Renting in Taipei as a foreigner is easier than you think, if you know what to expect.
Most people overthink it. They picture the paperwork and guarantors and credit checks they'd deal with back home, and assume Taiwan works the same way. It doesn't. For a one- or two-month furnished monthly rental, the process is genuinely straightforward. The hardest part is usually just deciding which neighborhood you want to be in.
Here's everything you actually need to know.
Hotels, Long-Term Leases, or Monthly Rental — Which One Makes Sense?
-
Hotels are flexible but expensive by the night. A month in a decent Taipei hotel costs significantly more than a monthly rental, and you won't have a real kitchen, a proper desk, or the feeling of being somewhere rather than just passing through.
-
Traditional leases are built for people staying a year or more. More paperwork, and most units come unfurnished — which means buying furniture for two months and then figuring out what to do with it when you leave.
-
Monthly furnished rentals are the middle option, and for most people here for one or two months, they're the obvious choice. A real apartment — kitchen, bed, desk, neighborhood — without the year-long commitment or nightly hotel rates.
Do I Need an ARC to Rent?
No. You don't need an ARC (Alien Resident Certificate) to rent a monthly apartment in Taipei.
The ARC is a long-term residency document — useful for opening a bank account or signing a year-long lease, but not a legal requirement to rent property. For monthly furnished rentals like Kolette's, the process is built around international guests who simply don't have one. What you'll typically need:
- A valid passport
- Your intended check-in and check-out dates
That's usually it. No credit check, no local guarantor, no Taiwan ID.
On visas: Most Western passport holders enter Taiwan visa-exempt and can stay up to 90 days — more than enough for a one- or two-month stay. If you're thinking about staying longer, Taiwan's Digital Nomad Visa allows eligible remote workers to stay up to six months. Worth looking into if you're considering an extended stay.
What's Actually Included?
"Furnished" covers a wide range. Here's what a quality monthly rental in Taipei typically includes:
-
The living basics: Bed, pillows, duvet, sheets. Sofa and living area. Wardrobe. Dining table or kitchen counter seating.
-
A kitchen that actually works: Refrigerator, stovetop, microwave, pots and pans, plates, cutlery, basic utensils. Not just a microwave in the corner — a kitchen you can genuinely cook in if you feel like it.
-
Appliances: Air conditioning (you'll use it! Taipei summers are hot), washing machine, water heater.
-
Wi-Fi: Fiber broadband, usually 150–500Mbps. Taiwan has some of the fastest average internet speeds in Asia. Video calls and large file uploads are rarely a problem.
-
Someone to call: A good provider has a local team reachable when something goes wrong — broken appliance, trash question, lockout. This matters more than people expect, especially in the first week.
What might not be included:
-
Utilities: Some rentals include electricity and water, others meter separately. Ask before booking, especially for summer stays when the air conditioning runs all day. (Most Kolette properties are included)
-
Building management fee: some buildings charge separately for elevator, security, and shared facilities. (Most Kolette properties are included)
-
Weekly cleaning: not typically included, but can usually be arranged for an additional fee.
→ Every Kolette listing shows exactly what's included — browse homes here
How Much Does It Actually Cost?
Here's the realistic range for central Taipei as of 2026:
|
Type |
NTD/month |
USD/month |
|
Studio |
NT$18,000–32,000 |
$560–1,000 |
|
1-BR |
NT$28,000–55,000 |
$875–1,720 |
|
2-BR |
NT$45,000–90,000 |
$1,400–2,800 |
Furnished monthly rentals in central districts. USD at NT$32 = $1.
What moves the price:
-
District: Da'an, Xinyi, and Zhongshan sit at the higher end. Songshan and Zhongzheng are slightly more affordable and still very well connected. One MRT stop further from the center can make a meaningful difference in monthly rent.
-
MRT distance: Units within a 5-minute walk of a station cost more, and for good reason. When you're car-free and the MRT is how you do everything, proximity shapes your entire daily rhythm.
-
Floor and renovation: Higher floors cost more. Taipei has a lot of older building stock from the 1970s and 80s; a well-renovated unit in an older building can be excellent value — just ask for recent photos before committing.
-
Building features: Elevator, on-site management, package receiving, and centralized trash collection all add to convenience and can affect the price.
Hidden costs to know about:
-
Deposit: Usually one to two months' rent, fully refundable at move-out minus any damage. Kolette typically charges a deposit of NT$10,000 for short-term stays, which is lower than the market standard.
