Money, Cards & Tipping in Taipei

What currency does Taipei use?

Taiwan uses the New Taiwan Dollar, usually written NT$, NTD or simply with the dollar symbol in local contexts. The Central Bank currently lists banknotes in NT$100, NT$200, NT$500, NT$1,000 and NT$2,000 denominations, plus circulating coins. In everyday visitor spending, NT$100, NT$500 and NT$1,000 notes are the denominations you are most likely to handle.

Do you still need cash?

Yes. Taipei is highly digital, but cash remains useful at traditional markets, some night-market stalls, small restaurants, older shops and businesses that either do not take international cards or set their own card conditions. You do not need to carry a huge amount; the useful strategy is to keep enough for a meal, market snacks and a transport fallback rather than trying to make the whole trip cash-only.

Where cards work well

International credit and debit cards are generally most useful at hotels, department stores, malls, major attractions and larger restaurants. Acceptance at a business does not guarantee every overseas card or mobile wallet will work, so keep a second payment method. When a terminal offers to bill your home currency instead of New Taiwan dollars, compare the conversion carefully; your own bank's NTD conversion may be better than dynamic currency conversion.

EasyCard is more than a transit card

An EasyCard is the simplest payment tool to add after you arrive. It works across Taipei public transport and the EasyCard Corporation also lists small-value payment use at participating convenience stores, supermarkets, restaurants and other merchants. Think of it as a stored-value companion to cash and your bank card, not as a universal replacement for either.

Getting and topping up an EasyCard

Visitors commonly buy an adult EasyCard after arrival and add cash value as needed. For transport details, see our getting around Taipei guide. Keep enough balance for your next journey and remember that a tourist's ordinary stored-value card does not depend on the bank-linked auto-reload products offered to local account holders.

ATMs and cash withdrawals

ATMs are widespread in Taipei, including at banks and many convenience locations. Whether an individual machine accepts your card depends on its network and your issuing bank. Before travelling, check your bank's overseas withdrawal fee and foreign-exchange margin. A few moderate withdrawals are usually easier to manage than carrying your entire trip budget in cash from day one.

Should you exchange money before arriving?

You do not normally need to source your entire Taiwan budget before departure. Having a small amount of NTD on arrival can be reassuring, but Taipei has extensive banking and ATM infrastructure. Avoid hard-coding an exchange rate into your trip budget: rates move, so check the live rate from your bank or a reputable currency source when you actually travel.

Tipping in Taipei

Tipping is not customary in Taiwan. Older and current Taiwan tourism guidance consistently treats tipping as unnecessary in ordinary restaurants, taxis and day-to-day services. Some hotels and restaurants add a service charge, commonly 10%, so check the bill before deciding whether anything extra is appropriate. You do not need to import North American tipping percentages into routine Taipei transactions.

Night markets and small food shops

Bring cash. Even where digital payments are becoming more common, the fastest and least awkward approach at small stalls is to have smaller NTD notes and coins ready. If your evening revolves around Taipei's night markets, do not assume a foreign card or phone wallet will cover every purchase.

A simple payment setup for most visitors

Use three layers: an EasyCard for MRT/bus trips and participating small purchases; one international card for hotels and larger transactions; and a modest cash reserve for markets, independent eateries and payment failures. Keep a second bank card separate from your main wallet so a lost card does not become a trip-wide problem.

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