Taipei
East Asia · Taiwan · Asia
Easygoing and food-obsessed — steamy night markets ringed by green peaks.
Taipei is one of Asia's most underrated cities: safe, friendly, and affordable, with night markets, a superb metro, hot springs, and mountains a subway ride from downtown. It blends a relaxed, welcoming local culture with strong tech infrastructure and a small but real nomad scene. The downsides are humid, rainy weather for much of the year, a language barrier outside the center, and earthquakes and typhoons. Best for foodies and remote workers wanting a livable, low-key big city with great value.
comfortable monthly budget
1-bed rent, good area
Best for
Not for
Warm, helpful locals plus a modest community of expats, students, and tech workers. Famously friendly and easy to settle into, with a cafe and night-market culture that makes casual connection simple.
Where to land
The scorecard
Tax in Taiwan
Special regime: Foreign-source income exempt from regular tax but caught by 20% AMT above a threshold
Securities capital gains are largely exempt from income tax and offshore income is only taxed via the alternative minimum tax.
Representative estimate — not tax advice. · source
Make the move to Taipei
Some links are partner links — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Is Taipei your place?
Take the 60-second quiz and see how well it actually fits you — and what beats it.
Find my placePhoto via Wikimedia Commons · source