Taiwan
Currency in Taiwan: what to use and how to exchange
Taiwan uses the New Taiwan dollar (TWD, NT$), with notes from NT$100 to NT$2,000 and coins from NT$1 to NT$50. Bring some cash for night markets and small shops, withdraw more from ATMs rather than exchanging at the airport, and use a card for hotels and larger restaurants.
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GuideTaiwan
Key facts
- Currency
- New Taiwan dollar (TWD, NT$)
- Notes
- NT$100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000
- Coins
- NT$1, 5, 10, 20, 50
- Best value
- Withdraw from a bank ATM with a card that has no foreign transaction fee
- Airport exchange
- Convenient but usually a weaker rate than city banks or ATMs
- Cards accepted
- Hotels, chain stores, convenience stores and larger restaurants; less so at night markets and small shops
- Cash still needed
- Night markets, small eateries, taxis, temples and rural areas
- Tipping
- Not expected; many sit-down restaurants add a 10% service charge
Details
Taiwan's currency is the New Taiwan dollar, written NT$ or TWD. Prices in shops and menus are in NT$; the local word is 元 (yuan) or 塊 (kuai). As a rough 2026 guide, NT$100 is a few US dollars, a night-market snack costs NT$50–100, a metro ride NT$20–65 and a mid-range hotel room NT$2,500–5,000. Check the live rate before you fly, since it moves.
Cash and cards work together. Cards are fine at hotels, department stores, convenience stores, chain cafés and most sit-down restaurants. Night markets, small noodle shops, temple stalls, some taxis and rural buses are cash-first, so keep NT$1,000–2,000 on you for a day out.
For getting cash, bank ATMs are the simplest route. They are everywhere in cities and at Taoyuan and Songshan airports, and most accept foreign Visa, Mastercard and Cirrus/Maestro cards. Your bank's exchange rate plus any foreign transaction fee decides the real cost, so a no-fee card is usually cheaper than a currency counter. Withdraw larger amounts less often to cut per-withdrawal fees.
If you prefer to bring cash, exchange at a bank branch in Taipei or another city rather than a hotel desk. Banks need your passport, keep set opening hours and are closed on weekends and public holidays, so plan around that. Airport counters are open long hours and are a reasonable first stop for a small amount, but the rate is usually weaker than a city bank.
US dollars are the easiest foreign currency to exchange, followed by euros and Japanese yen. Other currencies may be refused or given a poor rate, so convert before you leave home if you carry something unusual. Keep your exchange receipts; they help if you want to convert leftover NT$ back.
| Method | Typical cost | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Bank ATM withdrawal | Your bank's rate plus a foreign transaction fee, if any | Everyday cash; airports and city centres |
| Bank branch exchange | Rate varies; passport required | Larger amounts, weekdays only |
| Airport currency counter | Usually a weaker rate | A small amount on arrival |
| Card payment | Issuer's rate plus any foreign transaction fee | Hotels, chains, larger restaurants |
| Hotel front desk | Often the weakest rate | Emergency only |
Rates and fees change; check your own bank's terms before you travel.
Tips
- Tell your bank you are travelling so your card is not blocked.
- Choose to be charged in NT$, not your home currency, if a terminal offers the choice.
- Keep small notes and coins for night markets and buses.
- Carry your passport for bank exchanges; some counters ask for a second ID.
- Leftover NT$ can be spent at the airport or changed back at a bank before you leave.
- Convenience stores such as 7-Eleven and FamilyMart take cards and are open late, which helps on arrival night.
Notes
Taiwan is a cash-friendly but card-ready country, so you do not need to carry large sums. The main risk is arriving with no NT$ and finding your card blocked, so bring a backup card and a small amount of US dollars.
Some ATMs limit each withdrawal to around NT$20,000–30,000, and your home bank may set a lower daily cap. If a machine refuses your card, try another bank's ATM before assuming the card is the problem.
Counterfeit notes are rare, but take cash from bank ATMs and counters rather than informal exchanges. If you are unsure about a note, ask a bank to check it.
For day-to-day spending, see the money and tipping page and the cards and ATMs page linked below.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What currency is used in Taiwan?
The New Taiwan dollar, written TWD or NT$. Notes run from NT$100 to NT$2,000 and coins from NT$1 to NT$50. Prices are shown in NT$.
Where is the best place to exchange money in Taiwan?
Bank ATMs usually give the best combination of rate and convenience, especially with a no-fee card. Bank branches in cities beat airport counters and hotel desks on rate, but are closed at weekends.
Is it better to bring cash or use a card in Taiwan?
Both. Cards cover hotels, chains and larger restaurants; cash covers night markets, small eateries, taxis and rural areas. Carry NT$1,000–2,000 for a day out.
Can I use US dollars in Taiwan?
No, shops price in NT$. US dollars are the easiest foreign currency to exchange at banks and airport counters, but you still need to convert them.
Do I need to tip in Taiwan?
No. Tipping is not expected, though many sit-down restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialTaiwan Tourism Administration
- officialCentral Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
- secondaryWikivoyage – Taiwan