Night Markets & Other Food

If you want the most diverse food options, you’ll want to live in (or around) Taipei. It has more than 17 night markets and foods from other countries you can’t find elsewhere. For example, Hispanic food.

Also, when living in Taipei, reach any of New Taipei’s street food markets.

Regarding shopping, you’ll have plenty of hypermarkets available throughout most cities.

If you have a Costco membership, use that in Taiwan. You’ll need to venture to the outskirts of whatever town you live in, though. Most notable cities throughout the country will have 

Costco Wholesale warehouses except:

• Chiayi
• Taitung
• Hualien

When staying in the above areas, you could opt for other Taiwan hypermarkets Carrefour, A-Mart, or RT-Mart.

If you want to avoid the city, stick to the towns or eastern cities and have access to various food and services because of convenience stores. When getting out of your home for fresh air, stop at any 7-Eleven, Family Mart, or other chain and grab some warm food while reading a book.

Taiwan Nightlife

Taipei has the widest selection of bars and clubs. No matter what day of the week you want to go out, you’ll always find a crowd getting a drink after work. Venus always likes to keep guests flowing, so they’ll often host events.

Best of all, it’s easy for you to get to and from these places. No worrying about driving.

Though Yilan and Taichung don’t have much of a nightlife scene, take a bus or train and reach Taipei’s city center within an hour. With New Taipei, you’ll just need to take the MRT, a bike, or even walk to reach Taipei.

Taichung; however, has a developing bar and club culture for its massive young population.

You’ll find some places in Kaohsiung, but it’s not lively. Like other cities on this list, they don’t have many nightlife hotspots.

Most English-friendly Cities in Taiwan

Taipei has the most English support. However, finding places with English-speaking staff is often hit-or-miss. The same goes for New Taipei.

In Taipei, you’ll find more English-speaking landlords.

Regarding medical care; sometimes you’ll find doctors who speak perfect English. Other times you’ll encounter doctors who don’t speak any. Thus, I recommend bringing a friend who speaks Mandarin or a translator.

I wrote a piece on how an English speaker will do in Taiwan. Check it out.

Anyway, throughout the rest of the country, you may have a harder time finding English speakers.

If you stick to shopping at convenience stores and hypermarkets, you have nothing to worry about.

No matter what city you’re in, you’ll find plenty of English signage for public transportation.

FAQs

Find frequently asked questions about living in Taiwan throughout the following sections.

More Guides for Expats in Taiwan

• Guide to Studying Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan01/14/2023
• How to Get Internet in Taiwan12/24/2022
• How To Find an Apartment in Taiwan06/25/2022
• Guide to Getting Married in Taiwan05/29/2022
• What Is the Best City in Taiwan To Live In?04/04/2022
• Taiwan’s Living Costs03/18/2022
• Can You Live in Taiwan Without Knowing Mandarin?02/24/2022