As one of the most beautiful countries in East Asia, living as digital nomads in Taiwan is a great idea. While most digital nomads will choose to live in Taipei, many other places in Taiwan are great for nomads.
Taiwan has well-developed modern infrastructures and has a lot to offer for digital nomads. For a start, the country has fast internet speed. In fact, the Global League ranks Taiwan as having the fastest internet speed in the world!
With many ex-pats currently living in Taiwan, the locals are used to the presence of foreigners. Despite the language barrier, they are friendly and would go out of their way to help. In addition, the country has a decent healthcare system and highly reliable public transportation. Most cities are well-connected by train, allowing you to travel from one city to another with utmost convenience.
Another great thing about living as digital nomads in Taiwan is the many great attractions to visit during your work break. The country has majestic temples, gorgeous natural landscapes, beautiful beaches, lively cities, and a bustling street food scene.
Aside from Taipei, Taiwan has several other major cities suitable for digital nomads. If you’re planning to live as a digital nomad in Taiwan, here are some of the best places to consider.
1. Taipei
Taipei has long been generating a buzz in the digital nomad world as a great place to live for a digital nomad in Taiwan. It has excellent Internet speed, decent public transportation, great café culture, and a relatively low cost of living. All these are what most digital nomads would look for when looking for a home base.
As a foreigner, you won’t encounter many issues living in Taipei. The locals are friendly and approachable. They are always willing to help in the streets and would not mind striking a conversation. In addition, Taipei has a very open culture and a thriving community of LGBT people. In fact, Taiwan is the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.
When you’re not working, you’ll find plenty of fun things to do in Taipei. It has many great attractions and museums that you can explore between work. There are also parks where you can chill out and do some work. Take advantage of the free Internet, which you’ll find almost everywhere, from shopping malls to convenience stores, restaurants, and cafes. The best thing about Taipei is the food scene with its many night markets, you have to try the dumplings in Taiwan, the bubble teas and the stinky tofu.
There is no doubt that Taipei is one of the best digital nomad cities in Taiwan. But as expected, the cost of living is a bit high. Living in Taipei could cost you an average of $2,031 per month. Accommodations are also a bit expensive, with a studio costing an average of $668 per month.
Coworking spaces
As one of Asia’s most popular digital nomad cities, Taipei has a thriving digital nomad scene and a decent number of co-working spaces. Coworker lists over a hundred co-working spaces in Taipei, but the best ones are Buffett International Business Center, Regus, Spaces, and Workspot.
2. Kaohsiung
Located in the southwest corner of Taiwan, Kaohsiung is fast becoming a digital nomad city in Taiwan. Digital nomads love it for its laidback appeal and very relaxing atmosphere. It’s not as busy as Taipei, yet it can rival the capital city in the number of incredible attractions you can explore while on a break from work.
Another reason many digital nomads prefer Kaohsiung over other cities in Taiwan is its beautiful beaches. It also has plenty of national parks and stunning natural attractions you can explore on a hike, such as the Liangshan Waterfall. Then there’s the lovely Fo Guang Shan Monastery, a great place to unwind after work.
But perhaps, the main reason digital nomads are lured to Kaohsiung is the affordable cost of living. The average cost to live in the city for a month is only $742 per month. If you rent a studio in the city centre, expect to pay an average of $267 per month, which is absolutely cheap!
Coworking spaces
There are a few co-working spaces in Kaohsiung. Coworker listed two co-working spaces in the city, the Kaohsiung Hub and Connect Business Services. You can also work in cafes since Taiwan is known for having excellent Internet speed regardless of where you are.
3. Tainan
Tainan is a relatively small city, home to about 1.7 million people. While it’s not the most popular digital nomad city in Taiwan, it’s a great place to consider for a home base, especially if you prefer to live somewhere quieter. It’s not crowded compared to bigger cities like Taipei and Kaohsiung. In addition, you will not have to deal with traffic, and getting around is easy since the city is pretty compact.
But just because Tainan is small doesn’t mean that living in the city is boring. You will find plenty of great attractions to explore in the city, such as the Anping Fort, Chihkan Tower, Beiji Temple, and Confucius Temple.
The cost of living in Tainan is almost the same with Taipei. On average, you could spend around $1,959 per month if you will live here. However, accommodations here are cheaper. A one-bedroom studio could cost you an average of $373 per month.
Coworking spaces
According to Coworker, there are four co-working spaces in Tainan. These are the Spaceout, Planett, Big O, and Hour Jungle Coworking. There are also cafes conducive to working.
4. Kinmen
For digital nomads looking to venture off-the-beaten-path destinations in Taiwan, head to Kinmen Island. This beautiful island may not be one of the most popular digital nomad places in Taiwan, but it offers plenty of amazing things. It’s rich in war history and has plenty of unspoilt nature you can explore.
Despite being secluded, you can enjoy fast internet speed in Kinmen. You will also find many cafes that offer access to the internet, which is perfect if you’re looking for an alternative place to work.
The average cost of living for digital nomads in Kinmen Island is $2,071 per month, which is about the same as in Taipei. But here, you will feel more relaxed since the city is not too crowded. As for accommodations, the average cost of the monthly rental for a studio is $668 per month.
Coworking spaces
Kinmen Island is a bit remote, so there are not too many digital nomads here, and you won’t find any co-working spaces. Nevertheless, the island has plenty of excellent cafes and coffee shops for working.
5. Taichung
Taichung is one of the biggest cities in Taiwan and has recently been gaining popularity in the digital nomad community. Thanks to its massive development, Taichung is now one of the best digital nomad cities in Taiwan.
There are many things to love about Taichung. First, it has a vibrant nightlife scene. The city has plenty of upscale wine bars, fantastic pubs, and nightclubs, where you can chill out and hang out with friends after a day of working. Taichung also has a reputation for being very welcoming. Locals are very friendly towards foreigners, so it’s easy to make friends. And if you love nature and adventures, you’ll love Taichung even more. Its surrounding countryside is home to scenic trails where you can enjoy short hikes during the weekend.
But perhaps, the best part about living as a digital nomad in Taichung is that the cost of living is cheap, averaging $1,437 per month, which is lower compared to many other cities in Taiwan. And if you will stay at a studio in the city centre, the average cost to rent it per month is only $363.
Coworking spaces
With many digital nomads moving to Taichung from Taipei and other digital nomad cities in Taiwan, the digital nomad community here is thriving. As such, you’ll find plenty of co-working spaces where you can mingle with fellow nomads. Some of the best co-working spaces in Taichung are Monospace, WensCo, and Happen.
