Wow, you make it sound like this site only represents nutjobs. The site is not representitive of the expat community when less 0.0001% of foreigners living in Taiwan post here. There would of course be a transition to adapting to Taiwan for the OP and his family. But it’s nothing that any of the other sane expats have not adjusted to who have very succesful lives in Taiwan. But pretty much all of those expats don’t post on this site. They have their own social networks. Most of those expats who do well here of course are proficient in Chinese. Living in Kaohsiung the OP can have his wife enrol for Chinese classess at a university. She won’t be out of place as many other Asians learn Chinese this way.[/quote]
Thanks for catching the typo. What I meant to type was, “A lot of the long-termers that are nuts, drunk, or shipwrecked are regular posters here.” :roflmao: But seriously, having nothing to do with level of personal or financial success, you have to be a little bit off to stay here more than 5 years, imho. Or lets just say, being a bit off doesn’t hurt
Not all of the long-term expats I’ve met in Taiwan are weirdos. But then again, that statement is subjective as well
Wow thanks to everyone for the well-informed replies. It’s definitely very helpful.
A little more about us - my wife is very Americanized but she’s not afraid of coming back to work. I’m actually surprised at how much less concerned she is about the risks/rewards than I am. I think she’s just in the mood for a new thing in life but the problem is I’m not sure if she’s so good with the whole sneaky/backstabbing thing …
In my case, I’m getting nearly the equivalent of what I make in the US in terms of salary package (but the benefits in Taiwan are far more feeble than the US and way less vacation days, which is an issue). It’s an absolute comparison so I’m assuming I will save in terms of cost of living/expenses differential (or will I? As someone mentioned, living it up in Taipei is not much different than in NYC, LA etc?)
Thanks for all the candid advice and of course I’ll check this thread frequently for any more insight.
My own assessment is that it’s definitely a plus to go home for family and the chance to expand one’s career, but I’m definitely concerned about the big change in work culture and logical disconnect. The advice here has been very helpful so far and I really appreciate it. Always glad to interact with expats
For what it’s worth I wouldn’t demean myself or the very helpful people on these forums, or even the eccentrics. It’s just another social outlet and its a lot better than fakebook!
I’m not sure if anyone else mentioned the cost of living in Taiwan but I alluded to the fact that it’s not as cheap if you aren’t living at the budget level. Regardless of how much you live it up you will get significantly more apartment/house even in Taipei than you can in NYC for the same money. And you will probably pay far less. Consumer goods are roughly even though or more expensive. If you want to buy the same western things as back home then you will typically pay more. For most people this isn’t that big of a factor. I really don’t buy a lot of stuff for example. I live in a far better apartment (in Kaohsiung - cheaper than Taipei) for less money than I paid in reasonably priced Midwest cities back home. That makes the cost of living to be cheaper than back home.
I’ll throw in my loose change to this topic. I’ve never lived in NYC for an extended period, but I have lived in San Francisco, Washington DC, Hong Kong, then more in suburbs of Bay Area and 7 yrs off and on in Taiwan.
Unless you are sick of NYC or looking to save money, I’m not sure if Taipei is the first place I’d look. Having said that, as a half Taiwanese non-mandarin speaking fellow, I’ve always liked Taiwan. I’m trying to learn Chinese, but actually I think sometimes not knowing the language makes you a bit oblivious to some of the annoyances. But to say that NYC or any big city doesn’t have their own annoyances would be wrong. It’s just very different here. Taiwan is a bubble and in many ways 5yrs behind many “trends”. The fact you and your wife know the language and have family will make it much better. Most times the horror stories you hear about people cannot stand living here are from foreigners that don’t speak the language and the culture shock is just too much.
In terms of costs, I’m saving a ton of money here, but that’s because I don’t have a car (you’ll pay ~double the price for the same car in Taiwan), health insurance, food costs (Mon-Fri I eat cheap chicken/pork “boxes” not in taipei or buffet style places that cost at most $3.00 per meal). I’m not a picky eater so I don’t mind this. However, going out to a “good” restaurant (not some taiwan version of an Italian restaurant) in Taipei is very similar pricing to San Francisco prices. As the above poster mentioned-- western goods and food will be at a premium. It really depends on what things do you rely on right now.
Housing in Taipei has a huge range and is probably a separate topic. How old is the building, location to a MRT station, noise issues you’ll have to consider your own needs. I’m in a pretty expensive district and 4 yr old building, it’s a doorman building with a gym and pool (both small and crappy) and essentially a studio apt and I’m paying only a touch less than something in San Francisco. But it’s quiet and 5 min walk to MRT and bus stops so I don’t mind paying a premium (in Taiwan terms)-- but I’m still saving money-- however I’ve never lived in an apartment this small, but I’m used to it now.
