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Renting in Taipei, explained.
Practical guides for foreigners navigating apartments, contracts, and life in Taiwan.
When Is the Best Time of Year to Look for an Apartment in Taipei?
Best time to rent apartment Taipei: late October to November or March to May. What to avoid, why CNY and Ghost Month matter, and how early to start planning.
October 21, 2026
Is Taipei Safe for Foreigners? The Real Risks, Ranked
Is Taipei safe for foreigners? Yes. Violent crime is rare. The real risks, ranked: traffic, scams, earthquakes and typhoons, then petty theft, plus what to do.
October 19, 2026
Renting in Linkou: How Elias, a Mandarin Student From Switzerland, Found His Apartment in Three Days
Renting in Linkou as a foreigner: how a Mandarin student from Switzerland with no ARC found a modern Linkou apartment in three days, and what we learned.
October 16, 2026
Renting in Neihu: A Practical Guide for Tech and Office Workers
Looking for a Neihu District apartment near the tech park? Brown Line realities, the best sub-areas, 2026 rent data, Nangang and Dazhi options, and our pick.
October 16, 2026
Moving to Taipei in Winter: How the Rental Market Shifts From November to Lunar New Year
Moving to Taipei in winter? How the rental market shifts from November to Lunar New Year 2027, what closes over the holiday, and when to land and sign.
October 15, 2026
Co-Living in Taipei vs Renting Your Own Apartment: Real Prices, Contracts, ARC Address and Who Each Fits
Co-living Taipei guide: real 2026 prices next to studios and shared rooms, lease and ARC address checks, fees to ask about, and who should pick which option.
October 15, 2026
From Visa to ARC: The Path for Newcomers Moving to Taiwan
How to get ARC Taiwan status in 2026: enter on the right visa, apply within 30 days, and bring the documents, fee and address proof that trip most people up.
October 14, 2026
Cost of Living in Taipei (2026): Three Real Monthly Budgets, Line by Line
Cost of living Taipei in 2026: line-by-line monthly budgets for a student, a single professional and a couple, with sourced rent, utilities, food and NHI.
October 12, 2026
Best Area to Live in Taipei for Foreigners: Our Picks, Compared Side by Side
The best area to live in Taipei for foreigners depends on who you are. Our 2026 picks for singles, students, families and tech workers, with rents compared.
October 9, 2026
Renting in Taipei From Abroad: What You Can Do Before You Land, and What Should Wait
Renting in Taipei from abroad: video viewings, signing before you arrive, paying a deposit from overseas, scam risks, and the plan we recommend instead.
October 7, 2026
How to Rent an Apartment in Taipei as a Foreigner (Step by Step, 2026)
How to rent an apartment in Taipei as a foreigner, step by step: budget, area, where to search, viewings, the contract, deposit, move-in and your ARC address.
October 7, 2026
Alternatives to 591: English Rental Websites and Facebook Groups in Taipei, Compared
English rental websites in Taiwan are thin. We compared 591, Facebook groups, Craigslist, Tealit and agency sites for Taipei, and tell you which to use.
October 7, 2026
Renting in Zhongshan District: A Central, Practical Choice for Expats
Renting in Zhongshan District Taipei in 2026: the four main pockets, MRT lines, rent ranges, nightlife and old-building traps, and which pocket we'd pick.
October 5, 2026
Where to Stay Your First Two Weeks in Taipei Before You Find an Apartment
Hostel, hotel, Airbnb or serviced apartment? How to pick a short-term base in Taipei so you can look for a long-term apartment in person.
October 4, 2026
What to Pack for Taipei (and What to Buy When You Get There)
Humid summers, cool damp winters, 110V plugs. What to bring to Taiwan, what to leave behind and what is easy and cheap to buy in Taipei.
October 4, 2026
Beyond the Rent: The Monthly Costs That Don't Show Up in the Listing
The rent in the listing is rarely the whole monthly cost. Management fees, electricity rates, internet and more: what to ask before you sign in Taipei.
October 4, 2026
Rooftop Additions (頂加) and Subdivided Units: What Foreigners Should Know
Many Taipei rentals are rooftop additions or subdivided suites. What that means, the real risks around heat, leaks and safety, and what to ask.
October 4, 2026
Renting in Da'an District: Is the Premium Worth It?
Da'an is one of Taipei's most sought-after districts for foreigners. What each pocket is like, what you pay for, and who it actually suits.
October 4, 2026
Living in Hsinchu as a Foreigner vs Commuting From Taipei: A Guide for Tech Workers
Living in Hsinchu as a foreigner or commuting from Taipei by HSR? Real 2026 fares, commuter pass math, Zhubei and East District rents, and our pick for you.
October 4, 2026
When a Landlord Won't Rent to Foreigners in Taiwan: Why It Happens and What Actually Works
Landlord won't rent to foreigners in Taiwan? Why it happens, what the law says, how to handle 保證人 guarantor requests, plus a Chinese LINE message that works.
