27 Things We Wish We Had Known When We First Moved to Taipei

The first few months after you arrive in Taipei can be overwhelming — not only are you experiencing a new culture for the first time, but you have the added responsibilities of finding/starting new jobs, finding apartments, exploring the city, and making new connections. Fortunately, Taipei is actually a very easy city to live in once you have found your groove, but getting there can take a while, and you are bound to make mistakes. This is precisely what happened to us on many different occasions, which is why we have compiled this list of all the things we wish we’d known when we first arrived. We hope you’ll find it useful. Welcome to Taipei!

1. Don’t take a taxi from the airport 

This is a no-brainer, but for some reason we keep coming across websites that tell people to taxi directly from the airport. Don’t. It’s expensive and totally unnecessary, unless you are in a real hurry.

2. The airport bus is cheaper, but the MRT is faster and nicer

The airport bus costs $125 and takes around an hour from Taoyuan airport, and will drop you off at the bus depot that’s part of the Taipei Main Station complex. It’s very comfortable, if a little old-fashioned. Buses to and from the airport come regularly at 20 minute intervals, and operate 24/7. The Airport Express MRT costs $160 and has free WiFi and plug sockets. It will drop you off in the Airport Express section of Taipei Main Station in about 35 minutes. Word of warning — only ever get the express train, not the commuter train, if you’re trying to get to Taipei Main Station. The commuter train takes forever, so it is worth the time to wait for the express. Express trains usually come every 30 minutes, with the first one leaving the airport at 6:12am and the last one at 10:42pm.

3. Check, double check and triple check your documents before you arrive in Taipei

Before you leave your home country, make sure to find out exactly what documents you will need for work or school. In some cases you will need your documents to be notarized — find out exactly how and where to get this done, and complete the process before you move. Once you’re in Taipei, going through the ordeal of getting these documents sent to you can be absolute hell and can take a ridiculously long time.

4. Not all employers are created equal

While there are lots of reliable Taiwanese companies, there are also plenty of sketchy ones that will have no problem overworking and underpaying gullible foreigners. Plenty of expats have horror stories about their companies or schools, usually regarding stuff like poor organization, bad communication, extra or “hidden” responsibilities, shoddy pay, or shady handling of tax/legal issues. Before you move, it’s good to reach out to resident expats with questions about specific companies or schools (Facebook groups are great for this) and do some research on what to expect from teaching jobs in terms of salary, hours, and workload. This way you it will be easier to tell if are getting the short end of the stick. For non-teaching jobs, it’s harder to find information online. Try to connect with your co-workers beforehand, or ask around to see if anyone has heard anything. Forumosa’s blacklist of schools is a good read for prospective teachers, though it is slightly dated.

5. Pay for your own ARC

In many cases, you will be have to pay for your Alien Resident’s Card, which is not exactly cheap. Unless your school or employer specifically states that they will pay for it, they probably won’t. This will set you back a couple of thousand NTD depending on how long your ARC will last for, as it is $1000 per year, for a maximum of three years.

6. The ARC takes a long time

Another thing to note is that the ARC takes two weeks to process, and requires you to physically apply for it, which can easily kill a morning or an afternoon. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’ll quickly drop it off and then do something else afterwards! Once the ARC has processed, you can give them your address so they can send it to you, or  you can go collect it in person.

7. Register for E-Gate

As soon as you have your ARC, you can register for E-Gate, which lets you skip the immigration queue at the airport by scanning your ARC in an electronic security gate. Registration takes literally less than a minute, and will save you from wasting your time in the (often huge) immigration line whenever you return to Taiwan. The most convenient way to register is to physically pick up your ARC from the immigration office, where there is an E-Gate registration booth. Don’t forget to bring your passport for this!

8. Keep your hospital/clinic receipts

Taiwanese health insurance is great, but you can’t apply for an NHI (National Health Insurance) card until you have your ARC. This means that your initial hospital visits will be more expensive than usual, but don’t worry — if you keep your receipts, you can actually claim some of the money back if you get your NHI card within 6 months of your visit. Read more about how to get the refund here. This also applies to when you forget your NHI card at home.

