Money in Taiwan: Cash, Cards, ATMs & the NT Dollar

Taiwan runs on a comfortable mix of old and new: you can tap a transit card through the Taipei Metro one minute and dig for coins to pay a night-market vendor the next. Understanding how money works here — the New Taiwan Dollar, where cash is still king, and when cards or mobile pay actually get accepted — will save you fumbling at the worst possible moment. This guide walks through everything you need to handle money in Taiwan like a seasoned visitor.

The New Taiwan Dollar (TWD / NT$) basics

Taiwan's currency is the New Taiwan Dollar, written as TWD in banking contexts and shown locally as NT$ or simply 元 (yuán). When a menu lists a beef noodle soup at "150," that means NT$150. There are no smaller subunits you'll deal with in practice — prices are quoted in whole dollars.

Banknotes come in NT$100, NT$200, NT$500, NT$1,000, and NT$2,000 denominations, though the NT$200 and NT$2,000 notes are uncommon and some smaller shops may hesitate to accept the large NT$2,000 bill. Coins circulate in NT$1, NT$5, NT$10, NT$20, and NT$50 — you'll accumulate a surprising amount of coinage, so a small zip pouch is genuinely useful.

The exchange rate hovers in a range that has long sat in the low thirties of NT$ to one US dollar, but always check a live rate before you travel rather than relying on a number you saw months ago. A quick mental shortcut many travelers use: drop the last two digits and you're roughly in the ballpark of US dollars, then adjust. For a more precise picture, a currency app on your phone does the work instantly — and that is one small reason a reliable data connection earns its keep on the road. If you are still weighing connectivity options, our overview of the best Taiwan eSIM for travelers breaks down what you actually need.

Cash-first culture: where you'll need it

Despite Taiwan's high-tech reputation, cash remains essential, especially once you step outside large hotels, chain stores, and department stores. Many of the experiences travelers come for are cash-only by default.

Places that almost always want cash

  • Night markets and street food — Shilin, Raohe, Ningxia and their counterparts in Tainan and Kaohsiung run almost entirely on cash. Vendors deal in small notes and coins, so keep NT$100 and NT$500 bills handy.
  • Small family restaurants and traditional eateries — the beloved hole-in-the-wall spots rarely take cards.
  • Local buses and some regional transport — exact change or a stored-value card is expected.
  • Temples, small museums and rural attractions — entry donations and tickets are typically cash.
  • Traditional markets, tea houses and rural guesthouses — particularly outside the main cities.

A practical rule: carry enough cash to cover a full day of eating, local transport, and incidentals, and treat cards as a backup for larger or more formal purchases rather than your default. For a fuller sense of what a day actually costs across different travel styles, see our realistic Taiwan budget guide.

Cards, mobile pay and EasyCard top-ups

Card acceptance has grown steadily, and in the right settings plastic works smoothly. Where cards are accepted, Visa and Mastercard are the most reliable; American Express is more hit-or-miss, and you should never assume it will be taken.

Where cards work well

  • Hotels and mid-to-upper-range accommodation
  • Department stores, shopping malls and chain retailers such as large bookstores and electronics shops
  • Convenience-store chains like 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life and OK Mart, which are everywhere and accept cards as well as stored-value cards
  • Mid-range and tourist-oriented restaurants, cafes and bars
  • High Speed Rail and intercity train tickets, which you can buy by card online or at machines

The EasyCard and iPASS: Taiwan's everyday payment cards

The single most useful piece of plastic you'll carry is a contactless stored-value card — the EasyCard (悠遊卡) in the north or the iPASS (一卡通) associated with the south, both of which now work nationwide on most systems. You tap it on metros, most buses, the Taipei MRT, Kaohsiung MRT, and many shops.

Crucially for handling money, these cards double as a small wallet: you can pay at every major convenience store with them, plus many vending machines, some night-market stalls, laundromats, and coin lockers. Top them up with cash at convenience-store counters, metro station machines, and service kiosks. Because top-ups are cash-based, the EasyCard is also a neat way to "spend down" your coins and small notes. We go deep on tapping, transfers, and where these cards are accepted in our guide to getting around Taiwan with the HSR, trains, metro and EasyCard.

Mobile and contactless payment

Domestic mobile-payment apps such as LINE Pay and local QR-code systems are widespread among residents, but most require a local bank account or number, so they're often impractical for short-term visitors. Apple Pay and Google Pay tied to your home cards do work at many card terminals — useful as a tap-to-pay convenience, but never your only plan, since the cash-only venues above won't support them.

ATMs, withdrawal fees and currency exchange

Because cash matters so much, knowing how to get NT$ efficiently is half the battle.

