How Much Does a Luxury Service Apartment Cost to Rent in Taipei, Taiwan?

I lived in Taipei for several years and have mixed emotions about it. It was a time of stress, heartache, happiness, and growth. Ultimately, it was crucial for getting me to where I’m at now professionally and emotionally, so I will always be thankful for my time there. Anchoring me down and keeping me levelheaded was my apartment at Taipei W110 – a luxury service apartment based in the heart of Xinyi District and a stone’s throw away from Taipei 101 (the world’s tallest building from 2004 until 2010).

Taipei W110 was one of the best apartments I’ve ever lived in, so I thought I would help answer some common questions you might have about how much a luxury apartment in Taipei costs and what it comes with.

I think it’s important when living abroad to shell out that little extra bit to have a place that you love coming home to. It really helps mitigate the stress felt on your “bad days”, and provides a spot you don’t actually hate lounging at on your lazy Sundays. 

Keep in mind that the below numbers are pertaining to my stay, and I’m sure differs (maybe even significantly) from what others paid for the same place.

So, let’s get started. How much does a luxury apartment cost in Taipei?  

The Price of a Luxury Service Apartment in Taipei

• Location: No. 567, Guangfu South Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110

Taipei rent can effectively be any number that you’re comfortable with. It’s an extremely affordable city to live in, and has significantly good value for one’s dollar (probably not for purchasing though). The problem with Taipei apartments is that you often don’t get what’s advertised, so it’s essential you check them out thoroughly before committing to a lease. That’s why I opted for a Taipei service apartment, to hopefully cut out a lot of the hassle associated with non-service apartments. 

When starting out on your Taipei apartment hunt, I suggest using https://rent.591.com.tw/ to sift through the best deals. Or, if you’re looking for a short term rental, AirBnb is always a formidable option. If you don’t read Chinese, using Google Translate gets the job done. 

At Taipei W110, located at 567 Guangfu South Road in Xinyi District, my rent came in at roughly NT $29,360, just about USD $940. This included the management  fee. For a comparable place in any major Asian city, I’d reckon the price for a similar apartment would run (at minimum) 2.5 times the price. 

For my work, I needed extremely fast Internet, which cost me about NT $4,800 every 3 months. My electric and water bills came in around NT $3,000 per month. In total, to run my air conditioner whenever, do numerous cycles of wash, and cover my rent, I was spending just around NT $33,000 or USD $1,080 per month. 

Do note that this price was negotiated over a year long lease, and the same apartment in Taipei W110 for short term rent is just around NT $10,000 (USD $320) more per month. My agent fee was right around half a month’s rent (NT $14,500) for a one year lease as well. 

Make sure to check out my comprehensive post breaking down my budget in Taipei over here. 

Now that we’ve gotten the price of Taipei rent out of the way, let’s take a look at exactly what my service apartment in Taipei came with that made it worth the near $1,000 rent tag.

Check out how much I spent in Taipei per month!

Location: Right in the Heart of Xinyi District

Xinyi District is where the hustle and bustle of Taipei takes place. It’s the de facto “financial district” of Taipei, due to Taipei 101, most major Western hotels, various shopping malls, and International convention centers. Some even refer to it as the “Manhattan of Taipei.” 

As a mid-twenty-something (at the time) who enjoys nightlife, rooftop bars, and Sunday boozy brunches, Xinyi District was perfect for me. I was within walking distance of all major nightlife spots, an overpriced yet delicious food truck commune, and my favorite night market in Taipei – Tonghua Night Market.  

As my Taipei tenure came to an end, more and more bars and Western restaurants began popping up in the area, and I imagine it was becoming a hot area for real-estate. I was also a five minute walk from a top five favorite cafe of mine on Wuxing Street, Oromo Cafe. You can read more about it in my breakdown of the best cafes for digital nomads in Taipei.

Transportation-wise, Taipei’s subway (the MRT) was a seven to ten minute walk away (directly between the Taipei 101/World Trade Center stop and Xinyi Anhe stop). U-bikes were also directly out the back of my building, which cost just NTD $5 for 30 minutes.

