Thinking about moving to Kaohsiung? Here's what daily life looks like for an American who works remotely: what it costs in dollars, where people live, the weather all year, and what to sort out before you land. The weather, local time and exchange rate on this page are live.
Right now in Kaohsiung
Live weather by Open-Meteo · Rates by ExchangeRate-API. Updates each time you open the page.
At a glance
| Population | About 2.7 million in the city |
|---|---|
| Language | Mandarin |
| Currency | New Taiwan dollar (TWD) |
| Time zone | … |
| Main airport | Kaohsiung (KHH), about 15 minutes by MRT |
| Flights from the US | Nonstops from several US cities (Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Seattle and more) to Taipei (TPE) |
| Power plugs | Type A and B, 110 V (US plugs work) |
| Emergency number | 110 (police), 119 (ambulance) |
| Visa route for remote workers | Digital nomad visa · Taiwan visa guide |
What it costs
| Item | Local price | About in USD |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom, city center | NT$15,078 | $478 |
| 1-bedroom, outside center | NT$9,188 | $291 |
| 3-bedroom, city center | NT$29,150 | $925 |
| 3-bedroom, outside center | NT$22,225 | $705 |
| Inexpensive restaurant meal | NT$120 | $3.81 |
| Monthly transit pass | NT$400 | $12.67 |
| Home internet, 60 Mbps+ | NT$750 | $23.79 |
Monthly totals are Shoreward estimates: Numbeo's living costs without rent, plus rent from outside the center (low end) to the center (high end). The couple figure assumes 1.7 times one person's costs. Private school, car and travel are not included.
Numbeo's Kaohsiung page was last updated Dec 25, 2025, so rents may have risen since. Treat these as a floor.
Dollar amounts use the exchange rate on the source page. Prices in local currency are the source's.
Weather through the year
Loading weather history…
Monthly averages from 2016–2025, from Open-Meteo historical weather data (ERA5 reanalysis). Rain totals from weather models can run high in mountain cities, so treat them as a guide to the wet and dry seasons.
Where to live
Pier-2 and Yancheng
Arts district by the harbor.
Gushan
Waterfront, near Sizihwan Bay.
Zuoying
Near high-speed rail, practical.
Our plans match neighborhoods to how you work, your budget and who's moving with you.
Getting around
Harbor city with MRT, light rail and bikes; sunny and warm.
Language and English
Common among younger people in Taipei; Mandarin (traditional characters) helps a lot elsewhere.
Healthcare
Taiwan's healthcare is excellent and affordable; nomad visa holders need international health insurance.
Safety
Check the US State Department's current advisory for Taiwan before you go. It changes, so we link to it rather than copy it. Like any big city, Kaohsiung has areas that are safer than others, and your plan flags the ones to know about.
Your first week in Kaohsiung
Land with people, not just a lease.
With a Complete or Household plan, you join everyone moving to Kaohsiung the same month in a group chat before you fly, then meet in person during your first week.
See how cohorts workSources
Checked on Nov 2, 2026. Live sections update automatically.
- Numbeo: Cost of living in Kaohsiung (page updated Dec 25, 2025)
- US State Department: Taiwan travel advisory
- Open-Meteo: live weather, forecast and 10-year climate data (CC BY 4.0)
- ExchangeRate-API: live exchange rates
Get an email when Taiwan's rules change
Income minimums, fees and paperwork change often, and old advice sticks around online. When the rules change for Taiwan, we'll send you one short email with what changed and the source. Nothing else.
Free. Unsubscribe from any email. See our privacy policy.