Taiwan: a small country in East Asia with a big reputation. Known for street food, friendly people, and outdoor activities, some who come as foreign tourists return with plans to call Taiwan home.
The official language in Taiwan is Mandarin, but you'll find many people speak English, especially in the bigger cities. With that said, if you want to learn Mandarin, you'll have the opportunity to do so, especially in smaller cities like Tainan or Taitung.
The island has a very layered history, in which each city and small village stands out with their own cultures, specialty foods, and paces of life.
As someone who lived here three years, Taiwan offers genuine incentives to foreigners living here, from being one of the safest countries to its national health insurance if you have a job here. Whether you move here to teach English, work in a different sector, or study Chinese, there are a lot of great areas to choose between.
Since I've adventured everywhere but also lived daily life across the country, I've rounded up the best places to live in Taiwan so you can find the perfect fit.
Short on time? Here’s the cheat sheet
Can’t decide where to move to in Taiwan, consider:
- Taipei, for their public transportation and plenty of things to do.
- New Taipei City, for their lower cost of living.
- Taitun City, for their easy access to a variety of nature.
- Tainan City, for their culture and delicious food.
- Kaohsiung, for their big city feel at a fraction of the cost.
- Taichung, for their location on the west coast of the island.
1. Taipei: Best for Public Transportation & Things to Do
The northern city of Taipei is a busy yet organized city, home to about 2.5 million people. There's a cornucopia of things to do, with arts, history, nightlife, and easy-to- access hiking trails.
Taipei is also a great place for digital nomads and remote workers as English is widely spoken and there are co-living spaces such as Banana Coliving.
Plus, if you're looking to live and work in Taiwan, Taipei is one of the best places for job opportunities, from teaching English to different professions such as media and technology. If you want to move to Taiwan permanently, apply for a gold card where you can work almost any job.
Read more on living in Taipei to decide if it’s the right city in Taiwan for you.
Pros of Life in Taipei
My favorite thing about living in Taipei is that if you have a variety of hobbies, you can pursue them all. I love salsa dance and there are numerous spots to go every week.
The food is another huge pro! You can find Mexican, American, and Indian food in other major cities, but you don't have nearly as much variety as you do in the capital city. Not to mention the endless bustling night markets with long hours.
The public transport is also the best in the country, with MRT stations and buses connecting the whole city.
Cons of Life Taipei
From my experience, the two main drawbacks are the high cost of living and the busyness.
It gets tiring if you have to take the bus or metro every day to work in a sea of people. If you can work close to home or from home, you'll feel way more relaxed despite big city living.
Oh yeah, and the weather! It's cold and rainy in the winter and very hot and humid in the summer.
2. New Taipei City: Best Cost of Living near Taipei
Once you cross the rivers surrounding Taipei City, you're in New Taipei City, where over 4 million people live. This area isn't just one city, but a large part of Northern Taiwan, encompassing multiple districts such as Linkou, Tamsui, and all the way up to the Yehliu Geopark.
Pros of Living in New Taipei
As New Taipei City extends in all directions around Taipei, there's a variety of places you could end up. The best part is that you'll find cheaper accommodation options, yet still have access to public transit to central Taipei and Taipei Main Station.
If you're searching for a job to teach English, you'll also have more options compared to the more competitive ones in Taipei City.
Cons of Living in New Taipei
While I did say connection to Taipei was a plus, commute times to Taipei can vary from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on where you live. It's best to consider the closest MRT station or train station when finding a place to live.
Plus if you want to go into Taipei for nightlife, you might have to cut the night short (around midnight) to make the last train or bus.
3. Taitung City: Best City for Nature Lovers
The culture of Taitung stands out among the rest of the country as many indigenous people live here, with the Amis tribe being the largest of. Taitung is truly one of the most beautiful cities, as mountains, the sea, and rivers surround it and you can enjoy a slower pace.
Pros Living in Taitung City
If you love nature and clean air, Taitung City is one of the best places to live in Taiwan. You have outdoor activities like hiking, river tracing, surfing, and hot springs.
While most of the best nature is located outside of the city, the natural scenery is the most beautiful in Taiwan, in my opinion.
Cons of Living in Taitung City
Because Taitung is a small city, you'll find fewer job opportunities, less nightlife, and less frequent public transportation.
I lived outside of Taitung, and it's hard to stay here long term without a scooter and I had to plan my trips around the hourly bus times. But considering you can get an ARC (alien resident card), you're eligible to get your Taiwanese license and venture endlessly!
4. Tainan City: Best for Taiwanese Culture and Food
Tainan City is the food capital of Taiwan, and I've been there many times to eat! While the city center may feel small, Tainan is actually quite large, with a population of around 2 million.
Pros Living in Tainan
If you're a history buff and food lover, then Tainan is the place to be. There are so many historic attractions and food stalls passed down through generations across the city.
The cost of living in Tainan is also better than in cities such as Taipei and Kaohsiung.
While Tainan might not offer as much nightlife or niche activities, you're in luck, as it's only a 40-minute local train or 10-minute high-speed train to Kaohsiung!
Cons of Living in Tainan
The biggest drawback of living in Tainan is the heavy traffic and sometimes reckless drivers. The public transport isn't great as they don't have anything like the Taipei metro, and commuters either have to drive, ride a YouBike, or take the bus.
As for jobs, the best chances to work in Tainan as a foreigner would be teaching English at a bushiban, public, or international school. With that said, you may have to dig a bit deeper to find the opportunities.
5. Kaohsiung: Best Big City for Affordable Housing
Kaohsiung is one of the best places to live in Taiwan if you want a big city without cold weather and a more laid back feel. I lived here for a year and loved it, especially riding YouBikes along the riverside parks.
Pros Living in Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung has a bit of it all without the high costs of Taipei. You have parks, the beach, nightlife and nature. The winter weather is also ideal, with a warm climate that rarely feels too cold.
Kaohsiung is also in a great location in Taiwan because it connects to all the major cities on the high-speed rail, and also connects to the East coast of Taiwan via rail. As central Taiwan is mountainous, other cities like Tainan or Taichung cannot directly connect to the East coast.
Cons of Living in Kaohsiung
The hardest part about living in Kaohsiung is the extreme weather. In the summer, it is incredibly hot and humid, and during typhoon season (August to October), Kaohsiung can be hit hard.
6. Taichung: Best-located City on the West Coast
Taichung City is the second largest city in Taiwan after New Taipei and a popular destination for many expats and English teachers. Located on the West Coast, it connects easily to all the major cities.
For more details, read our full guide on living in Taichung.
Pros Living in Taichung
There are multiple benefits to choosing to live in Taichung, especially comparing it to Taipei including less air pollution, a lower cost of living, and less rainy weather.
The city is also one of the best places to live in Taiwan if you want to teach English with opportunities at buxibans, public schools, and international schools.
Cons Living in Taichung
There aren't many downsides to living in Taichung aside from the public transit and distance from the East Coast.
If you live in Taichung, you'll likely need to get a scooter as there are no MRT lines.
Where Will You Live in Taiwan?
After traversing Taiwan, it's hard for me to even say which is the best place to live. I'd say weigh the pros and cons against the kind of lifestyle you want in Taiwan.
Want to be very culturally immersed and learn the language? Somewhere South or East might better suit you.
Want to hang around the expat scene and have everything easily available? Try bigger cities like Taipei or Taichung.
Whatever you decide, take that chance and I know you'll find the right place in Taiwan for you!
All photos courtesy of depositphotos.com.
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