Using ATMs in Taiwan

ATMs are abundant and traveler-friendly. The most reliable for foreign cards are the machines inside the ubiquitous convenience stores and at major banks. 7-Eleven ATMs (operated by a major domestic bank) and the machines at FamilyMart are widely used by visitors and generally accept international Visa, Mastercard, Plus, and Cirrus cards. Most offer an English-language menu — look for the option on the welcome screen.

A few practical notes on withdrawals:

  • Tell your bank you're traveling so the card isn't blocked, and check your home bank's foreign-withdrawal and conversion fees before you go.
  • If an ATM asks whether to charge in your home currency or in NT$, always choose to be charged in New Taiwan Dollars. Choosing your home currency triggers "dynamic currency conversion," which usually gives a worse rate.
  • Withdraw in reasonable lumps to minimize per-transaction fees, but don't carry more than you're comfortable with — Taiwan is very safe, yet common sense still applies.
  • Airport ATMs in the arrivals hall at Taoyuan and other international gateways let you get cash the moment you land, so you're not dependent on an exchange counter being open.

Currency exchange

If you prefer to exchange cash, banks and the airport currency counters offer fair, regulated rates, and exchanging at the airport on arrival is reasonable here — unlike in many countries, airport rates in Taiwan are not notably predatory. Keep the receipt; it can be useful if you want to convert leftover NT$ back at the end of your trip. Hotels will exchange money too, but usually at less favorable rates, so use them only for convenience.

One tip: bring your passport when exchanging money or doing certain bank transactions, as ID is often required.

Tipping and budgeting tips

Tipping etiquette: keep it simple

Taiwan is not a tipping culture, and this is one of the easier things to get right: in most situations, you simply don't tip. Taxi drivers, night-market vendors, and casual restaurants do not expect anything extra, and rounding up is a kind gesture rather than an obligation.

  • Restaurants: mid-range and upscale sit-down places, plus hotels, often add a 10% service charge automatically — check the bill, and if it's there, no further tip is needed.
  • Taxis: no tip expected; rounding up to the nearest convenient amount is fine but not required.
  • Hotels: tipping porters or housekeeping a small amount is appreciated at higher-end properties but is by no means standard.
  • Tour guides and drivers: a tip for a private guide or driver on a multi-day tour is a welcome thank-you, though still discretionary.

Smart money habits for your trip

  • Carry a daily cash float and refill it from a convenience-store ATM as needed rather than walking around with your whole budget.
  • Keep small notes and coins for night markets, local buses, and temple donations; break large bills at convenience stores or chain shops.
  • Load an EasyCard or iPASS early — it removes most of the friction of transport and small purchases in one tap.
  • Have a backup card stored separately from your primary one in case of loss or a machine swallowing your card.
  • Note convenience stores double as financial hubs: ATMs, card top-ups, bill payment, and even some package services all happen at 7-Eleven and FamilyMart, which are open around the clock.

If you want to convert a price the second you see it, compare an ATM fee on the spot, or pull up the nearest bank machine on a map, doing it on your own data beats hunting for spotty cafe WiFi. A Taiwan eSIM plan keeps currency apps, maps, and your banking app reachable from the moment you land — so the only thing you'll have to think about is whether to order one more plate of dumplings. Staying connected turns Taiwan's cash-and-card juggling act into a non-issue, leaving you free to focus on the trip itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Taiwan a cash or card society?

Both, but cash still leads for everyday spending. Hotels, department stores, malls, convenience-store chains and intercity rail accept cards, but night markets, street food, small family restaurants, temples and local buses are typically cash-only. Carry enough cash for a full day of food and transport, and treat cards as a backup for larger purchases.

Can I use my foreign card at ATMs in Taiwan?

Yes. ATMs are abundant and traveler-friendly, especially the machines inside 7-Eleven and FamilyMart convenience stores and at major banks, which generally accept international Visa, Mastercard, Plus and Cirrus cards and offer an English menu. Tell your bank you're traveling, and if asked, always choose to be charged in New Taiwan Dollars to avoid poor dynamic-currency-conversion rates.

Do you tip in Taiwan?

No, Taiwan is not a tipping culture. Taxi drivers, night-market vendors and casual restaurants do not expect tips. Mid-range and upscale restaurants and hotels often add a 10% service charge automatically, so check the bill. A small tip for a private guide or driver is appreciated but always discretionary.

What is the EasyCard and should I get one?

The EasyCard (and the iPASS in the south) is a contactless stored-value card you tap for metros, most buses and many shops. It works nationwide on most systems and lets you pay at every major convenience store, plus vending machines, lockers and some stalls. Top it up with cash at store counters and metro machines. It removes most small-payment friction, so it's well worth getting early.

Where should I exchange money in Taiwan?

Banks and the airport currency counters offer fair, regulated rates, and unlike in many countries the airport rates in Taiwan are reasonable, so exchanging on arrival is fine. Bring your passport, as ID is often required. Hotels will exchange money too but usually at less favorable rates. Keep your receipt in case you want to convert leftover NT$ back later.