Taiwan Currency & Money Guide: Exchange, Cards, and Tips

Taiwan uses the New Taiwan Dollar (TWD or NT$), and most travellers will do best with a mix of cash, card, and ATM withdrawals. As of early 2026, 1 SGD typically buys around 23.5 to 24.5 TWD, so it is easy to estimate everyday spending once you arrive.

For most trips, exchange a small amount at the airport, then rely on bank ATMs or licensed banks for better rates on larger withdrawals. Credit cards are widely accepted in cities, but you will still want cash for night markets, smaller eateries, and local transport top-ups.

The best Taiwan exchange rate is usually found at licensed banks rather than informal money changers, and you should always avoid street offers because they can involve poor rates or counterfeit notes. Taiwan’s official notes include NT$100, NT$200, NT$500, NT$1,000, and NT$2,000, while coins range from NT$1 to NT$50.

At Taoyuan International Airport, travellers can use 24-hour exchange booths operated by Bank of Taiwan and Mega Bank, and the airport counters reportedly charge a small fixed fee of around NT$30. Banks and government-designated exchange locations in Taipei and other major cities usually require a passport, and many branch counters operate on weekday business hours only, roughly 09:00–15:30.

Currency	Approx. rate in 2026
1 SGD	23.5–24.5 TWD
1 USD	around 30–32 TWD
1 EUR	around 36–37 TWD
1 CNY	around 4.6–4.8 TWD

If you are tracking travel costs in the Hello app, its multi-currency budget tools can automatically convert your TWD spending into SGD or your home currency, which makes it much easier to compare what you actually spent on taxis, meals, and sightseeing.

Card payments are common in Taiwan’s hotels, department stores, larger restaurants, and many chain shops, but cash is still king at night markets, older cafés, temple areas, and small local vendors. Mobile and contactless payment is growing, yet acceptance can vary by shop, so a backup card and cash are both useful.

ATMs are widely available at airports, MRT stations, convenience stores, and banks, making them one of the easiest ways to get local currency after arrival. For many travellers, withdrawing cash from a bank-linked ATM gives better value than airport exchange counters, though your home bank may still charge a foreign ATM or overseas transaction fee. Check whether your card supports overseas withdrawals and always choose to be charged in TWD rather than converted at the machine.

A practical approach is to withdraw enough cash for a few days of low-cost spending, then pay larger items by card. If you are visiting with friends, Hello’s expense splitting and bank-statement import tools can help you track who paid for what across different currencies without doing manual conversions later.

The short answer is that Taiwan tipping is generally not expected, and in most everyday situations you do not need to leave extra cash. This makes Taiwan simpler than many destinations where service charges or compulsory tips are common.

In restaurants, taxis, and casual local services, rounding up is appreciated but not required, and leaving a tip can even feel unusual in some places. Larger hotels, upscale restaurants, and tour services may occasionally add a service charge or accept a discretionary tip, but this is the exception rather than the rule.

A good rule of thumb is to follow the receipt: if a service charge is already included, there is usually no need to tip again. For travellers budgeting a trip to Taiwan, this can be a small but meaningful saving, especially across multiple meals, short rides, and sightseeing days.

The most common money mistakes in Taiwan are carrying too little cash, accepting informal exchange offers, and assuming every place takes cards. Staying with licensed banks, official ATMs, and reputable shops is the safest way to avoid poor rates or counterfeit notes.

Q: Are apps like WeChat Pay or PayPay useful in Taiwan? Some mainland Chinese and Japanese payment apps may work in certain stores, but acceptance is inconsistent, so travellers should not rely on them as their main payment method. Cash and international cards remain the most dependable options for most visitors.

Q: How much cash should I carry? For a city trip, many travellers do well with a few thousand TWD for transit, snacks, and market purchases, then use cards for hotels and bigger expenses. A simple money-saving move is to plan meals around local set lunches, convenience-store breakfasts, and night-market snacks, which can be much cheaper than tourist-area dining.

Q: Any scam warnings? Yes: avoid hawkers offering exchange, check your notes for authenticity, and keep exchange receipts because they may be needed if you want to convert unused TWD back before departure. If you use a Hello eSIM for Taiwan, you can stay online for maps, bank searches, and payment app checks the moment you land.