Cost of Living | Salary and Tax | Teaching English in Taiwan

This video was requested by one of my subscribers so I sat down and rambled on about money matters. Hope this helps someone out there and feel free to ask me any questions down below. Thanks for watching!
00:00 Intro
01:10 Contract Considerations
05:57 Cost of Living

[@youisupport777]

75,000 NTD per month is a high-level salary in Taiwan; the minimum wage in Taiwan is only 26,400 NTD per month.

[@ryfree]

Yes, as a foreign English teacher in a public school, you will earn a fairly good salary relatively speaking. But you will be taxed at a higher rate (though you should get a lot of that back).

[@mariamziyadi5472]

Always so detailed! 😅 Love your videos, actually makes me visualize things better 🙏

[@ryfree]

Glad to hear it! Thank you so much for watching :)

[@gilchristhaas9865]

Nice presentation. I lived and worked as a roving English teacher in northern Taipei for 12 years, 1994-2006. At that time there were not yet opportunities for foreign teachers in public schools. I made quite a bit of cash, exhausting myself teaching 40-50 hours per week in three venues - morning pre-school, early afternoon private students, and late afternoon to evening cram schools. It was fun but something I found I couldn’t do past the age of 40, particularly after having two children. It’s great that there are now decent public school opportunities. If I had had such opportunities back then, I might have had a more leisurely life and not succumbed to the allure of exhausting myself for higher income.

[@ryfree]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with me and my channel. I've often heard that the money used to be great back in the old days of teaching English in Taiwan and from your story, I can see that probably is correct. I'm 42 and often wonder how long I can continue teaching English but for now I find a really good work/life balance with the public schools (though the money is the best).

[@cookingwithhua7237]

Thanks for making the video! Appreciate the information.

[@daynaboudreau5969]

Good information for someone interested in teaching there from someone working and living there. Enjoyed seeing and hearing you.

[@ryfree]

Thanks Mom!

[@satheeskumar8297]

Thanks for your valuable information

[@ogoomercy]

Thanks for the information.

[@dameup]

Yee good video good info

[@jaredhosford7867]

cool video. thanks

[@Diana_Free]

You did a great job at providing a clear picture of what the cost of living is like there :) It’s good that your having an adventure and getting to save a bit of money. That’ll be nice for you to have a month off next year.

[@ryfree]

A good work/life balance with some savings isn't a bad thing at all. Thank you so much as always for watching Diana :)

[@marcoreviews]

@@ryfree looks like you landed in heaven! You have the job I always wanted! So happy for you! Great lifestyle! #stayepic

[@Diana_Free]

@@ryfree Yeah, I agree. You deserve a raise for going the extra mile at your school 😀

[@ryfree]

@@marcoreviews LOL, it ain't bad Marco. Thank you as always for the positive encouragement my friend :)

[@chefman-lx4sq]

Im a deped public school teAcher at Philippines..I wantwd to work in taiwan but my major is not english but i cand speak english fuently.. I am a licenSe teacher and working for 12 years

[@TL243]

Good stuff!

[@ryfree]

Thank you!

[@lialeeCO]

Hello! I just found your channel and I'm glad we treat you fairly well. One thing I found not quite accurate is the salary; if one is freshly out of school, their salary might be around 40-50k per month depends on their educational degree and their position. At least that's for regular citizens. Maybe it's higher if one's a native English speaker because of the lack of, well, native speakers. Also, while teacher's salary isn't the highest, but it's a decent salary in Taiwanese society. I'd argue that's(40-50k) the average wage, or even slightly above. Being a teacher is a respected career here.

[@ryfree]

Hi Lia, I'm glad you found my channel as well! Always great to hear feedback from someone from here. Your suspicion is correct: foreign English teachers are indeed paid a higher salary than local teachers. However, they have much less vacation days and usually don't stay in the game long enough to work very high up the pay ladder. There are some other notable differences in the contracts as well. I agree with you though, being a teacher here in Taiwan is not bad at all.

[@academicresearch2280]

Good content, thanks.

[@ryfree]

Thanks for watching!

[@johnames1987]

Very helpful video, cheers man. I just got here and I'm looking at the teaching market, and this video answered a lot of questions for me. Thanks again. 70k without masters or experience is interesting.

