See the True Taiwan: an insiders guide

There are a lot of threads in discussion forums which ask how much money is the bare minimum to get by in Taiwan. Since many countries now get up to 3 months of visa-free entry, there are a lot of backpackers looking to set up shop but not set their roots too deep, and students who are here for a short exchange. If you're in the 1 to 9 month category, this guide will prove to be best suited to you. The simple answer is if you plan to be in Taipei you will need 15,000 NTD or around 500 USD per month. If you live on the east coast or a smaller city you can get the number down to about 12 to 13,000 NT a month. Food and entertainment prices are generally the same, but your rent will be lower and quality of life a bit higher. Here's how it works out: Unless you're joining family, have a significant other, or some secret way to live for free, you'll need to pay rent somewhere. If you're staying in Taipei or New Taipei City for less than one year it will be hard to f...

It's only natural that if you live in Taiwan long enough you're going to get sick. Whenever the weather changes from summer to winter and back again there is a rash of viruses cruising around infecting and reinfecting everyone you know. The best advice is get some pain reliever and a few good nights of good rest. But which medicine, and from where? The best choice in Taiwan tends to be the bottom shelf stuff which comes in old school glass bottles and is sold for dirt cheap prices. Take a peek at the ingredients list and compare it to the top shelf stuff which sells for nearly triple the dosage price. You'll quickly notice (with the help of the internet I'm sure) that they are the same. Most folks will tell you "only old people use that", which, while true, is something you should completely ignore. Cosmed, Watsons, select convenience stores and nearly every pharmacy in Taiwan carry the following two brands. They are the medicine you should take when you...