Budget · Taipei · Taiwan
Taipei on a budget
What a trip to Taipei really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Wei-Te Wong, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Taipei is moderately priced for most international visitors. Budget roughly $40–$70 per person per day on a tight budget, $100–$200 mid-range and $300–$700 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in January and March–September.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $40–$70 a day
- Mid-range
- $100–$200 a day
- Luxury
- $300–$700 a day
- Local currency
- TWD
- Free sights
- 9
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $40–$70 | $120–$210 | $200–$350 | $280–$490 |
| Mid-range | $100–$200 | $300–$600 | $500–$1,000 | $700–$1,400 |
| Luxury | $300–$700 | $900–$2,100 | $1,500–$3,500 | $2,100–$4,900 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Taipei, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| MRT single journey | about NT$20–NT$65 |
| Bubble tea | about NT$50–NT$80 |
| Bowl of beef noodle soup | about NT$180–NT$300 |
| Night market snack | about NT$50–NT$100 |
| Convenience store coffee | about NT$45–NT$65 |
| Taipei 101 observatory ticket | about NT$600 |
| Airport MRT to Taipei Main Station | about NT$150 |
| Dinner at a mid-range restaurant | about NT$400–NT$800 per person |
Money-saving tips
- Night markets and small diners serve full meals for a few dollars.
- Use an EasyCard for all transport; MRT–bus transfers are discounted when paid with the card.
- Many highlights are free: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, temples, Elephant Mountain, Yangmingshan and the creative parks.
- Beitou's public open-air bath costs a fraction of a hotel hot-spring visit.
- Lunch sets at restaurants are much cheaper than the same food at dinner.
- Shops displaying the tax-refund sign can refund VAT to foreign visitors on qualifying purchases.
Free things to do
- Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall — A white memorial hall with a blue octagonal roof stands at the end of Liberty Square, framed by a monumental gate and the classical-style National Theater and National Concert Hall.
- Longshan Temple — Founded in 1738 by settlers from Fujian, Longshan Temple is Taipei's best-known temple, dedicated mainly to Guanyin but housing many other deities.
- Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) — A steep stone staircase from near Xiangshan MRT station climbs through forest to rocky viewpoints overlooking Taipei 101 and the Xinyi skyline in about 20–30 minutes.
- Dihua Street and Dadaocheng — Taipei's oldest shopping street is lined with Qing and Japanese-era shophouses selling dried mushrooms, herbs, teas and fabrics, now mixed with design shops and cafés.
- Huashan 1914 Creative Park — A former wine and sake factory from the Japanese era, turned into a creative park of exhibitions, concerts, pop-up shops, design stores and cafés in brick warehouses and on lawns.
- Songshan Cultural and Creative Park — A 1930s tobacco factory with long corridors, a courtyard garden and a lotus pond, now home to the Taiwan Design Museum, exhibitions and craft shops.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget and solo travellers
Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng)
The city's transport hub, near government buildings and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
$$ · Best for budget, shopping, nightlife and solo travellers
Ximending
Pedestrian youth district of fashion shops, cinemas, street snacks and late nights
$ · Best for budget and culture
Wanhua
Taipei's oldest district, around Longshan Temple and the old Bangka port
Eating well for less
- Pepper bun — The stall at the Ciyou Temple entrance of Raohe Street Night Market is the most famous; others are found in most night markets.
- Oyster omelette — Ningxia, Raohe and Shilin night markets, where specialist stalls fry them to order.
- Gua bao — Night markets and snack shops, especially around Gongguan and Ximending.
- Stinky tofu — Every night market; follow your nose. Ask if the broth or sauce contains meat if you are vegetarian.
- Soy milk breakfast — Neighbourhood breakfast shops citywide; the busiest have queues from early morning.
Getting around for less
EasyCard
A stored-value card for the MRT, buses, YouBike, trains and convenience stores, sold at MRT stations and convenience stores.
Taipei Metro day passes
Unlimited-ride MRT passes for one or more consecutive days, worthwhile if you plan many journeys.
Taipei Fun Pass
A visitor pass combining unlimited transport with entry to selected attractions, in several durations.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Taipei cost?
About $500–$1,000 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $200–$350 on a tight budget.
+Is Taipei expensive?
It is moderately priced for international visitors. Night markets and small diners serve full meals for a few dollars.
+How much money do I need per day in Taipei?
Roughly $40–$70 on a budget and $100–$200 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Taipei?
Usually in January and March–September.