Taiwan is a vibrant island nation blending ancient Chinese culture with modern innovation, featuring stunning mountain landscapes, bustling night markets, and world-class cuisine. From the neon-lit streets of Taipei to the serene temples of Tainan and dramatic gorges of Taroko, Taiwan offers diverse experiences for every traveler. This subtropical paradise combines excellent infrastructure, warm hospitality, and rich cultural heritage.
Local currency: New Taiwan Dollar (TWD / NT$) — approximate rate: NT$30 = US$1.
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Taiwan.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $12-20/night
- Budget
- $40-65/night
- Midrange
- $80-150/night
- Luxury
- $250-850+/night
Food
- Street
- $1.50-3 (NT$50-90) per item at night markets
- Local
- $5-8 (NT$150-250) at casual restaurants
- Midrange
- $15-30 (NT$450-900) at mid-range restaurants
- Fine
- $80-200+ (NT$2,400-6,000+) at Michelin-starred venues
Transport
- Bus
- $0.50-1 (NT$15-30) per MRT/bus ride with EasyCard
- Taxi
- $6-15 (NT$180-450) for typical city ride
- Airport
- $5-45 (NT$150-1,400) depending on mode (MRT vs taxi)
- Daytrip
- $10-30 (NT$300-900) for intercity bus/train
Activities
- Museum
- $3-11 (NT$100-350) for major museums
- Sites
- $0-5 (NT$0-150) most temples are free
- Tour
- $30-60 (NT$900-1,800) for guided half-day tours
- Excursion
- $50-100 (NT$1,500-3,000) for full-day adventure tours
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Taiwan costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$245-350/week
Midrange traveller
$560-910/week
Luxury traveller
$1,750-3,500+/week
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Buy an EasyCard (悠遊卡) for 20% discount on all MRT rides and buses — saves significantly on a multi-day Taipei visit; also works at 7-Eleven and YouBike
7-Eleven and FamilyMart serve genuinely good hot meals for NT$40-80 ($1.30-2.70) — an excellent budget meal option available 24 hours
Book Taiwan High Speed Rail tickets 28 days in advance for early-bird discounts of 20-35% off standard fares
Many national museums offer free entry on certain days or evening hours — check websites in advance
Youth hostels in Taiwan are well-run and social — dorm beds in Taipei from NT$400 ($13); private rooms from NT$1,200 ($40)
Lunch sets at restaurants typically cost 30-40% less than identical dinner orders — eat main meals at lunch when possible
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Longshan Temple
Taipei's most impressive temple complex — free entry; the ornate carvings, active worship, and incense atmosphere are among the most authentic cultural experiences in Taiwan.
Elephant Mountain Sunrise/Sunset
Free urban hike in Xinyi District offering the most photographed view of Taipei 101 and the city skyline — the steep 20-minute climb is well worth the panoramic reward.
Beitou Public Hot Spring Foot Baths
Free public foot soaking pools along the Beitou thermal stream — soak feet in natural hot spring water without paying for a private bathhouse.
Yangmingshan National Park Walking
Free entry to Taipei's volcanic national park with hiking trails, hot spring fumaroles, wildflowers in spring, and mountain scenery — accessible by bus from Jiantan MRT.
National Taiwan Museum
Taipei's oldest museum in the colonial-era building on 228 Peace Park — free entry on certain days; the surrounding park with Japanese colonial architecture is always free.
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Free entry to the massive memorial complex with hourly changing of guard ceremonies, formal garden, and insight into Taiwan's complex 20th-century history.
Shilin Night Market Exploration
Free to walk and browse — the market itself costs nothing; budget for food (NT$50-200 per item). The energy and variety make it a spectacle even without spending.
Fulong Beach (off-peak)
Taiwan's best accessible beach is free to enter outside peak summer weekends. The sand, Pacific Ocean, and mountain backdrop are exceptional even without renting equipment.
Tainan Historic Temple Walk
Tainan has hundreds of free-entry temples within walking distance of each other — Chikan Tower area, Confucius Temple, Matsu Temple — a self-guided walk through 400 years of history.
Gaomei Wetlands Sunset
Free coastal wetland park near Taichung with spectacular sunset views over wind turbines and shallow wetland waters — one of Taiwan's most photographed landscapes.