9. Huge deposits for apartments

Speaking of money, don’t underestimate how expensive your down-payment on your apartment will be. Unless you get lucky, you will probably have to pay a deposit (usually between 1-2 months rent), one months rent, agent fee (usually half a month to a month’s rent) fee, and management fee (varies between apartments) in one go. This can be completely overwhelming if you are unprepared, so keep it in mind when apartment hunting.

10. Apartment hunting can be really stressful, but it will all come together in the end

Lots of people freak out when it’s time to find a new apartment. The language barrier can be challenging, the rent too high, and nothing you find seems right for you. Don’t worry, this is normal. It has happened to us each time, and we have watched countless friends go through the process too. Just remember: you will get an apartment. There is one — more than one — out there for you that will be suitable(ish). Check out our tips for finding an apartment without speaking Chinese here, but, if possible, try to recruit a Chinese-speaker to help you out, as this will significantly lessen the stress involved.

11. Save your money, don’t get WiFi unless you have to 

When we first arrived, we spent a lot of money on a WiFi plan because that’s what we had always done. We could probably have gotten a better deal if we had shopped around, but the real money saver didn’t happen until this year when we realized that our internet was almost as good when we used our phones (on unlimited data plans for only $599 a month) as a hot spot. This does not apply to gamers or anyone who needs heavy-duty internet, but we have been downloading and streaming stuff at basically the same speed as before. Food for thought!

12. Complex tax rules

Taiwan’s tax policy changes depending on when you arrived in the country. We won’t go into details here because there is a great, up-to-date guide on tax in Taiwan, but just know that it can be very confusing at first. Also, don’t forget to double-check with your employers if they will or won’t be paying tax on your behalf.

13. Just get an EasyCard

EasyCards can be used to pay for buses, MRTs, YouBikes, taxis, and a range of other products and services. They are so much easier than keeping the correct change on hand — due to a zoning system for Taipei buses, you can sometimes be caught unawares about having to pay twice — and are essential for signing up for YouBikes, so we recommend getting one as soon as you can. You can buy and top them up in all convenience stores — cards are $100.

14. Know how to behave on public transport

There is strictly no eating or drinking on the MRT or in MRT Stations past a certain point. This includes chewing gum and breath mints, and there is a heavy penalty if you are caught. You are also strongly encouraged to be quiet so as not to disturb your fellow commuters — people talking on the phone or loudly conversing with one another will earn a frosty look or two from locals. Don’t forget to pay attention to priority seating (dark blue) — lots of Taiwanese people avoid these altogether (even when no one is using them). When using the escalators, keep to the right: the left-hand side is for walking only. Do not block the way for others.

There are similar rules for buses when it comes to eating and drinking, but we have never seen these enforced, and have witnessed plenty of people doing both. Try not to be too loud on buses — especially at night — and don’t forget to give up your priority seat to those in need. You will earn all foreigners brownie points if you give up your non-priority seat.

15. Paying for buses 

Taipei buses can be intimidating at first, because it can seem unclear when to pay your $15 because of a complicated zone system. The trick is to look for the sign as you board the bus (there is one at the front entrance and one in the middle entrance) that tells you if you pay as you get on (look for the 上 symbol) or as you get off (look for the 下 symbol). Almost all buses have English and Chinese, so don’t panic just yet. Sometimes you pay both times — once when you get on and once you get off.  If you use an EasyCard and you accidentally pay when you didn’t need to, it will reject the payment. Here is a more detailed guide. You can use both doors to get on and off, and must press the buzzer in advance when you want the bus to stop.

16. Get rid of your loose change at an MRT station

It’s easy to end up with piles of loose change, and both nerve-wracking and annoying to try and pay with it before you really know how much everything is worth. Good news — you can dump all your change in the EasyCard top-up machine in MRT stations. #lifehack

17. YouBike

If you know how to ride a bike, YouBikes are here to make your Taipei experience infinitely easier. The bikes are of good quality, there are a tonne of stations to pick up/park them up, and they are very easy on the wallet. And the best part? Registering for them takes literally two minutes. All you need is an EasyCard and a Taiwanese telephone number — then you’re set to go! Read more about registering your card here.

