Daily costs per person in TWD. Taipei is one of East Asia's best value capitals — incredible food at street-food prices and an efficient public transit system.
Daily cost breakdown
Currency: TWD (NT Dollar) (1 USD ≈ NT$32)
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Splurge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | NT$500–900 | NT$1,500–3,500 | NT$6,000+ | Hostel → hotel → boutique/luxury |
| Food | NT$300–500 | NT$600–1,200 | NT$2,500+ | Night markets & conbini → restaurants → fine dining |
| Transport | NT$100–200 | NT$300–500 | NT$1,000+ | MRT & YouBike → taxi/ride-share → private car |
| Activities | NT$100–350 | NT$500–1,500 | NT$3,000+ | Free temples & hikes → museums & gondola → private tours |
| Drinks | NT$80–150 | NT$200–500 | NT$1,000+ | Bubble tea & conbini → cafes → cocktail bars |
| Daily Total | NT$1,080–2,100 | NT$3,100–7,200 | NT$13,500+ | $34–66 → $97–225 → $422+ |
Money-saving tips
EasyCard essentials
Get an EasyCard (NT$100 deposit + top-up) at any MRT station or convenience store. Works on MRT, buses, YouBike, convenience stores, and even some restaurants. 20% MRT discount.
Night market dining
A full dinner at any night market costs NT$150–300. Lu rou fan (NT$30–50), oyster vermicelli (NT$50), and bubble tea (NT$40–60) — you can eat extremely well for almost nothing.
YouBike cycling
YouBike (NT$5 per 30 min) is Taipei's public bike share. Register with an EasyCard and a local phone number. Stations everywhere — perfect for crossing the flat city center.
Free attractions
Longshan Temple, CKS Memorial, Dadaocheng, Songshan Creative Park, Huashan 1914, Elephant Mountain hike, and all night markets are completely free.
Convenience store life
7-Eleven and FamilyMart have NT$49–79 lunch boxes, tea eggs (NT$13), and hot meals. They're literally everywhere — 10,000+ stores in Taiwan. Seating and microwaves available.
Taipei Fun Pass
The Taipei Fun Pass (NT$1,200 for 3 days) includes unlimited MRT/bus rides and entry to National Palace Museum, Taipei 101, and more. Worth it for 3+ day visits.
