Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this article may be affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you book through them at no extra cost to you. I only recommend hotels, tours, and travel services that I personally use or believe may be helpful for fellow travelers. Thank you for supporting Mommy Helena and helping me continue creating free travel content.
Quick Summary Box
How Much Does a Taiwan Trip Cost?
One of the most common questions I receive is:
“How much money should I bring to Taiwan?”
To help fellow travelers plan their budget, I’m sharing my actual expenses from my recent 6 Days 5 Nights Taiwan trip covering Taichung and Taipei.
During this trip, I visited:
- Alishan
- Qingjing Farm
- Qingjing Skywalk
- Sun Moon Lake
- Ximending
- Taipei
This breakdown includes my hotels, transportation, food, tours, travel tax, eSIM, and travel insurance.
Important Disclaimer
✈️ Flight fare is NOT included in this budget breakdown.
Taiwan was part of my multi-country trip, so airfare was booked together with other destinations and would not accurately represent a standalone Taiwan trip cost.
Also keep in mind that:
- Hotel costs may vary depending on your accommodation preference.
- Food expenses will depend on your eating habits.
- Activities can be customized based on your interests.
- Shopping and souvenirs are excluded from the main travel budget since they are optional expenses.
My Itinerary
My Essential Taiwan Travel Cost
Total Essential Travel Cost
💰 ₱35,199
This amount already includes:
✔️ Hotels
✔️ Food and Coffee
✔️ Transportation
✔️ Tours and Attractions
✔️ Travel Tax
✔️ eSIM
✔️ Travel Insurance
My Hotel Stays
Hotel Mi Casa (Taichung)
CityInn Plus Taichung
Airline Inn (Ximen)
Check rates here:
Taiwan Budget Breakdown
1. Pre-Travel Expenses
Before flying to Taiwan, I purchased the following travel essentials:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Travel Tax | ₱1,620 |
| eSIM | ₱487 |
| Travel Insurance | ₱520 |
Total Pre-Travel Expenses
💰 ₱2,627
Need a Taiwan eSIM? Compare prices and book online before your trip.
2. Hotel Expenses
I stayed in three different hotels during this trip.
Hotel Mi Casa (2 Nights)
Located near Taoyuan Airport and convenient for travelers heading to Central Taiwan.
Cost:
💰 ₱5,510
CityInn Hotel Taichung (1 Night)
A comfortable and strategically located hotel in Taichung.
Cost:
💰 ₱3,265
Airline Inn Ximen (2 Nights)
Located in the heart of Ximending and perfect for exploring Taipei.
Cost:
💰 ₱7,949
Total Hotel Cost
💰 ₱16,724
Average Cost Per Night
💰 ₱3,345
3. Transportation Expenses
Taiwan is one of the easiest countries to explore thanks to its efficient transportation network.
For this trip, I mainly used:
- EasyCard
- MRT
- Airport MRT
- Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR)
The Airport MRT fare was already included in my EasyCard top-up.
| Transportation | Cost |
| EasyCard Top-Up | ₱962 |
| THSR | ₱1,981 |
Total Transportation Cost
💰 ₱2,943
4. Activities and Tours
One of the highlights of this Taiwan itinerary was exploring destinations outside Taipei.
Alishan Train
💰 ₱193
Alishan Day Tour
💰 ₱2,321
Qingjing Farm Entrance
💰 ₱526
Qingjing Skywalk
💰 ₱324
Sun Moon Lake Tour
💰 ₱2,554
Taipei Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
💰 ₱580
Total Activities Cost
💰 ₱6,498
🎟️ Planning to visit? Check the latest rates and availability here.
Alishan Day Tour from Taichung
Sun Moon Lake Tour from Taichung
Qingjing Skywalk and Swiss Garden
Taipei Double-Decker Sightseeing Bus
Klook.comPlanning to visit Alishan, Qingjing Farm, or Sun Moon Lake? Compare tour prices before booking.
Klook.com5. Food and Coffee Expenses
If you’ve been following my Taiwan adventures, you’ll know I love exploring local cafes as much as tourist attractions.
This budget includes meals, coffee stops, milk tea, snacks, and convenience store purchases.
| Day | Cost |
| Day 1 | ₱948 |
| Day 2 | ₱921 |
| Day 3 | ₱795 |
| Day 4 | ₱1,361 |
| Day 5 | ₱1,350 |
| Day 6 | ₱1,032 |
Total Food Cost
💰 ₱6,407
Average Daily Food Budget
💰 ₱1,068 per day
Taiwan Budget Summary
| Category | Cost |
| Pre-Travel | ₱2,627 |
| Hotels | ₱16,724 |
| Transportation | ₱2,943 |
| Activities | ₱6,498 |
| Food | ₱6,407 |
| TOTAL | ₱35,199 |
Is Taiwan Expensive for Filipinos?
Based on my experience, Taiwan offers excellent value for money.
For approximately ₱35,199 excluding flights, I was able to:
✔️ Stay for 6 days and 5 nights
✔️ Visit Alishan
✔️ Visit Qingjing Farm
✔️ Explore Sun Moon Lake
✔️ Travel between Taichung and Taipei
✔️ Enjoy cafes, local food, and sightseeing
Compared to many other destinations in Asia, Taiwan remains one of the easiest and most budget-friendly countries to explore independently.
Final Thoughts
My total essential travel cost for this Taiwan trip was:
💰 ₱35,199 (excluding flights)
If you’re planning your own Taiwan adventure, I hope this breakdown gives you a realistic idea of how much to budget for hotels, transportation, food, and attractions.
Taiwan continues to be one of my favorite destinations because of its convenient transportation, beautiful scenery, delicious food, and beginner-friendly travel experience.
Related Posts
Hi, I’m Helena! 👋
I’m the creator of Mommy Helena, a travel blog where I share detailed itineraries, hotel reviews, food discoveries, and travel tips based on my personal experiences across Asia.
As a solo traveler from the Philippines, I love exploring destinations like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and beyond. My goal is to help fellow travelers plan smarter, save time, and make the most of every trip.
✈️ Follow my adventures and discover practical travel guides, budget tips, and honest recommendations from my journeys.
