Moving to Taiwan from Japan
What to Expect
Considering a move from Japan to Taiwan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Japan to Taiwan, you would find that Taiwan is 9.5% cheaper than Japan overall. A ¥12,000,000 salary in Japan would need to be roughly NT$2,230,000 in Taiwan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Taiwan cheaper than Japan?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 21.7% less
Groceries
pay 13.3% more
Transportation
pay 13.5% less
Housing
pay 23.2% less
Childcare
pay 41.3% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 18.5% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
What salary do you need in Taiwan?
What does your salary buy?
¥12,000,000 → NT$2,230,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Taiwan
Calculate with your salary →Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Taiwan cost about 17% more than cities in Japan.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Taiwan compared to Japan.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Taiwan performs significantly better than Japan across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Taiwan generally does better on employment & economy, though Japan leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
Japan performs better than Taiwan across all family life metrics.
Sources: The World Factbook (2012–2022), World Bank (2024–2025), National Tax Agency Japan (2016), Taxation Administration, Ministry of Finance, R.O.C. (2016). How we calculate this
Can you move from Japan to Taiwan?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan and Taiwan. To live, work, or study long-term in Taiwan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Taiwan's immigration authority.
Japan passport holder visiting Taiwan
Visa Free
Taiwan passport holder visiting Japan
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Taiwan than Japan?
On average Taiwan is about 10% less expensive than Japan, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Taiwan?
Budget about NT$557,500 for 3 months in Taiwan (based on a ¥12,000,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Taiwan?
From major Taiwan cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Japan and Taiwan are what actually decide it long-term.
What language do they speak in Taiwan?
The official language in Taiwan is Chinese. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