18. You can do everything at 7-Eleven

Not only are 7-Eleven’s stocked full of great food and (mostly) stay open 24/7, even during typhoons, but you can actually do a ridiculous number of things there. If you need to withdraw cash, print/scan documents, book train, concert, and cinema tickets, pay your utility and phone bills, pay your parking tickets, top up your EasyCard/iCash cards, call a taxi, or mail letter/parcels… 7-Eleven is the place to be.

19. …And their coffee is awesome

Speaking of coffee, did you know that 7-Eleven uses the same coffee beans as Starbucks? Say goodbye to expensive lattes  and nasty cans of sugary gunk for good, and start popping down to your local 7-Eleven for a good, cheap cup of Joe. Some 7-Elevens even do coffee delivery!

20. The amazing receipt lottery

Don’t throw away your receipts! There is a receipt lottery system in Taiwan that means every two months, receipts from authorized shops (way more shops than you would expect, by the way) are automatically entered into a lottery system. You could and seriously might win some money, maybe even a lot! Read more about the receipt lottery here.

21. Elusive trash cans

Taiwan was a rather restrictive trash disposal system, which means that it’s quite difficult at times to find a trash can on the streets. If you really need a bin, the best places to search are MRT stations and 7-Elevens (where you are guaranteed to find one), and some bigger bus stops. Other than that… Good luck!

22. Bathrooms

Public restrooms can also be hard to find sometimes — your best bet is always an MRT station or a mall. Large parks, big tourist attractions, temples, and fast-food chains will probably have one too. Some convenience stores have them, but not all — check the sign at the entrance to see if there is a bathroom symbol on it to save yourself from searching inside.

23. Run for green lights

Traffic lights here can be ridiculously long. If you see that there is only ten seconds left on a cross walk, RUN! There will be at least a few more seconds (or longer, sometimes) before the cars start going, so don’t be afraid of getting run over. At larger intersections where there are a few lights, you can easily end up waiting for a couple of minutes until you can cross if you miss the opportunity.

24. Be prepared for rain

Having waterproof shoes for both summer and winter seasons can be a lifesaver here since it rains a lot. If you have bigger feet, you should consider buying these in your home country. Also… Keep an umbrella in your bag. You can thank us later.

25. Supermarkets are great, but wet markets are where the magic happens

Supermarkets are a good, convenient way to shop for all your necessities, but our lives really came together when we discovered wet markets. Not only are a lot of the fruit and vegetables cheaper (and fresher?), but the vendors themselves are really sweet, and you get a taste of Taiwanese daily life that you would otherwise miss out on. Our favourite wet market is the one at Shuanglian MRT Station.

26. Don’t assume IKEA is the best option

It can be hard to find information on where to set up your new apartment, so oftentimes it feels easier to go to IKEA. Don’t! IKEA isn’t that cheap, and there are other places where you might find better options. Nitori, Hola, Daiso, Miniso, and even supermarkets like Carrefour often stock what you’re looking for, and you might just save a few bucks or find a better item there. We recently scrimped on a couple of thousand by checking next door in Nitori before we bought IKEA mattresses. If you don’t mind buying second hand, join all the Taipei buy/sell Facebook groups and have a browse of what’s on offer, or just throw up a post detailing what you’re looking for. You’d be surprised at how much time and money you can save!

27. Facebook groups are your lifeline

On the topic of Facebook groups, know that these are going to be one of best ways of finding answers to questions about day-to-day living in Taipei. You may not find a website, blog, or person who can answer your question, but there is almost always some wise soul who either knows the answer, or can put you in touch with someone who does. These groups can also be a great way of making friends, getting a new job, finding out about upcoming events, or getting a little bit of emotional support when you’re feeling down.

Have a tip that you want to share? Leave a comment or shoot us an email.