comparisons
Health Insurance for Digital Nomads: Korea vs Japan vs Taiwan
Compare NHI access across Korea, Japan, and Taiwan for digital nomads: who gets in, what it costs, and what to do when you're excluded.
7 min read
Based on published requirements. Not legal advice.
Where Do You Want to Go?
Each country has its own visa rules, timelines, and traps.
7 visas
Japan
6-month digital nomad visa. Work from Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka.
Japan
8 visas
South Korea
8 visa paths. Startup visa with no investment minimum.
South Korea
3 visas
Taiwan
Gold Card: work permit + residency in one application.
Taiwan
4 visas
Southeast Asia
Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines side by side.
Southeast Asia
Find Your Neighborhood
Hongdae or Shimokitazawa? Compare rent, vibe, and walkability before you land.
Nakameguro (中目黒)🇯🇵 Tokyo¥110,000–¥180,000/mo
cafeluxuryquiet
Hongdae (홍대)🇰🇷 Seoul₩650K–₩950K/mo
cafenightlifecreative
Shibuya (渋谷)🇯🇵 Tokyo¥120,000–¥220,000/mo
creativenightlifecentral
Tenjin (天神)🇯🇵 Fukuoka¥50,000–¥80,000/mo
creativefoodbudget
Namba (難波)🇯🇵 Osaka¥70,000–¥120,000/mo
foodnightlifecentral
Gwangalli (광안리)🇰🇷 Busan₩700K–₩1.1M/mo
naturecafebudget
Seogwipo (서귀포시)🇰🇷 Jeju₩380K–₩650K/mo
budgetnaturequiet
Yeonnam-dong (연남동)🇰🇷 Seoul₩700K–₩1.2M/mo
creativecafe
West Central District (中西區)🇹🇼 TainanNT$10,000–NT$14,000/mo
foodbudget
Yongkang Street Area (永康街)🇹🇼 TaipeiNT$18,000–NT$28,000/mo
foodcafecreative
Gion / Higashiyama (祇園・東山)🇯🇵 Kyoto¥55,000–¥95,000/mo
quietnaturecafe
Hannam-dong (한남동)🇰🇷 Seoul₩900K–₩1.8M/mo
luxurycafecreative
Mapo-gu (마포구)🇰🇷 Seoul₩700K–₩1.0M/mo
centralcafe
Shimokitazawa (下北沢)🇯🇵 Tokyo¥80,000–¥140,000/mo
creativecafebudget
Haeundae (해운대)🇰🇷 Busan₩500K–₩900K/mo
natureexpat
Umeda (梅田)🇯🇵 Osaka¥60,000–¥100,000/mo
centralluxury
Sasang-gu (사상구)🇰🇷 Busan₩385K–₩500K/mo
budgetquiet
Yancheng (鹽埕區)🇹🇼 KaohsiungNT$8,000–NT$14,000/mo
budgetcreativeexpat
West District (西區)🇹🇼 TaichungNT$12,000–NT$18,000/mo
budgetcreativenature
Ximending (西門町)🇹🇼 TaipeiNT$14,000–NT$22,000/mo
budgetnightlifecreative
Zhongshan (中山區)🇹🇼 TaipeiNT$16,000–NT$25,000/mo
creativecafe
Xinyi (信義區)🇹🇼 TaipeiNT$15,000–NT$65,000/mo
luxurynightlifecentral
Jeju City (제주시)🇰🇷 Jeju₩500K–₩950K/mo
naturebudget
Da'an (大安區)🇹🇼 TaipeiNT$15,000–NT$60,000/mo
expatcafecentral
Itaewon (이태원)🇰🇷 Seoul₩800K–₩1.4M/mo
expatnightlifecentral
Seomyeon (서면)🇰🇷 Busan₩500K–₩900K/mo
centralfoodnightlife
Asakusa (浅草)🇯🇵 Tokyo¥60,000–¥100,000/mo
budgetcentralfood
Seongsu-dong (성수동)🇰🇷 Seoul₩800K–₩1.2M/mo
cafecreative
Gangnam (강남)🇰🇷 Seoul₩900K–₩1.5M/mo
luxurycentral
Nakameguro (中目黒)🇯🇵 Tokyo¥110,000–¥180,000/mo
cafeluxuryquiet
Hongdae (홍대)🇰🇷 Seoul₩650K–₩950K/mo
cafenightlifecreative
Shibuya (渋谷)🇯🇵 Tokyo¥120,000–¥220,000/mo
creativenightlifecentral
Tenjin (天神)🇯🇵 Fukuoka¥50,000–¥80,000/mo
creativefoodbudget
Namba (難波)🇯🇵 Osaka¥70,000–¥120,000/mo
foodnightlifecentral
Gwangalli (광안리)🇰🇷 Busan₩700K–₩1.1M/mo
naturecafebudget
Seogwipo (서귀포시)🇰🇷 Jeju₩380K–₩650K/mo
