So you are teaching English or you want to teach English in Taiwan! Congratulations, you have picked a very live-able Island that consistently ranks high in countries that expats enjoy most. We certainly like it here.
While we likely don’t need to sell you on Taiwan, if you are considering teaching or working here long term here are a few of the benefits:
It can be a great joy to find your place and your stride living and teaching in Taiwan. But in order to make sure you succeed, let’s talk brass tacks. In the post below we will seek to answer the big question that most first time teachers or those new to the Island have:
How do I save money while teaching in Taiwan?
To begin with it is important to calculate or at least estimate a basic monthly budget. Keep in mind this is a rough guess that will change drastically depending on your lifestyle, your location, and your priorities when it comes to spending money and living in a new country.
Based on our experience and the input of others, the average expat new to Taipei likely spends somewhere between 40,000 NT$ ($1,400) — 55,000 NT$ ($1,747) per month if not a fair bit more. You could probably get by spending as little as 30,000 NT$ or less, but it would likely be due to a special set of circumstances, an incredibly good grasp of Mandarin, or a great deal of luck within Taipei’s housing market.
The average English teacher in Taiwan is likely making somewhere between 70,000 – 120,000 NT$ per month which means that you can save a fair amount if you play your cards right.
Before you go further, it is worth reading up on the average cost of things in Taipei/Taiwan and drawing up your own monthly budget. Make sure to calculate in the little things like toilet paper and cell phone plans as well as unexpected expenses that crop up such as a hot water heater or salt, and don’t forget about the international costs such as a Netflix subscription. All these things add up AND the better you plan for them the more that you can save in the long run.
There are a number of websites out there that will provide an average cost for things in Taiwan. two that we like are: Expatistan and Numbeo.
Now is where it gets tricky. In addition to apartment costs, cell phone plan, meals, transportation, and basic necessities, we would suggest drawing up a list of things that will be important to your lifestyle in Taiwan. You can think of this in terms of goals, pastimes, or things you want to make sure you do during your time here. Think also in terms of shopping and travel. Are you planning on returning with an entirely new wardrobe or jet setting around Southeast Asia? These things are possible while teaching in Taiwan, but it will mean sacrifices in other areas of your budget if you still aim to save money.
It is important to remember that living abroad is a marathon, not a sprint. You will need to find the things that bring joy, interest, and excitement to your life outside of your work.
How will you live during your time here?
There are those who travel abroad and teach English and who live like monks or modern-day ascetics to hold fast to shoestring budgets, but we often feel that they are missing the point. Why work abroad if you are not going to engage with culture, the language, or the place in one form or another?
What you might do is begin to develop a sense for what is important for your life in Taiwan as well as what that might cost. THEN you can start thinking about ways to cut costs, save money, or find cheaper options.
It sometimes helps to think in terms of exercise, language, and free time / quality of life.
What does your exercise regime look like?
Are you going to be looking for Mandarin lessons / classes?
What are your dining and nightlife priorities?
Where are you hoping to travel?
Extra Expenses:
Where you are teaching and where you live matters. It will be far cheaper to teach in Hualian, but you might also not be making the Taipei paycheck. If you are in Taipei, start researching the different districts. Check out our blog posts, read other articles, ask the school where you are teaching and other contacts in Taipei where best / cheapest places to live are. Join the Facebook groups and be proactive in your own exploration of the city. Remember there are almost always expat apartments looking for roommates. Ask yourself too if living with Mandarin speakers might be a priority.
Hands down it is cheaper to live in New Taipei City and commute into Taipei, but consider also whether that would suit you. There will be days when it is raining, when the subway or bus is crowded and when there is a ton of traffic.
Also think about whether it would make sense for you to pay just slightly more to be closer to a metro station or a bus stop or even a local park?
Normally schools or placement agencies will help new teachers find housing, however, make sure you are clear and take ownership in the process. Be specific about what you are looking for in terms of location, space, amenities, roommates, and price.
Remember that it is okay to spend the first few weeks (or even months) in a hotel / hostel getting your feet under you and figuring it all out.
We have talked about budgeting for intended travel over weekends and breaks, but we are bringing up again in this category.
One of the best pieces of advice any new expat can receive is, “treat yourself in a way that is important to your life every month.“
Living abroad can wear on you at different times and in strange ways and even in such an idyllic place as Taiwan. It can be vital to find a change of scene, take a small break, or do something nice for yourself every once in a while. This might look like taking yourself to the hot springs outside of Taipei, booking a paragliding flight at Sun Moon Lake, surfing for the day at Wai’ao, or drinking tea on a misty day at a tea house in MaoKong. It could also look like purchasing that kindle book you have had on your reading list, ordering a new pair of running shoes, buying that bottle of Kavalan, eating at a nice restaurant, going for a massage, attending a concert, purchasing a plane ticket, or signing up for a dance class. The point is that you are spending time and money on yourself in a way that you might not allow in the course of an everyday work week. The astute observer will point out that “this is not an efficient way to save money,” however, for those who are living abroad finding a means of refreshing and reseting is essential to one’s happiness, sanity, and ability to live and work here long term. Living abroad is a marathon not a sprint and it is important to give one’s self the ability to succeed in these conditions.
The other primary reason to sent aside a portion of a paycheck for treating yourself is that it allows space for necessary or even impulse purchases without the guilt that comes with a shoestring budget and overly-tightened belt. You will get an invitation to a film festival in the mountains, see a piece of pottery you simply can’t live without, accidentally purchase something very expensive because you were not paying attention to the price or hadn’t yet calculated the exchange rate. You may find you want to spend an extra weekend on the beach with that special someone, or wish throw an awesome going away party for a friend. Have cash from each paycheck set aside for these things. It’s called “a life abroad well lived.” And if you don’t spend it all than that’s all the more that you get to take home in the end.
As you get a sense of your budget in Taiwan you will also be able to calculate how much to set aside from each paycheck. You could transfer it immediately out of your Taiwanese bank account, but we recommend waiting and doing a larger transfer every four, six, or twelve months if that is workable with your finances. It’s better to have more money on hand for the unexpected and you don’t want to pay exchange rates or transfer fees twice.
Be clear about the amount you are setting aside from each paycheck as well as the total. AND revisit this number every few months. It is okay if it changes. Remember you will likely spend more in the beginning and be able to save more later in your time in Taiwan. Regardless, you will need money for vacations and travel and unexpected purchases.
Another piece of advice that seasoned expats can give new arrivals is: “say yes to the new opportunities to make money that will come up.” Because of your ability to speak English you will get asked to tutor on the side, judge competitions, edit a thesis paper, maybe even model. Within reason of your schedule and time for your own routine, say yes to these things and take the experience and extra cash — especially if you are looking to save money while abroad. Plenty of English teachers have traveled on that extra cash that they made taking part in that summer camp or the funds that they saved while teaching at a restaurant in exchange for free food. Hustle your command of English and spin things to your benefit.
This is the hard part. As a foreigner who is teaching in Taiwan you will be paid through a Taiwanese bank account, the goal is getting money from that bank account out of the country to a different bank account as cheaply as possible.
The following website lays out different options fairly concretely
In our experience, Wise, Western Union, and Paypal (although we might not recommend that last one) are often some of the more popular money transfer options among foreigners in Taiwan. Make sure you give each transfer a few business days. Be sure to compare the different exchange rates and fees that are offered. When you go to the bank to set up the transfer service make sure to have your passport, ARC card and all of you banking paperwork in hand. Be kind and patient and at worst prepared to come back at another point. Initially it could be a lengthy process.