The Cost of Living in Taipei

Average NST Budget for One Month

Accommodation

We will help you find an apartment. Apartments (and rents) vary according to size. The standard place has two bedrooms and prices start at around 12,000 NT per month. Most apartments are unfurnished but there are generally a few hand-me-down items to get you started from friendly co-workers or helpful staff.


Transportation

Getting around here can be tough as any other big city, especially at rush hour. Leave really early when you have to be somewhere at a certain time and accept that a lot of extra time will be wasted in traffic. The driving here is fast. Many westerners never get used to Taipei driving, which seems to them to be utter bedlam and chaos. However, sometimes those with really open minds can begin to see that it has its own logic and rules.


Buses

The buses here go just about everywhere and are relatively cheap. But unfortunately, they are usually not a comfortable ride, and they stop running at about 11 PM, so you can't count on them to take you home from the pub. They cost 15 NT for a short ride and 30 NT for anything longer. Cards can be bought from the convenience stores for automatic payment, so you do not have to remember to carry change. An important thing to know is when to pay the driver (that is, when you get on or when you get off). Here you will probably have to learn two Chinese characters. When you see this, 上 , you pay the driver when you get on. When you see this, 下 , you have to pay the driver when you get off. Of course, you might not remember this, so just do what everyone else does. A bus guide is always a handy thing to have, and you can buy one at Cave's Bookstore (Chung Shan N. rd Sec. 2) or Lucky's Bookstore (under the Mandarin Training Center); it is also possible that your branch has one.


MRT

This is a great way to travel, depending on where you want to go. It can take you to the Taipei Zoo or to the movies or the concert theatre. The lines are quick, reliable, comfortable and marginally cheap. The shortest trip costs NT $20 but you can go for miles and miles for NT $50. It does not cover the whole of the city area though, so it is always a good idea to learn a few basic bus routes as well. A great advantage the MRT has over buses is that the stops are written in English, unlike the bus signs, and it runs until midnight whereas the buses stop about 11 at night. Taxis There are plenty of these.


Taxis

are the only choice for late night party people who don't have scooters, or for those who have scooters but worry about what safety helmets will do to their hair. They are moderately pricey and you must know the address in Chinese, or have it written on a card or slip of paper. Make sure the driver starts the meter. Rides start at 70 NT.


Trains

Trains to other parts of the island are good if you get a fast one. Ask at the information desk at Taipei Main Train Station at Chung Hsiao and Chung Shan Roads. They can speak English and they can give you details about the faster trains. Train schedules are also available on-line at http://www.railway.gov.tw


Scooters and Motorbikes

You can buy these at your own risk. They are very convenient and a barrel of fun. Scooters come in various engine sizes, generally 50c.c (the smallest, cheapest and least powerful scooter), 90c.c, 100c.c, 125c.c and 150c.c (the largest, most expensive, and most powerful scooter). Motorbikes have generally larger engines but are not reputed to be good in the rain. You can probably find a used 50c.c scooter for around 15,000 NT; a used 150 or 125c.c is generally from 19,000 to 30,000 NT. If you were planning an extended stay in Taiwan, it would be advisable to buy a new scooter. They can range from around 30,000 to 70,000 NT, but you will save a lot of money on maintenance. There is no shortage of scooter shops, but a great way to get one is to check on the notice board in the bars or at the Mandarin Training Center, and pick one up from another foreigner who is leaving the country. Helmets are mandatory; you will be stopped by the police and fined if you are without one.