-
Rent payment: Monthly rent is typically paid in advance, either as a lump sum for the full stay or month-by-month before each period begins. At Kolette, payment is due one month before move-in, by bank transfer, PayPal, or cash in New Taiwan Dollars.
-
Exit cleaning fee: Some providers charge NT$2,000–5,000 at move-out. Kolette does not charge this fee — worth confirming with any provider before you sign.
How Does Kolette’s Booking Actually Work?
- Inquiry: Reach out with your dates, apartment type, and neighborhood preference. Most providers respond via email or LINE. If you don't have LINE yet, download it — it's how most people in Taiwan communicate day-to-day.
- Viewing: If you're not yet in Taipei, a video walkthrough is standard practice. If you're already in the city, in-person viewings can be arranged for vacant units.
- Agreement: You'll sign a rental contract. Reputable providers catering to international guests will offer an English contract or at least a clear English summary. Read it carefully: confirm the rent, what's included, deposit terms, and the cleaning policy.
- Deposit: A booking deposit (typically NT$10,000 at Kolette) locks in your dates. International payment options usually include wire transfer (T/T), PayPal, or cash.
- Move-in: The rent is due one month before move-in day, by bank transfer, PayPal, or cash in New Taiwan Dollars. Check-in details will be sent to you 2 days before your arrival.
Which Neighborhood Should I Choose?
Da'an — Tree-lined streets, Daan Forest Park, excellent cafes, great food. The neighborhood most long-term Taipei residents would pick if they could live anywhere. First choice for most remote workers and quality-focused travelers.
Zhongshan — Creative and Japanese-influenced. Independent coffee shops, art galleries, streets you end up photographing without planning to. Popular with designers and anyone who cares about how a neighborhood looks and feels.
Xinyi — Modern, efficient, Taipei 101, rooftop bars, and a serious shopping scene. Less neighborhood texture, more urban convenience. A good fit for business travelers or anyone who wants everything close.
Songshan — Quieter and more residential. Fujin Street's independent cafes, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, Raohe Night Market. The neighborhood where locals actually live.
Zhongzheng — Historic and central. Taipei Main Station is a short walk away, which makes traveling around Taiwan straightforward. 228 Peace Memorial Park is one of the city's nicest green spaces, and far less crowded than Daan Forest Park.
→ For a full breakdown, food, feel, MRT access, read the Kolette Neighborhood Guide
Mistakes First-Timers Usually Make
-
Booking too late. Good units in central Taipei go early. The popular months, July - August, October - December, and around Lunar New Year, fill up six to eight weeks in advance.
-
Not asking about the elevator. Taipei has a lot of charming older buildings with no elevator. Fine for some people, genuinely difficult for others — especially on move-in day with luggage. Ask before you book.
-
Not asking about trash. Taipei's waste system is specific: in many residential buildings, trash goes out at scheduled times when a municipal truck rolls through playing a distinctive melody. It sounds like a minor thing until your first week when you don't know what to do with your rubbish. A good provider explains this. Most Kolette properties are in buildings with centralized trash collection, so you don't need to chase the truck — but it's worth asking about with any provider.
-
Trading MRT proximity for a lower price. The gap between a 5-minute walk and a 15-minute walk to the station is felt every single day — grocery runs, dinner plans, spontaneous evenings. Taipei is built around the MRT. Don't trade that access away for a slightly lower monthly rate unless you're certain it's worth it.
-
Not confirming what "furnished" actually means. A microwave and a bed is technically furnished. Ask specifically: kitchen setup, washing machine, Wi-Fi, utilities included or not.
Why a Month Feels Different From a Week
The coffee shop you found on day two becomes your coffee shop — not because it's the best one in the city, but because it's yours. The MRT route stops being something you navigate and becomes something you just take. You start buying groceries for the week. The neighborhood starts feeling like somewhere you live rather than somewhere you're visiting.
It doesn't happen in a hotel. It doesn't happen when you're counting down days. It happens when the apartment is actually set up for living — a kitchen you use, a desk that works, a bed you sleep well in, and someone local to call if something goes wrong.
That's the point of a monthly rental. Not just somewhere to sleep — somewhere to actually be for a while.
Find your home in Taipei → kolettehome.com
Kolette Home offers fully furnished monthly rentals across Taipei's best neighborhoods — Da'an, Zhongshan, Xinyi, Songshan, and Zhongzheng. Utilities, Wi-Fi, and basic living essentials included. Available from one month.