For someone who likes everything concentrated in one area, Taipei W110’s location had it all. 

Rooftop Pool Overlooking Taipei 101

Courtesy of Taipei W110’s Facebook page.

One might not think Big Body to be the biggest of swimmers. After all, one time I did drink three large Starbucks cold brews in one day, go swimming, and end up having to nap in my car for four hours after because I was too dizzy to drive. I became much more of a pool guy after living at Taipei W110. There isn’t much of a better way to take in a Taipei sunset than at a pool directly overlooking Taipei 101.

On special occasions, my then girlfriend and I would bring a bottle of wine or champagne up to the pool, take a dip, and then hang out at the BBQ patio area adjacent. On one occasion, I also may or may not have brought a beer bong up to the roof with some friends. Point is, it was a great spot to hang out at, and got a lot of use from me. 

There is a gym and lounge room on the top floor as well, however, these were pretty bare and not worth the rent. This is a gym that ticks the most basic of boxes, so you’ll likely need to pick up a gym membership in Taipei instead.

Looking for date ideas in Taipei? Make sure to check out my post on 6 date ideas for couples in Taipei!

The Room: Modern, Furnished, & Lofty 

My executive studio had what I consider an absolute essential for all apartments – a big couch to hang out on for my lazy weekends. I actually spent the first two weeks sleeping on the couch because I was enjoying the city so much that I forgot to buy sheets and pillows. 

The apartment interior was elegant, modern, and open-space, with a loft-style bed – so technically my apartment was “two floors.” My first few nights sleeping up in the loft, I nearly kicked my television over when missing the bottom step on the stairs. 

There was a fully functioning kitchen, where I spent many nights perfecting my guacamole recipe, a sizable bathroom, and ample storage space for suits, suitcases, and miscellaneous items. 

Depending on the floor you’re on, you’ll have a great view of Taipei 101. I barely had a view of the tip of it from my room, so that was a little disappointing. One New Year’s Eve, I drank a few beers and ate some McDonald’s around 8PM, and passed out shortly after on my couch. I was woken up by the reflection of Taipei 101’s famous fireworks in the building across from me. So, I grabbed a cold McDouble, cracked open an Asahi, and watched those glorious fireworks through the reflection. And, I loved every second of it. 

I also had an (almost floor) to ceiling window, which was similar to a couch in itself. Overall, my apartment could sit about six persons comfortably for a dinner party. 

Additional Building Amenities & Services Include

• Karaoke room
• Roof garden
• Lounge
• 24/7 security

And, for those looking for reliable housekeeping services, W110 offers housekeeping services for NT $1,000 to $1,200 – depending on the size of your apartment. 

The Downside: Illegal AirBnbs

With everyone on their hustle in Asia, it’s no surprise that illegal AirBnbs pop up now and again. This became somewhat of a nuisance during my time there, as the neighboring units constantly had new tenants. This wouldn’t usually be too bad, however, when it’s a sheer numbers game of tenants, you’re bound to run into some noisy ones.

The sound proofing in the building is also quite poor, so you can hear almost anything from the neighboring unit. This is one of the most common complaints about the building. I typically sleep with a fan and the air condition on, and am a heavy sleeper, so I was never heavily affected by this.

Nothing ever rose to a level where I felt that I couldn’t live there anymore, and I generally found all neighbors to be quite respectful and friendly.  

Final Thoughts on Luxury Service Apartments in Taipei

So, there you have it! Above is what it cost me to live in a Taipei service apartment. Keep in mind that this was how much it cost me to rent an apartment in Taipei, and can be done for far cheaper (or more expensive). I’m only able to comment with some certainty on my own housing costs and situation, so I hope it helps!

Just remember, when looking through Taipei apartment rentals, always make sure to inspect the apartment in person before entering into a lease. 

Let me know if there are any specific questions you might have about housing in the comments and I’d be more than happy to help!

-Big Body