You can definitely travel cheap in Taiwan, and with some planning, it can be immensely enjoyable. That said, Taiwan is not as budget-friendly as Vietnam, Malaysia or Indonesia, though it is more affordable than Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan. Taiwan is also more economical than South Korea, except for accommodation.

In general, lodging costs are relatively high, but this is more than compensated for by abundant cheap and delicious food, inexpensive public transport, free entry to stellar attractions, exceptional hiking for little to no cost, and free festivals all year round. 

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Take the metro or bus from the airport

Taoyuan International Airport is Taiwan’s gateway to the world. The other major international airport is in Kaohsiung. Buses, departing every 15 minutes to an hour, offer the cheapest rides (NT$90 to NT$145; US$2.80 to US$4.50) to downtown Taipei from Taoyuan International Airport. Depending on the drop-off point, the ride can take anywhere from 50 to 80 minutes.

For just a little bit more (NT$160; US$5), the Airport MRT whizzes you to the city center in under 40 minutes, with trains arriving like clockwork every 10 minutes. 

From Kaohsiung International Airport, a 15-minute metro ride to the metropolitan area is NT$35 (US$1.10). Buses are more expensive and slightly slower. 

Get the EasyCard 

The convenient EasyCard is a contactless smart card used mostly to pay for rides on public transport and store purchases. It costs NT$100 (US$3.10) plus top-up amount of your choice. Using the card doesn’t save you money per journey, but small…

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