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Asia has long been a popular destination for digital nomads watching their budgets. It’s a great place to stretch your buck as far as possible.
And now there’s a new budget-friendly hot spot to look out for.
The Global Intelligence Unit has created a comprehensive report of the world’s best digital nomad destinations.
The top-ranked Asian country where digital nomads live and work is officially Taiwan.
Taiwan also came in 12th place overall in the global arena, meaning that it’s a destination well worth considering for digital nomads, especially for those who don’t want to flash the cash.
Here’s why:
Why Digital Nomads Should Consider Taiwan
Taiwan is an incredibly beautiful country that ticks so many boxes.
A subtropical climate, outstanding natural beauty, gorgeous beaches, and modern vibrant cities too. Check, check, check, check!
On top of all of this, living here won’t break the bank.
On average, the monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Taipei is between NT$8,000.00 and NT$25,000.00 ($263–$823).
However, if you choose an off-the-beaten-path destination outside of the city, your rent will be considerably lower.
Eating out here is cheap too, and the street food is delicious.
Less than $5 will fill your tummy with a street food meal and some good company at the same time.
Locals are friendly and welcoming to foreigners and digital nomads: there are no anti-tourism protests here!
Taiwan was also one of the first countries in the region to legalize same-sex marriage back in 2019 and has robust anti-discrimination legislation in place, making it a safe country for LGBTQ+ nomads to explore.
Taiwan Is Small But Perfectly Formed
From a practical point of view, it’s worth mentioning Taiwan’s small size.
The country is around half the size of Scotland for Brits like me. Or ever so slightly bigger than Maryland for U.S. readers.
Rather than being a drawback, this could actually work to the advantage of a savvy digital nomad!
You can explore absolutely everything the island has to offer with relative ease.
The capital of Taipei tends to be the most popular spot for digital nomads, boasts incredibly high internet speeds, and has the largest number of coworking spaces.
But you aren’t welded to city life. Taipei is just 30 minutes away from the lush green nature of the Yangmingshan National Park.
There is no entry fee to explore this park, so if you’re on a budget, this is a great place to visit.
And getting around Taiwan is a breeze, too, as the country has a reliable high-speed rail network.
In real terms, this makes what is already a small country feel even smaller and easier to explore.
Public transport is affordable. The Metro (known as the Mass Rapid Transit or MRT) costs NT $20 (61 cents) – NT $65 ($1.96) a ticket in Taipei.
If you want to take the high-speed rail and explore the length and breadth of the country then you’ll pay between NT $35 and NT $2,500 ($1 – $76) depending on the journey you want to take and the class you choose with non-reserved tickets being the cheapest option.
A New Digital Nomad Visa For Taiwan?
Although full details of the scheme have yet to be released, Taiwan announced last month that it intends to launch a dedicated digital nomad visa.
This is great news as, up until now, there hasn’t been an official digital nomad visa in the country.
The new visa will make Taiwan an even more appealing option for digital nomads.
Taiwan will be the 4th country in the region this year, after Japan, Thailand, and South Korea, to launch a digital nomad scheme.
So far, we know that the visa will have a 6-month validity period and that the Minister for the National Development Council in Taiwan, Paul Liu, hopes it will attract new talent to the country.
Though this new digital nomad visa scheme has been proposed, it will not come into effect until it is approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In the meantime, prospective nomads can apply for an Employment Gold Card.
This is a work permit, residency permit and re-entry permit in one handy document that is relatively easy to apply for and allows professionals to live and work in Taiwan for up to 3 years.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