October 4, 2026
Gas Water Heaters in Taipei Apartments: How to Spot Carbon Monoxide Risk at a Viewing
Gas water heater Taiwan apartment guide: heater types, enclosed balconies, CO poisoning signs, bottled vs natural gas, and what to walk away from at a viewing.
October 4, 2026
Mail Forwarding When Moving to Taiwan: Your Home Address, Phone Number and Bank
Mail forwarding when moving to Taiwan: the virtual mailbox to pick, keeping your home number for bank codes, and writing your Taipei address in English.
October 3, 2026
Moving to Taiwan with China Tensions: A Calm, Practical Guide
Moving to Taiwan with China tensions on your mind? Current travel advisories, what PLA drills mean for daily life in Taipei, and the simple prep residents do.
October 3, 2026
Taipei vs Tokyo vs Bangkok vs Seoul: Which Asian City Should Expats Pick?
Taipei vs Tokyo for expats, plus Bangkok and Seoul: 2026 rent, safety, visas, salaries, air and nightlife compared, with an honest pick for each type of mover.
October 3, 2026
Can You Retire in Taiwan as a Foreigner? Visas, Costs, Healthcare and Pensions (2026)
Want to retire in Taiwan? There is no retirement visa, so here are the routes that actually work, real 2026 costs, NHI for retirees, pensions and our verdict.
October 3, 2026
Taiwan Spouse Visa: How the Joining Family Route (JFRV) Actually Works
Taiwan spouse visa guide for 2026: register the marriage first, get the JFRV, then your ARC. Documents, timeline, work rights, NHI and the road to an APRC.
October 3, 2026
Moving to Taipei With Kids: International Schools, Local Schools and Where to Live
International schools in Taipei compared with real 2026/27 fees (TAS, TES, Dominican, Morrison), plus local public schools, bilingual options and family areas.
October 3, 2026
Shipping Belongings to Taiwan in 2026: Suitcases, Boxes or Sea Freight?
Shipping belongings to Taiwan in 2026: extra bags, postal boxes, couriers and sea freight compared, plus the customs form you must not forget on arrival.
October 3, 2026
How to Bring ADHD Medication to Taiwan (and Other Controlled Drugs)
Planning to bring ADHD medication to Taiwan? Which stimulants are legal, why Adderall and Vyvanse are not, the 6-month rule, and how to refill once you land.
October 3, 2026
Taiwan Rental Fine Print: Sub-Landlords, 'Rent Excludes Tax', Electricity Rates and Your ARC Address
Taiwan rental fine print explained: how to spot a 二房東 sub-landlord, what 不含稅 really means, the legal cap on electricity per kWh, and ARC address refusals.
October 3, 2026
Health Insurance Before NHI Taiwan Coverage Starts: What to Buy for Your First 6 Months
Health insurance before NHI Taiwan coverage starts: who waits 6 months, real self-pay clinic and ER prices, and the cheap plans we'd actually buy for the gap.
October 3, 2026
Working Remotely From Taiwan: Digital Nomad Visa, Gold Card and Tax Rules (2026)
Taiwan digital nomad visa tax rules for 2026: which visa fits remote workers, the 90 and 183 day thresholds, why foreign-paid salary is taxed, how to file.
October 3, 2026
Jobs in Taiwan for Foreigners Without Mandarin: What's Realistic in 2026
Jobs in Taiwan for foreigners who don't speak Mandarin: tech, semiconductors, teaching, sales and remote work, plus 2026 work permit rules and real salaries.
October 3, 2026
How to Bring Money to Taiwan in 2026: Cash, Cards and Your Rental Deposit
How to bring money to Taiwan in 2026: where cards and Apple Pay now work, where cash still rules, which ATMs to use, and how to pay a NT$60,000 rental deposit.
October 3, 2026
Where to Study Mandarin in Taiwan: NTNU MTC vs NTU CLD vs ICLP
Want to study Mandarin in Taiwan? NTNU MTC vs NTU CLD vs ICLP: 2026 tuition, hours, deadlines, the FR visa to ARC path, HES scholarship and our picks.
October 2, 2026
Why Move to Taiwan? The Honest Case for Living and Working Here
Why move to Taiwan? Safety, cheap world-class healthcare, low rent and a free democracy, backed by 2026 data, plus the real downsides and who should wait.
October 2, 2026
Taiwanese Culture and Etiquette: What Actually Matters Before You Arrive
Taiwanese culture etiquette that actually matters: MRT rules and fines, gift taboos, Ghost Month and moving, tipping, politics, and what guidebooks overhype.
October 2, 2026
Things to Know Before Moving to Taiwan: A Pre-Departure Checklist
What to sort out before moving to Taiwan: a 3-month, 1-month and 1-week checklist for documents, medicine rules, the arrival card, phones and health cover.
October 2, 2026
The Taiwan Employment Gold Card and Other Ways to Get Residency
Taiwan Employment Gold Card vs work permit, entrepreneur, investor and job-seeking visas: fees, rules and 2026 changes compared, plus which route fits you.
October 2, 2026
English Teacher Salary in Taiwan (2026): What Each Job Really Pays After Tax and Rent
English teacher salary in Taiwan for 2026: buxiban hourly rates, public school pay, international schools and tutoring, plus tax, insurance and rent.