The biggest downside (for me )to Taipei is the air quality and the lack of western entertainment / good TV shows/movies/music. You’ll get used to the air quality of course, but that’s not really a good thing.
I’m not sure what kind of office environment you’d be in-- and my work situation is very unique so I cannot speak to the politics of the workplace. Perhaps that is the largest issue. Are you going to be working side by side with people of the same experience level, but you are making much more than them? Are you a type A personality? Do you get annoyed and frustrated easily? These are rhetorical questions as every work situation will be very different.
I disagree. I think Taiwan is excellent value at the mid-range. Costs haven’t risen much here in the past 10 years but they have back home. Try getting a free range mountain chicken for US$10 back home. Or going out and getting a lodge style room with your own hot spring annex room with a stone tub for US$100 a night for a double on a weekend.
Organic vegies are reasonably priced here and most mid-range Chinese restaurants, where you share dishes, won’t cost much more than US$10-15 per person. Fresh seafood is dirt cheap compared to NY.
There are all manner of small coffee huts around, like Cama, where you get fresh roasted coffee for US$1.50. In season fruit is inexpensive.
If you go clubbing and drinking every night costs will be similar. But things like museums and cultural exhibitions are very cheap.
I disagree. I think Taiwan is excellent value at the mid-range. Costs haven’t risen much here in the past 10 years but they have back home. Try getting a free range mountain chicken for US$10 back home. Or going out and getting a lodge style room with your own hot spring annex room with a stone tub for US$100 a night for a double on a weekend.
Organic vegies are reasonably priced here and most mid-range Chinese restaurants, where you share dishes, won’t cost much more than US$10-15 per person. Fresh seafood is dirt cheap compared to NY.
There are all manner of small coffee huts around, like Cama, where you get fresh roasted coffee for US$1.50. In season fruit is inexpensive.
If you go clubbing and drinking every night costs will be similar. But things like museums and cultural exhibitions are very cheap.[/quote]
If someone adjusts their lifestyle to what Taiwan has a abundance of then it is cheaper. That’s what I do although I’m still more in the cheap bastard price range for most things (same as at home). Some just don’t want to do that. I was also talking more about goods that you purchase. Electronics are a little more expensive. Western style home furnishings are more expensive. Cars are typically more expensive. Western clothes are typically more expensive. Books are more expensive especially since there are pretty much zero secondhand English bookstores. You already mentioned clubbing and drinking. Other forms of nighttime entertainment (thinking concerts) are not cheap.
The big ticket items like rent, food and healthcare are all way cheaper. Cars are slightly more expensive but much cheaper to run, insure and tax, so still cheaper than most places. Electronic goods only more expensive than US or UK or HK. Books can download on KIndle. Alcohol in stores is cheap, bars about same price as overseas, clothes maybe a by more than US for branded stuff but cheap for local stuff. Subway and train tickets very reasonable. Overall living in Taiwan is far cheaper than most western countries. What can hurt are flight costs back to home countries.
Tell him commuting by taxi is way cheaper than owning a car -parking and insurance and tax costs are ridiculous. But generally speaking, transportation is way efficient and cheap. And safe. Have we mentioned safe? Safe as in single woman alone in jammies walking the Maltese pups on the street at 2am safe. Safe as in supermarket run at 3am safe. Safe as forget your purse/cellphone everything but umbrella/bike outside and huge chances it will be there/someone will give it back to you safe.
Edwards: What’s the catch?
Kay: The catch? The catch is you will sever every human contact. Nobody will ever know you exist anywhere. Ever. I’ll give you to sunrise to think it over.
[starts walking away]
Edwards: [shouting after Kay] Hey! Is it worth it?
Kay: Oh yeah, it’s worth it…
[starts walking again, stops and turns back briefly]
Kay: … if you’re strong enough!
The only mentally stable one I know of is a Deadhead. I suspect that excessive pot and LSD consumption during his youth gave him the experiences necessary to handle Taiwan.
Aside quality of life, check the numbers on number.com
Brussels in my case is " a bit" more expensive
Indexes Difference
Consumer Prices in Brussels are 63.30% higher than in Taipei
Consumer Prices Including Rent in Brussels are 60.60% higher than in Taipei
Rent Prices in Brussels are 53.54% higher than in Taipei
Restaurant Prices in Brussels are 267.12% higher than in Taipei
Groceries Prices in Brussels are 12.65% higher than in Taipei
Local Purchasing Power in Brussels is 24.54% higher than in Taipei
Don’t forget to take into account some soft info. For instance, while Baltimore MD would require ~4K US to have the same standard of living as ~2.8K US in Taipei, it would most likely cost significantly more in Baltimore to have the same standard of safe living.