[@ryfree]

Glad to be of some help John. I have the pay chart in front of me now and if you have 0 years of experience and only a bachelors, the pay is 65k but if you add the 5k housing allowance it is indeed 70k. Best of luck in your search and welcome to Taiwan!

[@johnames1987]

​@@ryfree Cheers, for the quick reply. Is this the agency payscale or the government payscale? I might be an odd case but I have a Masters, a CELTA and over 5 years experience. Which should bump me up a bit from that 65+5k range, but looking on Tealit the jobs seems to top out by about 80k (if they actually state pay ranges)... even in Taipei. I feel like I'm missing something somehow in this job search. I am also weird enough to enjoy teaching older teenagers, but I see mostly elementary and junior stuff. Are you teaching older high school kids where you're based?

[@ryfree]

@@johnames1987 You'll definitely have a noticable bump up the ladder but the CELTA won't do anything other than being a feather in your cap for public schools. I teach middle school and we're in peak hiring season at the moment. I've heard that high school hiring season is different which may explain why you're not seeing those jobs listed.

[@johnames1987]

@@ryfree Hi Ryan, I'm filling out the TFETP application now so we shall see. They really worked hard to make the application as unpleasant and discouraging as possible. Nothing says fun like copying your whole CV bit by bit into an application form, with added pointless information you need to look up (like school address) 🤣

[@ryfree]

@@johnames1987 That does not sound fun. If you'd like to apply with Premiere, send them an email and tell them I sent you. None of that hassle!

[@calvinbafshoe2626]

Thanks for such a great informative video Ryan. I enjoyed every minute of it. Taiwan is indeed relatively cheap compared to America but a bit pricey compared to South Africa that's where i'm from. After your contract ends with your school? Can you renew it or do you mainly have to apply to other schools? Does your agency help you the application process again?

[@ryfree]

Glad you liked it Calvin. Basically our agency resigns you either with the same school or a different school (could be a different city even) in June assuming that you were decent at your job. They'll talk to you beforehand to gage what you're interested in doing as well and to let you know what's available. If you're interested in signing up with Premiere (who I work for), you can find their contact information in my 'Commercial for Premier International.' Let them know that I sent you and good luck!

[@aminkh6872]

It was interesting

[@agapheputrasusilo741]

i am going to visit Taiwan next year !!!

[@ryfree]

That's great! Hope you have a pleasant visit.

[@JoshGodwinArt]

Super helpful. Am looking to move to Taiwan permanently this fall. Am looking for part time work though, ever heard of that working for anyone?

[@ryfree]

Hi Joshua. There is definitely part time work here but you'll probably need to find some way to get a resident visa (usually sponsored by your full time employer or university that you're studying at) in order to live here without doing visa trips.

[@D--man]

Essentially, I think the higher tax rate applies if you are resident in the country for less than half the year. You will get a refund if you are resident in Taiwan for longer than half the year.

[@ryfree]

Thank you D-man!

[@TravelingTice]

Hey Ryan! Great video! Yeah pretty good rundown on the cost of living here in Taiwan which is indeed a lot cheaper than most Western countries. Especially public transport is cheap and rarely delayed which is indeed awesome. If you take the high speed rail a lot, getting early bird discount is definitely a good tip as that can cut your ticket by up to 35%, getting a nice discount 😉 Hope you're doing well. Would love to get a personal update as it feels like that has been a while! Like how is your personal life, how are things beside English teaching. Anyways, keep up the videos!

[@ryfree]

That early bird discount is a great tip, thank you Tice! Yeah, I've been sorta caught up in the public school theme for awhile but stay tuned for some personal updates in the near future my friend.

[@TravelingTice]

@@ryfree Great! Look forward 😎

[@chowzisiong7800]

Wow the lunch is amazing. Can't complain for that level of price.

[@ryfree]

You're absolutely right, it's a helluva deal. Thanks for watching!

[@geraldmcdevitt3996]

Hey Ryan. Just wondering if you can get employment as a teacher if you have one or more associates degrees and a Tofel certificate? What would be the salary?

[@ryfree]

Hi Gerald. You need at least a bachelor's degree to get into the public school system here but I'm pretty sure that you're qualified to work at a cram school (private schools that teach kids in the afternoons and evenings). They typically pay around 700 NTD an hour and offer around 20-30 hours per week.

