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...

Taipei and Taiwan offer some amazingly delicious, unique, and engaging food s . There are tons of foods new to a first time visitor from the west, and flavors get combined in new and innovative ways on otherwise classic foods. Being open minded and trying whatever looks interesting is a great way to have some new and memorable food experiences. Health standards in Taiwan are actually quite high so you shouldn't write off street food just because it's being sold from a cart . If you 're very picky or have doubts, choose busy places with high food turn over. Introduction and Overview As a general rule food is served hot unless there is some indication in its name that it will be cold. This includes the scorching hot summer months. For a reason the authors can't figure out is that food is always served scalding hot, and you should always assume food is molten hot when it arrives at your table . Soups can be especially punishing on the tongue or palate, as well as to...