Living in Taiwan as a Scholarship Student (2027)
What NTD 20,000 per month actually covers in Taipei and in other Taiwan cities, and what is easy to underestimate when budgeting from abroad.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
4 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
The NTD Exchange Context
All figures here are in New Taiwan Dollars (NTD). As a rough anchor in October 2026: 1 USD ≈ NTD 32, 1 EUR ≈ NTD 36, 1 GBP ≈ NTD 42. Exchange rates fluctuate, so these are illustrative — plan conservatively.
The MOE graduate stipend is NTD 20,000 per month. That is approximately USD 630 or EUR 560. Taiwan is genuinely affordable relative to comparable academic cities in Japan, South Korea or Europe, but the stipend does not leave a wide margin, particularly in Taipei.
Monthly Budget — Taipei (Highest Cost)
Taipei is Taiwan's capital and most expensive city. These figures reflect typical international student spending in the greater Taipei area, including Xindian, Zhonghe and Banqiao districts, not just central neighborhoods.
| Item | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Rent (shared room in private apartment) | NTD 7,000–12,000 |
| Rent (university dormitory, if available) | NTD 3,000–6,000 |
| Food (campus canteens + cooking) | NTD 3,500–5,000 |
| Transport (MRT, bus, YouBike) | NTD 1,000–1,800 |
| Phone plan (local SIM) | NTD 300–600 |
| Utilities (electricity, water) — if not included | NTD 500–1,200 |
| National Health Insurance (NHI) premium | NTD 400–800 |
| Personal expenses, toiletries, laundry | NTD 800–1,500 |
| Estimated monthly total (Taipei) | NTD 13,500–22,900 |
If you are renting a private room in Taipei and not in a dormitory, rent alone can run NTD 10,000–14,000 for a decent room in a livable area. Combined with food and transport, the NTD 20,000 stipend leaves little for anything else. This is a real issue that students encounter after arrival.
Monthly Budget — Non-Taipei Cities
Studying outside Taipei — in Taichung, Tainan, Hsinchu or Kaohsiung — makes the stipend significantly more comfortable to live on. These figures are also our estimates.
| Item | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Rent (shared room, private apartment) | NTD 4,500–8,000 |
| Food (campus + cooking) | NTD 3,000–4,500 |
| Transport (bus, scooter rental/ownership) | NTD 600–1,500 |
| Phone, utilities, NHI, personal | NTD 1,500–2,500 |
| Estimated monthly total (non-Taipei) | NTD 9,600–16,500 |
Choosing a university outside Taipei is not a compromise. NCKU in Tainan, NTHU and NYCU (formerly NCTU) in Hsinchu, NCHU in Taichung and NSYSU in Kaohsiung are all well-ranked institutions with strong research programs. By our estimates, living costs are roughly 30% lower than in Taipei, and the quality of life for students on a fixed stipend is noticeably better.
One-Time Arrival Costs
Budget separately for arrival costs. The MOE stipend starts from the month you actually begin attending your university, and the first payment can take a few weeks to arrive:
- Apartment deposit — typically 2 months' rent (refundable, but locks up NTD 8,000–24,000)
- Bedding, kitchen basics and household setup — NTD 2,000–5,000
- Initial grocery stock and toiletries — NTD 1,000–2,000
- Transportation card (EasyCard) initial load — NTD 500
- SIM card registration and first month — NTD 300–600
- Gap between arrival and first stipend payment — budget at least 1.5 months of living expenses as a buffer
Aim to arrive with the equivalent of NTD 30,000–50,000 in savings (our estimate) to cover this initial period comfortably. With less, the first 6–8 weeks can be stressful.
National Health Insurance (NHI)
Taiwan Scholarship recipients must join Taiwan's National Health Insurance system once they are eligible (generally after six months of residence), and must buy other medical and student accident insurance before then. The NHI is Taiwan's universal healthcare — it covers doctor visits, hospital treatment and medications at heavily subsidized rates.
We estimate the premium at roughly NTD 400–800 per month (unconfirmed; ask your university’s international office for the current rate). This is not an optional cost. Many international students enroll through their university's group arrangements. TaiwanICDF recipients have their insurance covered for the whole program.
As a rough estimate, a clinic visit under NHI costs about NTD 150–300 and a hospital emergency visit about NTD 300–500. Dental work is partially covered. The premium is very reasonable for the coverage provided, and students who skip enrollment risk significant medical costs if they fall ill or are injured.
Working While on Scholarship
MOE scholarship holders may work part-time if they get a work permit under Taiwan's rules for foreign students: up to 20 hours per week in term time, with no hourly cap during summer and winter vacations, and each permit valid for up to six months per semester. Huayu Enrichment Scholarship holders may only work if their language course lasts six months or more. TaiwanICDF recipients may take part-time jobs within Taiwan's employment law. However, working significantly reduces available study time, and scholarship recipients must keep up their grades — the scholarship can be suspended or revoked for academic underperformance.
Some universities also have research assistant and teaching assistant roles that pay, by our estimate, around NTD 3,000–8,000 per month — these are more compatible with full-time study than general part-time employment. Check first that any such payment does not count as other Taiwan institutional funding, which the MOE scholarship rules prohibit.