[@TheExSimp]

Great video! Can you tell me, what are the hours and days you work? I have this weird idea that it’s going to be a ton because they are so serious about education. Yes? No?

[@ryfree]

It's a 40 hour work week (including lunch) where you teach a maximum of 20 periods and generally have a lot of down time in the office.

[@TheExSimp]

@@ryfree oh, cool! Thank you for the response!!

[@cookingwithhua7237]

Can you make a video on how you prepared before moving abroad? Especially keeping your US cell number while living abroad? Thanks!

[@ryfree]

I'd be happy to tackle that subject but I must confess that I did not keep my US cell number nor look into that matter. 😅

[@cookingwithhua7237]

Banking, flight, hotel, and apartment search….

[@ryfree]

@@cookingwithhua7237 👍👍👍

[@MrRight-fu1gf]

There are apps like Magic app and text plus for people living in the United States.

[@anandukrishnar4388]

First of all great video. I just wanna ask 90000k NTD a good salary in tainan? Any opinion from your side is really appreciated.

[@ryfree]

Thanks! Yes, I think you should be very comfortable with 90K a month.

[@janetbrooks5707]

Ryan could you expand on the process of getting a resident visa and can you use your iphone and just get a sim card in Taiwan? Thanks for your time.

[@ryfree]

Hi Janet, thanks for stopping by. About the resident visa: first you will arrive on a tourist visa then hand over your passport along with a few other documents (health check, photo, etc.) to your school coordinator who will then submit those as part of the application process for an ARC card (which will become your most important piece of identification while living and working in Taiwan). This ARC card also allows you to breeze through immigration at the airport as you get to use the 'local line.' That application usually takes around 10 days total. As for smartphones, it's to my understanding that as long as your phone is unlocked you should be able to use it in Taiwan without any issues (which was the case for my cheap Nokia). When you get off the plane you should see a booth dealing in SIM cards for visitors before immigration and baggage claim. They have a variety of options for you to choose from. Once you get your ARC card, you'll probably want to switch to a more permanent plan. Hope that helps!

[@janetbrooks5707]

@@ryfree Thank you Ryan, your response was very helpful. So how did you get the tourist visa before arriving in Taiwan? Thanks again.

[@ryfree]

@@janetbrooks5707 I'm not sure about other nationalities, but for U.S. citizens you just hand immigration your passport for a tourist stamp. One thing to consider though (and I found this out the hard way as my coordinator didn't warn me about it) is that Taiwan requires tourists to have an exit flight which means you can't just arrive as a tourist with a one way flight. You might double check that with your recruiter but my advice would be to buy a departure ticket from Taiwan that is as inexpensive as possible and that you can get can refunded. Once you get your ARC card, you can just cancel and refund the departure ticket.

[@KengouYaru]

I'm taiwanese american and considering moving back to taiwan soon because i honestly cant stand the unlivable cost of living; the anxiety of violence and racism; and just personally feel lost in what to do in life. As someone who isn't fully confident in their teaching abilities and has a bachelors degree in something unrelated to education, how hard would it be to become an english teacher in taiwan?

[@ryfree]

I can totally sympathize with your feelings. To answer you question: while schools like people with experience, they often hire people with the bare minimum of requirements and those from completely unrelated backgrounds. Sometimes a degree in a different field might even be attractive to some schools. For example, I know one guy who just started working at a public school in Taiwan that had zero teaching experience and a degree in computers which the school was happy to get because they thought he'd make a good fit as a co-teacher in a bilingual computer class. Where there's a will there's a way but you'll still have to pass the "I'm not a complete weirdo, unfriendly, or unreliable" test during the interview.

[@laredoshane]

How does the health insurance work and how much does it cost?

[@ryfree]

Your school or recruiter will help you enroll in the national health insurance. Basically it comes out to around $50 USD more or less out of your paycheck and doctor's visits can be anywhere between $6 and $12 (including medicine). Hospital visits with extensive tests may be a bit more but nothing too pricey.

[@sirpaddlesworthiii5933]

Is there any way with a masters in pure science to find a job thats NOT dancing for little children? (teach science in grade school to teenagers maybe?) ...34 year old native english speaker.

