Taiwan Money Guide 2026: Airport Exchange, ATMs, Cards and Night-Market Cash
Night markets are cash-only? Airport counters, banks, 7-Eleven/Cathay ATMs, credit cards, declaration thresholds and how much cash to carry.
TL;DR / Quick Summary
Night markets are cash-only? Airport counters, banks, 7-Eleven/Cathay ATMs, credit cards, declaration thresholds and how much cash to carry.
TL;DR: Taiwan is a half-cash society. Malls, convenience stores, MRT and chain restaurants take cards + EasyCard, but night markets, street stalls and traditional markets are cash-only. Land with NT$3,000–5,000 in cash plus one foreign ATM card and you're safe.
1. Where is cash mandatory?
| Scene | Cash | Card | E-ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Night markets, street stalls, traditional markets | ✅ basically only | ❌ | ❌ |
| Street-hailed taxis | ✅ | some | ❌ |
| Dept stores, chains, convenience stores | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (EasyCard/iPASS) |
| MRT, HSR, TRA | ✅ | ✅ (most machines) | ✅ |
| Ride apps (Uber/55688) | card on file | ✅ | — |
Bottom line: night-market days need cash in your pocket.
2. Three ways to get NT dollars after landing
A. Airport bank counters (easiest) Taoyuan T1/T2 arrival halls have Bank of Taiwan / Mega Bank counters with long or 24-hour hours. Rates are slightly worse than downtown, but changing NT$3,000–5,000 for emergencies is the smooth move. Bring your passport.
B. Downtown banks + post offices (better rates) Banks (BOT, Mega, Cathay) and post offices around Taipei Main, Zhongshan and Xinyi exchange foreign cash, Mon–Fri 09:00–15:30, passport required. Post offices often have good rates and many branches.
C. ATM withdrawals in TWD (recommended) 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Cathay United and CTBC ATMs widely accept Cirrus/Plus foreign cards, debiting your home account at the day's rate. Watch for your home bank's overseas fee plus ~NT$100 local-side charge. Carry a second card from another bank as backup. Enable overseas withdrawals and check daily limits before flying.
Tip: bringing USD/JPY to exchange in Taiwan usually loses less than bringing exotic currencies.
3. Cards and mobile payments
- Visa/Mastercard most accepted; JCB good at Japanese outlets; AMEX rare.
- Contactless (Apple Pay/Google Pay with foreign cards) works at convenience stores and malls; JKOS, LINE Pay and PX Pay need Taiwan numbers/accounts — short-stay visitors can skip them.
- EasyCard covers MRT, buses, convenience stores and some stalls — see the EasyCard guide.
4. How much to carry
- 3-day light trip: NT$6,000–10,000 cash + credit card backup.
- Night-market day: extra NT$1,500–2,000 (snacks run NT$40–150 each).
- Over-limit cash must be declared to customs (USD 10,000 is the commonly cited threshold; RMB has separate rules — check customs notices and declare honestly; declaration is registration, not tax).
5. FAQ
Are airport rates much worse?
About 1–3% worse than downtown, but 24-hour convenience wins. Change emergency cash at the airport, larger amounts downtown.
Do Taiwan ATMs take foreign cards?
7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Cathay and CTBC machines mostly accept Cirrus/Plus. Look for the stickers, and enable overseas withdrawals first.
Can I pay by card at night markets?
Rarely — a few big stalls only. Withdraw cash before entering.
Can EasyCard replace cash?
Partly (transport + convenience stores + some stalls), but traditional markets and roadside stalls stay cash-first. Carry both.
Leftover NT dollars?
Spend at the airport, store on EasyCard (refundable), or keep for next time. Airport counters buy back foreign currency at poor rates.
When must I declare cash?
Over-limit cash must be declared (USD 10,000 is the common threshold). Check the latest customs rules before flying.
Sources: Customs Administration passenger clearance notices; bank and convenience-store ATM notices. Rates and fees per institutions.
See also: EasyCard Guide | Tax Refund Guide
