Taipei on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes — Taipei is excellent on a budget, thanks to cheap night-market food, an efficient MRT and many free temples, parks and viewpoints. A realistic minimum is about NT$1,500 a day per person sharing a room: NT$700 for a bed, NT$500 for food, NT$200 for sights and NT$100 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | NT$700 | NT$2,000 | NT$6,000 |
| Food & drink | NT$500 | NT$1,000 | NT$2,500 |
| Sights & tickets | NT$200 | NT$700 | NT$2,000 |
| Local transport | NT$100 | NT$250 | NT$800 |
| Per person, per day | NT$1,500 | NT$3,950 | NT$11,300 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Taipei day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Longshan Temple in Wanhua
- The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and the changing of the guard
- Sunset over Taipei 101 from Elephant Mountain
- The Beitou Hot Spring Museum and Thermal Valley
- Dihua Street and the old Dadaocheng district
- The Bopiliao Historic Block
Cheap eats
- Braised pork rice — about NT$35–70
- Oyster omelette at Ningxia Night Market — about NT$70–100
- Pepper bun at Raohe Night Market — about NT$60–70
- Taiwanese breakfast (dan bing, soy milk) — about NT$30–80 per item
- Fried chicken cutlet — about NT$80–120
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in the hostels around Taipei Main Station and Ximending, close to the MRT and night markets, where private doubles cost about NT$1,200–2,500 and dorm beds less. Capsule hostels are common and good value.
Getting around cheaply
Use the MRT and buses with an EasyCard; most rides cost roughly NT$20–65. YouBike rentals are cheap for short rides. From Taoyuan Airport, the Airport MRT is much cheaper than a taxi. Trains and buses run to Jiufen and Shifen for low fares.
A sample budget day
- Morning: breakfast shop (about NT$80), Longshan Temple and Bopiliao (free)
- Lunch: braised pork rice and soup (about NT$120)
- Afternoon: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (free), MRT rides (about NT$100)
- Evening: Elephant Mountain at sunset (free), Raohe Night Market dinner (about NT$300)
- Total: about NT$1,500 including a hostel bed or shared room (about NT$700)
More ways to save
- Carry cash for night markets; many stalls do not take cards.
- Try Buddhist vegetarian buffets priced by weight for cheap, varied meals.
- Visit Jiufen and Shifen on a weekday to avoid crowds.
- Buy drinks and snacks at convenience stores, which are everywhere and cheap.
- Use free hot-water dispensers in hostels and MRT stations' water fountains to refill bottles.
- Choose the Palace Museum or Taipei 101 as your main paid sight.
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Common questions
How much money do I need per day in Taipei?
About NT$1,500 per person on a budget, NT$3,950 mid-range and NT$11,300 for comfort, sharing a room.
What is the cheapest way from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei?
The Airport MRT to Taipei Main Station, about 35–50 minutes. Buses are also cheap.
Which night market is best for budget food?
Ningxia and Raohe are compact and popular with locals, with clearly posted prices.