[@ryfree]

There's a big push to make public school here in Taiwan bilingual so your science background should definitely make you more attractive to schools that want a foreign teacher to help in their science department. However the dancing and silly aspect of the foreign English teacher job seems to be a staple where I work. You might be able to find some private or international schools though that will offer you something different.

[@sirpaddlesworthiii5933]

@@ryfree thanks

[@partywhipple]

Why doesn't it let me send a thanks? I don't see the option. I wanted to send 20 as a thank you

[@ryfree]

That's very kind of you sir but I hadn't set up my account to receive money yet. Thank to you, I just did! Hopefully it gets approved within the next few days.

[@irinaparent9066]

like the video, are there any jobs that are low hours?

[@ryfree]

There are definitely a lot of part time gigs but I'm fairly certain you need a full time job to get a work visa (ARC card).

[@savvyfreelancer4553]

So 70 000 per month would be considered entry level (no experience)? 40 hour work week?

[@ryfree]

Roughly, that's correct. Yes a 40 hour work week but half or most of that is office hours.

[@savvyfreelancer4553]

Are most positions in primary or secondary?

[@ryfree]

That's a great question and I actually don't know. But I will say that there are many positions both in primary and secondary schools.

[@margaretzhang1107]

What’s your medical insurance in Taiwan?

[@ryfree]

National Health Insurance. Most people are on it.

[@whiteberry8785]

Health care was the best part of living in tw for me for seven years. The most I ever made was 100k in Tw that's why I ended up leaving. 100k was pretty comfortable.

[@taiwan1895]

"You don't come to Taiwan to get rich". Ain't that the truth! But back in the Stone Ages, i.e. the late 1990's, it was possible to make (and save) a lot of money teaching English. I knew one Canadian at that time who saved up enough in a short period of time to make a down payment on a house back in his hometown.

[@ryfree]

This is always the story: things were much better before. But I do believe you! Oh well, I'll make the best with the current situation which ain't all that bad. Thanks for the comment!

[@christopherhouse7937]

How much do hostels cost, or a cheap hotel in dollars? Do Taiwanese women date westerners, is it ok or accepted in the culture? Taiwan looks amazing, I only wish they had a retirement visa!

[@ryfree]

Hostels are around $2-30 (USD) plus or minus depending on where you're looking for. Hotels are more, sometimes much more. When it comes to dating, some of the locals only date foreigners while some will not. There's a bit of curiosity and taboo about it.

[@christopherhouse7937]

@@ryfree Interesting!

[@YokNg]

how long are the teaching hours in taiwan?

[@ryfree]

Working hours are 40 hours a week but teaching hours are a max of 20.

[@YokNg]

@@ryfree sounds manageable. but what do you do in the other 20 non teaching hours? They make you sit in the office?

[@ryfree]

@@YokNg Depends on the school and your relationship with them. Some of us are able to leave school while others are required to stay on campus. But you're basically free so you can read, work out, or whatever.

[@sbring00able]

A fair bit cheaper than Japan!

[@ryfree]

Indeed!

[@theemptyatom]

Roughly 26,000 USD a year? I guess a person must want to live there pretty bad to work for that.

[@ryfree]

Well, it certainly won't make you rich but the salary is much higher than the average person here and with the low cost of living, you can live quite a nice life and still save money. But yes, there are many reasons to live here besides the economics of it all.

[@theemptyatom]

@@ryfree understand. Do they cover your healthcare?

[@ryfree]

@@theemptyatom They enroll you and deduct about 1,500NTD (more or less depending on your income) per month for it.

[@ShoMac]

so this is where the blu's clues guy ended up at

[@ryfree]

Oh no, someone has spotted me!

[@ShoMac]

@@ryfree 😂 thanks for having a sense of humor. Well u r a teacher so I must have some iron clad patience

[@teacherbaby2580]

Tell us honestly,thursday is the best food.hahha.So sometimes i like the food sometimes not hahah.So i need to cook my food excwpt thursday.😂😂😂

[@ryfree]

LOL, you're right the food is definitely better on some days. Today is Tuesday and I didn't bring a lunch so fingers crossed 🤣

[@teacherbaby2580]

I mean i don't like all veges. Haha

[@nonrepublicrat]

Nice haircut, hippie.

[@remodesu]

Ukraine?