Moving to Taiwan from New York

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from New York to Taiwan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from New York to Taiwan, you would find that Taiwan is 39.2% cheaper than New York. A $75,000 salary in New York would need to be roughly NT$1,578,494 in Taiwan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from New York to Taiwan.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 NT$1,578,494

To maintain the same standard of living in Taiwan

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 64.2% less

Groceries

pay 6.0% less

Transportation

pay 24.7% less

Housing

pay 71.6% less

Childcare

pay 52.1% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 50.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate:1 USD = 31.86 TWD(June 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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 39% less than cities in New York.

Compare cities head-to-head

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from New York to Taiwan.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet accessUS Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

NY
89.7%
TW
90.0%

Taiwan performs significantly better than New York across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rateBureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

NY
4.4%
TW
3.7%
GDP per capitaBureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

NY
$91,992
TW
$47,800

Taiwan generally does better on employment & economy, though New York leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancyOECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

NY
77.7 yrs
TW
81.2 yrs

Taiwan performs significantly better than New York across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Taiwan

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Taiwan without a visa.
Taiwan passport

Taiwan passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Taiwan passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

Data: 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 New York?

Yes — Taiwan is on average about 34% cheaper than New York. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Taiwan?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly NT$394,624 in Taiwan on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Taiwan?

Usually fine from major cities in Taiwan. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

What language do they speak in Taiwan?

The official language in Taiwan is Chinese. In New York, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

TW
Population19,378,10223,580,712
CurrencyUnited States Dollar ($)New Taiwan Dollar (NT$)
LanguagesEnglishChinese
Driving sideRightRight
Calling code+1+886
Time zones111
Emergency number911110