Accommodation In Taiwan...
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If your school does not provide accommodation, you will need to have enough money to rent an apartment before you receive your first paycheck. The standard for renting an apartment here in Taiwan is 2 months deposit and 1 month advance. So, the moment you sign a lease for an apartment, you will have to pay for 3 months.
The cheapest kind of apartment is the studio-apartment. A studio-apartment usually comes furnished with air-conditioning, bed, desk and chair, and clothes cabinet. There's always a bathroom with shower and toilet. TV and refrigerator would cost extra. Studio-apartments usually cost NT$4,000 to NT$7,000 a month. Upon signing the lease, you will need to pay NT$12,000 to NT$21,000 up front.
One-bedroom apartments may or may not have a kitchen, and may or may not come furnished. Some come with two bathrooms. One-bedroom apartments usually cost NT$8,000 to NT$15,000 per month. Upon signing the lease, you will need to pay NT$24,000 to NT$45,000 up front.
Two and three-bedroom apartments usually have at least 2 bathrooms and a kitchen. They may or may not come furnished. Teachers usually pool their money together to rent such an apartment. Two and three-bedroom apartments usually cost NT$15,000 to NT$30,000 per month. Upon signing the lease, you will need to pay NT$45,000 to NT$90,000 up front.
Aside from the rent, some apartments also collect a monthly maintenance fee. Depending on the building administrator, the maintenance fee may be collected monthly, semi-monthly, or quarterly. Usually, you can get a discount when you pay for a couple of months in advance. The maintenance fee usually includes garbage collection, security, and electricity for the common areas like hallways, lobby and elevators. Maintenance fees range from NT$500 to NT$1,500 a month depending on the size of the apartment and services included.
Below is a summary of what you will expect to pay upon signing your apartment's lease.
| TYPE OF APARTMENT | 2 months deposit (NT$) | 1 month rent | Maintenance fee (average) | TOTAL AMOUNT | ||
| Studio Apartment | ||||||
| - low end | 8,000 | 4,000 | 1,000 | 13,000 | ||
| - high end | 14,000 | 7,000 | 1,000 | 22,000 | ||
| One Bedroom Apartment | ||||||
| - low end | 16000 | 8,000 | 1,000 | 25,000 | ||
| - high end | 30,000 | 15,000 | 1,000 | 46,000 | ||
| Two and Three Bedroom Apartment | ||||||
| - low end | 30,000 | 15,000 | 1,000 | 46,000 | ||
| - high end | 60,000 | 30,000 | 1,000 | 91,000 | ||
What About Utilities?
Utilities include electricity, water and gas. Rents in Taiwan usually do not include utilities. On average, 1 person can expect to pay from NT$1,000 to NT$1,500 per month on utilities.
In most studio-apartments, you only need to pay for electricity and water. Only larger apartments with kitchens have gas. Some older buildings may use gas-run water heaters.
Electric bills come every 2 months. Water and gas bills come every month. Utility bills can be paid in any bank, post office or convenience store. It is essential that utility bills be paid on time. Paying overdue bills is a big hassle. You will have to travel to the main office of the utility company to settle your account.
Other Amenities?
Most apartments in Taiwan do not include telephone, cable TV, internet access and other special amenities.
Applying for cable TV is relatively easy. Depending on your location, cable companies charge an installation fee of around NT$2,000. The monthly fee is NT$500 to NT$600. Depending on your arrangement with the cable company, they will send you a bill every month or every 6 months. You can pay your cable bill in any convenience store or post office.
There are different rates for internet access. ADSL is the most popular. You will need to pay installation fees and monthly fees. For dial-up internet access, you will need a telephone line and pay a fixed monthly fee plus usage. Pre-paid Internet access cards can be bought in most convenience stores. Most teachers just use the computer in their schools or internet cafes.
When applying for a local telephone line, you will need an ARC (Alien Resident Certificate). The installation fee is NT$3,000 and you will have to pay a refundable deposit of NT$1,000. Monthly phone bills can be paid in any convenience store. Like utility bills, it is essential that you pay them on time. Paying overdue bills is a big hassle. You will have to travel to the phone company's representative office to settle your account.
Getting a mobile phone would be more practical. Second hand mobile phones cost around NT$2,000 each. Most foreigners purchase pre-paid cell phone cards as registration and deposits are not required. Pre-paid phone kits costs NT$1,000. In the kit, you will get a SIM card to install in your mobile phone. The kit is also preloaded with NT$300 to NT$500 worth of call units. You can charge your phone with more call units by purchasing more pre-paid cards in any convenience store.
Taiwan |