Renting in Da'an District: Is the Premium Worth It?
By Raytio Ray
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.
Why Da'an comes up in every conversation
Ask a foreigner in Taipei where they'd like to live and Da'an (大安區) is usually near the top of the list. It has some of the city's best-known parks, a large number of cafes and restaurants, good MRT coverage, and a reputation as a comfortable, walkable, relatively quiet place to live. National Taiwan University also sits in this district, which is one reason English is more widely understood here than in most areas.
The catch is price. Da'an tends to be one of the more expensive districts, and it's worth understanding what you're paying for before you decide it's the right fit.
The main pockets
Da'an is not one neighborhood. Roughly speaking:
Around Daan Park and Technology Building. Quiet, leafy, and close to the park. Buildings are a mix of older walk-ups and newer mid-rises. It's popular with people who want green space and a calmer atmosphere while staying near the Brown and Red lines.
Zhongxiao Fuxing and Zhongxiao Dunhua. The busy commercial spine of the district, with department stores, offices and dense nightlife. We cover this side in our guide to the East District. It's lively and convenient, and it's also noisier and pricier.
Full disclosure: we have a stake in this corner of Da'an. Our team runs AI DARTS, a 24-hour darts bar on a lane off Ren'ai Road Section 4 between Zhongxiao Dunhua and Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall stations, with our hot dog kitchen Hotdogray inside. It's a good example of how quiet the side lanes can be just a few minutes from the main roads.
The Yongkang Street and Dongmen area. Known for cafes and food. Charming and very walkable, but streets can be crowded on weekends, and many buildings are older.
Liuzhangli and the south end. More residential and less polished. Rents are typically gentler than in the central pockets, and it can work well if you're happy to trade a few minutes of walking or a short bus ride for better value.
Around NTU and Roosevelt Road. Student-heavy and full of small, affordable rooms. If you're comparing this side of Da'an with other campuses, see our article on renting near NTU.
What you pay for
- Location and convenience. Multiple MRT lines, walkable errands and a very developed food scene.
- Building quality varies a lot. Da'an has some very good buildings, and it also has plenty of older units where the rent reflects the address more than the condition. Don't assume that a Da'an address means a modern apartment.
- Fewer language barriers. Landlords, shops and clinics here are more used to working with foreigners, which matters more than people expect during the first few weeks.
For actual price ranges, our guide to Taipei rental costs by area is the better reference. Rents move, and it's better to check a current range than to trust a single number.
Things to watch
- Old buildings behind nice streets. A beautiful lane can still lead to an older walk-up with humidity problems. Our guides on building types and on humidity and mold explain what to look for.
- Noise near main roads and nightlife. Visit in the evening, not just at midday.
- "Da'an" in a listing. Some listings use the district name loosely for places that are a fair walk from the station. Check the real walking route.
- Competition for good units. Popular pockets can move quickly, especially before the start of the school year.
Who it suits
Da'an is a good match if you value walkability, green space and an easier daily life, and you have a budget that leaves some room. If your budget is tighter, it's worth looking at neighboring districts and comparing them honestly, rather than stretching for the address alone.
What to do next
1. Pick one or two pockets that match your lifestyle, not the whole district.
2. View at least one place in each, in the evening as well as during the day.
3. Confirm early that the landlord can register your ARC address at the property.
4. Compare with Zhongshan and other central areas before you decide.
We help clients compare these options in person, and we'll tell you honestly when a cheaper pocket makes more sense than the famous one. See our services page for how that works.