In planning mode - how much budget should I keep in mind for Taiwan - any experiences?
Lived in Taichung for 6 weeks this spring, remote working. My budget hit US$80/day, which covered a small apartment (~US$700/month), daily coffees, scooter rentals, and regular train travel. I did weekend trips and weekend markets, so my total was about US$1,700. For a month-long stay mixing work and travel, I’d plan US$2,400-2,600 for safety and comfort.
Backpacking around Taiwan for a month cost me around US$45/day. I bunked in youth hostels, grabbed bento boxes, and used the High-Speed Rail sparingly. Even added a couple of day tours to Alishan and Taroko Gorge. Total spend ran about US$1,350, which felt just enough to enjoy food stalls and scenic spots without going broke.
Visited Taipei, Taichung, and Sun Moon Lake for four weeks and landed around US$90 removed link I stayed in private rooms (~US$35-45), used a co-working cafe pass, and enjoyed meals at small local restaurants. Add occasional express train rides and tips, and it averaged out. All in all, about US$2,700 for the month - comfortable, not luxurious, but with flexibility for splurges.
Spent six weeks traveling through Taipei, Hualien, and Kenting this spring for about US$60-70/day. Stayed in dorms (NT$400-800/night), ate at night markets (~NT$150-200 per meal), and took local buses or trains with an EasyCard. Add in temple visits and a few day tours, and that budget covers it. I came in around US$1,300 for the month, and had room for extras.