October 2, 2026
How to Teach English in Taiwan: The Routes That Actually Work in 2026
How to teach English in Taiwan: buxiban, public schools (TFETP), universities or tutoring, with the real requirements, paperwork and our pick for year one.
October 2, 2026
How to Check a Taipei Apartment for Mold, Leaks and Typhoon Risk Before You Rent
How to check apartment for leaks and mold in Taipei at a viewing: where 壁癌 hides, top-floor and flood risks, what to ask the landlord, and when to walk away.
October 2, 2026
Walk-Up or Elevator Building? What Building Type Means for Your Taipei Rental
Older walk-up apartments are cheaper but come with trade-offs. Here's how building type, age and floor affect rent, comfort and daily life in Taipei.
October 1, 2026
Do You Need an Agent to Rent in Taipei? Who Actually Works for You
Do you need a Taipei rental agent? How 房仲 commission works (legal cap 1.5 months' rent), whose side each helper is on, and what to ask before you pay anyone.
September 29, 2026
How to Read a Taiwanese Rental Listing: 坪, 押二付一 and Other Terms
Ping, 押二付一, 頂加, 可開伙: a plain-English glossary of the terms you'll meet in Taiwanese rental listings, and what each one means for you.
September 29, 2026
Suite, Shared Room, or Whole Floor? Taipei Rental Types Decoded
Taipei listings use terms like 套房, 雅房 and 整層住家. Here's what each one actually means, what you get, and what to ask before you book a viewing.
September 24, 2026
Renting in Taipei's East District (東區): Life Around Zhongxiao Dunhua
Taipei's East District is a shopping, cafe and nightlife hub with excellent MRT access. What it's like to rent there, and what to check before you choose a lane.
September 22, 2026
Furnished vs Unfurnished: What 'Furnished' Actually Means in a Taipei Rental
A furnished apartment in Taipei usually means bed, wardrobe, AC, fridge and washer, rarely kitchenware. How to pin it down in writing and when unfurnished pays.
September 17, 2026
How to Negotiate Rent With a Taiwanese Landlord
Yes, you can negotiate rent in Taiwan. How to check fair rent, what to offer, which terms move more easily than price, and the Chinese phrases to use in Taipei.
September 17, 2026
Renting Near NTU vs Other Taipei Campuses: What Actually Changes
A general look at how price, room size, and social scene differ across Taipei's student-heavy rental pockets, without guessing at exact numbers.
September 17, 2026
Renting With a Pet in Taipei: What to Know Before You Search
Pet policies in Taipei vary a lot by landlord and building. Here's what to expect on deposits and rules, and how to search smart for a pet-friendly unit.
September 17, 2026
Subletting and Short-Term Renting in Taipei: What's Actually Allowed
A general look at subletting and short-term or Airbnb-style renting in Taipei: what most standard leases assume, and why it's worth confirming directly.
September 17, 2026
What Happens When Your Lease Ends: Renewal, Moving Out, and Getting Your Deposit Back
Taiwan lease renewal explained: what happens if you just stay on, how much notice to give, the joint walk-through, getting your deposit back and free mediation.
September 17, 2026
What to Bring to Your First Apartment Viewing in Taipei
Our apartment viewing checklist for Taipei: the documents to bring, the questions to ask, and 20 things to physically check in a flat before you agree to rent.
September 17, 2026
What a Normal Taipei Rental Contract Actually Looks Like
A normal Taiwan rental contract, clause by clause: deposit cap, lease length, repairs, electricity, ending early and moving out, plus the clauses that are void.
September 17, 2026
Taipei Rent Prices 2026 by Area: What a Studio and a One-Bedroom Really Cost
Taipei rent prices 2026: a studio is about NT$14,000 to 22,000 in Zhongshan and NT$9,000 to 15,000 in Banqiao. Ranges by area, official medians, and our picks.
September 17, 2026
Roommates or a Whole Apartment? Deciding What Actually Fits You
Taipei roommates vs living alone: what a shared room really saves, the legal setup that protects you, how to split bills, and our pick for students and workers.
September 17, 2026
Common Rental Scams Targeting Foreigners in Taipei (and How to Spot Them)
The rental scam patterns that specifically target foreigners in Taipei, remote deposit requests and fake agent fees included, and how to spot them early.
September 17, 2026
The ARC Chicken-and-Egg Problem: Renting Without an ARC Yet
The ARC Taiwan rental loop explained: landlords want an ARC, the ARC needs an address. What to show landlords instead, and a 30-day plan that breaks the loop.
September 17, 2026
591 in English: How to Use Taiwan's Biggest Rental Site When You Don't Read Chinese
591 rent Taiwan English guide: there is no English version, so here is how to translate 591.com.tw, set the filters, read listings and message landlords.
September 17, 2026
5 Questions to Ask a Taiwanese Landlord Before You Sign
The 5 questions for a landlord in Taiwan that prevent most rental problems: ARC address, electricity, leaving early, repairs and deposit, with Chinese wording.
September 17, 2026