My Taiwan Moving Costs To Teach English: Budget Breakdown
It’s time I break down my Taiwan moving costs to teach English because if you’re thinking about it, this will be helpful!
Hint: I didn’t bring enough.
This guide follows along the exact cost to move to Taiwan that I paid over my first three months.
I arrived without a job, as it’s best to find a job after arriving if you want to work in a bushiban. And in case you’re wondering, a bushiban is an after-school English center.
So if you’re planning to find an English teaching job, especially at a bushiban, expect it may be two to three months before you get your first paycheck.
What’s the ideal amount of money to come to Taiwan with? Your safest bet when moving to Taiwan is to bring at least $3,000-$4,000 and adjust it based on your lifestyle needs.
For example, if you require a studio apartment for the short term, you might pay about $800 – $1,000/month in Taipei.
How much did I move to Taiwan with? I came to Taiwan with around $2,000, and it wasn’t enough because I didn’t get my first paycheck until my third month here.
During my time, my family sent about $500 to help, and I put expenses on a credit card, which were all paid off after I started working.
Note: I moved to Taiwan in 2020, so the cost to move to Taiwan today would be a bit different. I will add any updates to reflect today’s potential cost and check official fees.
Disclosure: Some links to products and recommendations are affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase (at no extra cost to you).
Essential Taiwan moving costs to teach English
Before diving in, note that the total expenses are for 3 months and are written in USD.
Finding Housing in Taiwan
Explore my favorite hostels & budget hotels to stay in Taiwan (perfect for landing).
When I came to Taiwan, I stayed in a hostel for the first week before finding a short-term rental. While you might need to put down a 2-month deposit for a rental, it will be cheaper than a hostel or other short-term accommodation in the long run.
Plus, an apartment is more comfortable than a hostel!
- One-week hostel expenses: $150
- Sharehouse Apartment (2 months deposit + 3 months rent): $1,100
- Rent was about $220/month for a bunk bed in a shared house in Songshan with 12 people. In 2026, these prices are probably similar.
Total: $1,250
I paid for an unusually cheap apartment where I shared the space with 12 people, and a bunk room with 4 girls.
If you want your own room, you might spend $300-$750 per month, depending on the size and location. And it’s possible to find people subletting in Facebook groups where a deposit might not be required, keeping money in your pocket.
Realistic 3-month housing total in Taipei on a Budget (for a private room in 2026): $1,200-$2,100 + potential deposit
Food Expenses in Taiwan:
This budget should be quite easy to stick with once you know the food scene. On average, I spent $10 (300 NT) a day on food.
Food Total for 3 months: $900
2026 update: I’ve visited Taiwan in 2025 and 2026, and it is still doable to eat on a $10/day (~300 ntd) budget. With that said, it’s more comfortable to budget closer to $15/day (~450 ntd) to give more variety.
Health Insurance:
I use SafetyWing Insurance for my travel insurance because it’s excellent for digital nomads and backpackers without a return ticket.
In 2019, I paid about $40/month for SafetyWing ($120/3 months), but today in 2026 SafetyWing costs about $60/month.
Health Insurance Total: $120
Transportation:
This expense depends on how often you travel in the city or to other cities, but I spent about $40 a month on travel in Taipei. You’ll also have to pay to get into the city from the airport, which is around $5 (remains the same in 2026).
3-month Transportation Total: $125
2026 update: Taiwan now has the TPASS, which offers unlimited travel across different regions for a monthly fee. You can get the TPass for Northern Taipei for 1,200 ntd or about $40.
If you’re planning to travel to different cities or go back and forth from Taipei, I suggest budgeting an extra $100 to the total cost to move to Taiwan.
Communication/Phone:
Chungwha Telecom is my phone provider, and I paid $33 a month for unlimited data in my first three months. Until you are on a contract, this is what you can expect.
You can easily buy a 3-month SIM card at the airport, which I suggest over an eSIM, since you’ll definitely need a phone number to get set up in Taiwan.
Cell Phone Total: $99
Health check Cost for Moving to Taiwan To Teach English
The most necessary cost to move to Taiwan to teach is getting a health check. Your employer needs it to apply for your work permit. The cost may vary by hospital, but here’s what I spent.
This list on tealit.com is useful for finding a nearby health check hospital in Taipei, Taiwan.
Health Check total: $47
2026 update: Costs at health centers in Taiwan are still relatively affordable. For example, this cost sheet for a Kaohsiung hospital lists the health check cost at 1,100 ntd, or just under $40.
Total Essential Taiwan Moving Costs To Teach English: $2,541
The above expenses are what you can definitely expect in your first three months moving to Taiwan. I would suggest an additional $1,000-$2,000 if you want to live in more expensive housing or travel more.
Full breakdown for 3 months of essential costs to move to Taiwan::
- Accommodation (3 months + 2 months deposit): $1,250
- Food: $900
- Health insurance (SafetyWing): $120
- Phone: $99
- Healthcheck: $47
- Transportation: $125
Total essentials cost: $2,541
If you happen to get paid in your second month, then you might be safe with around $2,000 in Taiwan moving costs to teach English, but I would only suggest this IF you have a job secured before you come. As I was seeking work at a bushiban, I only started job searching after I landed.
Other expenses for moving to Taiwan To Teach English
Fun:
I enjoyed myself when I first moved to Taiwan and in the few weeks before I moved to Kinmen Island (a place with no clubs, eccentric shopping districts, or much to do in general).
I can’t be certain of how much I spent, but I would estimate $200 went towards alcohol, taxis, games, and expensive meals over three months.
Total Funsies: $200
Home Expenses for Moving to Taiwan:
While your apartment in Taiwan will probably have a bed and furniture, you might need additional items such as bedding, a heater, a lamp, and organizers. It depends on what’s already there, but I did buy quite a few things.
I would not go overboard until you secure your work permit in Taiwan in case you must return home for any reason.
Total Home: $150
Clothes:
If you’ve brought enough clothes with you, you’re gold! But I failed to realize how cold it would be when I got here.
I needed a few new hoodies, a hat, gloves, and a puffy coat. I also purchased some new clothes before coming to Kinmen because there’s nowhere decent to buy teaching clothes.
Total on Clothes: $150
Visa Run:
U.S. Citizens, if you don’t expect to get your ARC within your first 90 days in Taiwan, you’ll need to add a visa run to your Taiwan moving costs to teach English.
I took the cheapest flight out of the country I could to Thailand and stayed for two days.
Visa-Exempt Run Total: $200
Work & ARC Costs Moving to Taiwan:
Lastly, I’ll mention some expenses you may need to cover before your first paycheck.
Luckily for me, my employer took these expenses out of my paycheck so I did not have to pay them upfront.
In the case you must pay before you get a paycheck, here’s the last expense to possibly expect. These are rough estimates for U.S. citizens, so do your own research for exact numbers.
Work Permit: 500 ntd (~$17)
Resident Visa for U.S. citizens (use to apply for ARC): $185
ARC (for one year): 1,000 ntd (~$33)
Total: ~$240
Start Planning Your Budget to Move to Taiwan To Teach
If you’ve been wondering how much it costs to move to Taiwan to teach English, this is the most transparent breakdown I could give you. And it’s definitely for those on a budget.
These expenses represent three months of living without a paycheck and include some fun and a (necessary) trip abroad.
It’s a tough decision to move your life abroad and even tougher when you don’t know how much money to bring or when you’ll get your first paycheck in your hands. That’s why I made this list!
To anyone planning on moving to Taiwan, I hope I’ve been able to help with your journey abroad!
