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sjane123
Joined: 12 May 2009
Posts: 6
Location: ireland
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 Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 5:54 pm Post subject: How much money do I need? |
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I am thinking of going to Taiwan to teach English in the next few months and I am wondering if i get a job there and then go over - how much money will I need to settle?
-Im thinking how much will I need for food, going out, mobile phone etc?
-how much would I need if I wanted to rent a room in a shared apartment?
-Roughly, how much is it per month live there?
Please let me know in euros or the local currency so I can convert it into euros. |
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heidihcb
Joined: 23 May 2007
Posts: 10
Location: CA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 4:51 am Post subject: |
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how much money will I need to settle?
Well, as much as possible. I'd say at least 60,000 NT to get set up.
-Im thinking how much will I need for food, going out, mobile phone etc?
Not much. I normally got a pre-paid 1,000NT phone card every month or so. But I didn't use my phone too much.
Going out? Depends how much you go out and where... Beers at 7/11 are about 30NT but drinks in a bar could be more like 300NT.
Food is super cheap. Except to pay about 40-120NT per meal... Depending on where you eat. Buying groceries is a tad more expensive usually. But that depends on what you eat too.
-how much would I need if I wanted to rent a room in a shared apartment?
Depends on where you want to live. Taipei is the most expensive. Expect to pay at least $8,000 for a nice room in Taipei. Expect to pay much less anywhere outside of Taipei. I got my own furnished studio in Taichung for $10,000.
-Roughly, how much is it per month live there?
Depends on how you live... I got by a lot of months on around 30,000 NT including all my expenses. But you can easily spend twice or three times as much. Or a whole lot less. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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| You will need $2000 to $3000 in your bank account to get a non-landing visa to enter Taiwan. Most Taiwanese employers do not arrange visas until you are in the country already. |
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BigWally
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 765
Location: Ottawa, CAN (prev. Kaohsiung "the Dirty South")
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| Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 10:59 pm Post subject: |
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| heidihcb wrote: |
how much money will I need to settle?
Well, as much as possible. I'd say at least 60,000 NT to get set up. |
Bank at least 60,000 up to 100,000NT to get set up. Its expensive going to interviews, putting up first/last rent, security fee, buying transport, and before you learn to eat cheaply it can be pricey going to 7/11 a lot.
| heidihcb wrote: |
-Im thinking how much will I need for food, going out, mobile phone etc?
Not much. I normally got a pre-paid 1,000NT phone card every month or so. But I didn't use my phone too much. |
Phone is cheap. Internet is cheap. TV is cheap.
| heidihcb wrote: |
| Going out? Depends how much you go out and where... Beers at 7/11 are about 30NT but drinks in a bar could be more like 300NT. |
300NT? That's some bar. I would never pay more than 200 for a drink. Unless you're hitting some nicer clubs, then you're paying cover usually too. Beer is best purchased at 7/11 and enjoyed on the streets.
| heidihcb wrote: |
| Food is super cheap. Except to pay about 40-120NT per meal... Depending on where you eat. Buying groceries is a tad more expensive usually. But that depends on what you eat too. |
Food is cheap, healthy and delicious. Although you'll likely to be turned off by the smells and physical appearance of many items, you just need to get in there and try them all. You'll be amazed at what you taste. Groceries are a catch 22...if you go to Carrefour or Jasons (western style markets) then you're going to spend more. If you go to outdoor farmers markets and local shops you're bound to find much better deals (far better product too). You'll also find McDonalds, Starbucks, Subway, etc. priced similar to home.
| heidihcb wrote: |
-how much would I need if I wanted to rent a room in a shared apartment?
Depends on where you want to live. Taipei is the most expensive. Expect to pay at least $8,000 for a nice room in Taipei. Expect to pay much less anywhere outside of Taipei. I got my own furnished studio in Taichung for $10,000. |
From a very frugal bachelor ($6000NT/mth) to luxurious ($18,000NT) three-bedroom you can find whatever you need. Prices increase the closer to the city centers you are.
| heidihcb wrote: |
-Roughly, how much is it per month live there?
Depends on how you live... I got by a lot of months on around 30,000 NT including all my expenses. But you can easily spend twice or three times as much. Or a whole lot less. |
Do you want to save money? Do you want to just scrape by? Do you want to travel? Do you drink? Do you party a lot? No one can answer this for you. You just have to figure out your lifestyle once you're there. It usually takes most people 3-4 months before they start making any savings. |
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heidihcb
Joined: 23 May 2007
Posts: 10
Location: CA
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 3:54 am Post subject: |
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"300NT? That's some bar. I would never pay more than 200 for a drink. Unless you're hitting some nicer clubs, then you're paying cover usually too. Beer is best purchased at 7/11 and enjoyed on the streets."
Haha, you're right. I did mean to type 200NT actually. And actually, it was probably more like $150 for most drinks. :) But, nice catch :) |
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zipper
Joined: 14 Dec 2009
Posts: 237
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 5:43 am Post subject: |
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Last edited by zipper on Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:10 am; edited 1 time in total |
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yamahuh
Joined: 23 Apr 2004
Posts: 1033
Location: Karaoke Hell
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:10 am Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
| You will need $2000 to $3000 in your bank account to get a non-landing visa to enter Taiwan. |
Has anybody ever had to actually prove they have funds in their western accounts in order to be granted a visa? I know I never have and I've gone through the application process 3 times now. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 2:02 pm Post subject: |
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| In 2007 I got a 60 day visa in Boston and had to provide my bank account information. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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My budget:
apartment in Taipei (15 ping) 8,000
daily expenses : 100NT for the MRT + two meals a day=500
month=15,000
weekend dates and drinking=2000 a week X=8000
cell phone=2000 a month, really wish my parents did not have dial up internet and could talk to them online.
total 33,000 a month |
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yamahuh
Joined: 23 Apr 2004
Posts: 1033
Location: Karaoke Hell
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
| In 2007 I got a 60 day visa in Boston and had to provide my bank account information. |
I've applied for them in Canada (Toronto), Vietnam (Hanoi) and Philippines (Manila) and have never once had to provide that information. Never had to give my 'exiting Taiwan' flight info, although I usually try to ensure all my bases are covered - just in case I get the sticky official. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 3:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Well the American offices may just be trying to get even for how difficult the American government is on Taiwanese applying for U.S. visas. |
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yamahuh
Joined: 23 Apr 2004
Posts: 1033
Location: Karaoke Hell
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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