Moving to Taiwan from United Kingdom

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from United Kingdom to Taiwan, you would find that Taiwan is 49.4% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. A £56,000 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly NT$1,230,000 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 United Kingdom?

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

Restaurants

pay 69.1% less

Groceries

pay 25.9% more

Transportation

pay 47.4% less

Housing

pay 68.9% less

Childcare

pay 49.3% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 49.3% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 GBP = 43.25 TWD (October 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.

What salary do you need in Taiwan?

What does your salary buy?

£56,000 → NT$1,230,000

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 36% less than cities in United Kingdom.

United Kingdom

Surrey 79%
Harrow 74%
Ealing 72%
Wigan 68%

Taiwan

HsinChu 43%
Tainan 41%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United Kingdom to Taiwan.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access World Bank, 2024

share of households with internet

GB
95.5%
TW
90.0%

United Kingdom performs better than Taiwan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

GB
4.8%
TW
3.7%
Top income tax rate HM Revenue & Customs, 2016

the highest marginal rate on personal income

GB
45%
TW
45%

Taiwan generally does better on employment & economy, though United Kingdom leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

GB
81.4 yrs
TW
81.2 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GB
4.1
TW
4.0

United Kingdom generally does better on family life, though Taiwan leads in infant mortality.

Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), The World Factbook (2012–2022), HM Revenue & Customs (2016), Taxation Administration, Ministry of Finance, R.O.C. (2016). How we calculate this

Can you move from United Kingdom to Taiwan?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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 Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Taiwan

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

Taiwan passport holder visiting United Kingdom

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

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 United Kingdom?

Yes — Taiwan is on average about 49% cheaper than United Kingdom. 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$307,500 in Taiwan on a £56,000 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 United Kingdom, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

GB TW
Population 69,487,000 23,412,899
Currency British Pound Sterling (£) New Taiwan Dollar (NT$)
Languages English Chinese
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +44 +886
Time zones 9 1
Emergency number 999 110