TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's capital is experiencing an unprecedented exodus as soaring real estate prices force thousands to seek more affordable living options elsewhere. More than 20,000 residents abandoned Taipei during the first three months of 2025 alone, according to newly released figures from the Ministry of the Interior (內政部), Taiwan's national agency overseeing population affairs. The neighboring municipality of Taoyuan has emerged as the primary beneficiary, welcoming 8,065 new residents during the same period.
Real estate analysts view the migration pattern as a direct consequence of Taipei's prohibitive housing market, which has transformed surrounding cities into increasingly attractive alternatives. Lai Chih-chang (賴志昶), public relations director at Dajia Real Estate (大家房屋), one of Taiwan's major property agencies, points to the comparative affordability of neighboring New Taipei City and Taoyuan as the primary draw. The phenomenon extends beyond the capital region, with Hsinchu City — Taiwan's semiconductor hub—experiencing similar outflows as development reaches saturation and prices climb. "Taipei residents are choosing to 'escape the north' due to unaffordable housing and improved transportation to nearby cities," Lai explained.
The suburban migration is reshaping Taiwan's northern corridor, according to real estate analyst Lee Chun-ting (李浚霆), who highlighted Taoyuan's combination of robust public transportation networks and comparatively affordable housing as key factors in its population surge. The stark economic reality confronting homebuyers becomes evident in the pricing data: Taipei's average housing costs have reached NT$1.233 million per ping (US$37,902 per ping, equivalent to US$11,486 per square meter), the steepest in northern Taiwan, while Hsinchu City commands NT$594,000 per ping (US$18,260 per ping), the second most expensive market in the region.
The demographic shift represents more than temporary fluctuation, according to Jessica Hsu (徐佳馨), research director at H&B Realty Co (住商不動產), a prominent Taiwanese property consultancy. Hsu cautioned that the persistent housing affordability crisis is fundamentally altering northern Taiwan's population distribution patterns. Her analysis suggests that cities experiencing outflows, particularly technology centers like Hsinchu, must prioritize urban livability improvements and more thoughtful spatial planning to stem the tide of departing residents and maintain their economic competitiveness in Taiwan's rapidly evolving real estate landscape. ★