budgetnaturequiet
Yeonnam-dong (연남동)🇰🇷 Seoul₩700K–₩1.2M/mo
creativecafe
West Central District (中西區)🇹🇼 TainanNT$10,000–NT$14,000/mo
foodbudget
Yongkang Street Area (永康街)🇹🇼 TaipeiNT$18,000–NT$28,000/mo
foodcafecreative
Gion / Higashiyama (祇園・東山)🇯🇵 Kyoto¥55,000–¥95,000/mo
quietnaturecafe
Hannam-dong (한남동)🇰🇷 Seoul₩900K–₩1.8M/mo
luxurycafecreative
Mapo-gu (마포구)🇰🇷 Seoul₩700K–₩1.0M/mo
centralcafe
Shimokitazawa (下北沢)🇯🇵 Tokyo¥80,000–¥140,000/mo
creativecafebudget
Haeundae (해운대)🇰🇷 Busan₩500K–₩900K/mo
natureexpat
Umeda (梅田)🇯🇵 Osaka¥60,000–¥100,000/mo
centralluxury
Sasang-gu (사상구)🇰🇷 Busan₩385K–₩500K/mo
budgetquiet
Yancheng (鹽埕區)🇹🇼 KaohsiungNT$8,000–NT$14,000/mo
budgetcreativeexpat
West District (西區)🇹🇼 TaichungNT$12,000–NT$18,000/mo
budgetcreativenature
Ximending (西門町)🇹🇼 TaipeiNT$14,000–NT$22,000/mo
budgetnightlifecreative
Zhongshan (中山區)🇹🇼 TaipeiNT$16,000–NT$25,000/mo
creativecafe
Xinyi (信義區)🇹🇼 TaipeiNT$15,000–NT$65,000/mo
luxurynightlifecentral
Jeju City (제주시)🇰🇷 Jeju₩500K–₩950K/mo
naturebudget
Da'an (大安區)🇹🇼 TaipeiNT$15,000–NT$60,000/mo
expatcafecentral
Itaewon (이태원)🇰🇷 Seoul₩800K–₩1.4M/mo
expatnightlifecentral
Seomyeon (서면)🇰🇷 Busan₩500K–₩900K/mo
centralfoodnightlife
Asakusa (浅草)🇯🇵 Tokyo¥60,000–¥100,000/mo
budgetcentralfood
Seongsu-dong (성수동)🇰🇷 Seoul₩800K–₩1.2M/mo
cafecreative
Gangnam (강남)🇰🇷 Seoul₩900K–₩1.5M/mo
luxurycentral
Arrival Checklist
Your first 72 hours, step by step.
Guides & Tips
Practical advice from nomads who've been through the visa process.
tax
Japan's DN Visa Is Tax-Free? Not Exactly.
Japan digital nomad visa tax explained: zero income tax on overseas earnings, but consumption tax, home-country filing, and the 183-day myth catch people.
10 min read
tax
Leaving Japan: How to Get Your Money Out (2026)
Pension refund, resident tax trap, bank closure, NHI: the complete financial checklist for foreigners leaving Japan in 2026.
9 min read
guides
Coliving Communities in Seoul: Guide & Prices (2026)
Seoul coliving from ₩200K goshiwon to ₩1.8M premium spaces. Community-first picks, branded options, prices, and paperwork foreigners miss.
9 min read
tax
Korea Pension Refund for Foreigners: Complete Guide
Foreigners leaving Korea can reclaim all NPS pension contributions. Three claim methods, country eligibility, tax withholding, and the 5-year deadline explained.
14 min read
tax
Korea Rent Tax Credit: What Foreigners Need to Know
Foreigners in Korea can claim 15-17% of monthly rent as a tax credit during 연말정산. Learn who qualifies, documents needed, and when the 19% flat tax kills it.
8 min read
tax
Korea 연말정산 for Foreigners: 2026 Complete Guide
Everything foreign workers in Korea need to know about 연말정산. The 19% flat tax decision, which deductions you can claim, Hometax walkthrough, and 2025 changes.
11 min read
tax
Korea 5-Year Tax Rule: When Foreign Income Gets Taxed
Korea's 5-year rule lets foreign residents skip tax on overseas income unless they remit it. How it works, when it expires, and what counts.
10 min read