Taiwan is one of the best-kept values in Asia. Taipei has one of the world's great street food scenes, a clean and cheap metro, hot springs inside the city limits, and national parks an hour away by train. On the ground it costs far less than Japan, and the flight from the West Coast is often cheaper than a flight to Tokyo. Get the airfare right and the rest of the trip is easy on the wallet.

How much are flights to Taiwan from the US?

Taipei Taoyuan (TPE) is the gateway, and it has more nonstop service from the US than most travelers expect. Here is what a round trip in economy typically costs:

Departure hubTypical round tripDeal price to watch forNotes
Los Angeles$750 - $1,000Under $650Most competition. EVA Air, China Airlines and STARLUX all fly nonstop.
San Francisco$780 - $1,050Under $680Strong nonstop schedule, about 13 hours.
Seattle$800 - $1,100Under $700Nonstop. Often the cheapest route for the Pacific Northwest.
New York (JFK / EWR)$950 - $1,350Under $850Nonstop is long, around 15 hours. A one-stop via the West Coast can be cheaper.
Chicago / Dallas / Houston / Atlanta$950 - $1,300Under $850Some nonstops, otherwise one stop on the West Coast or in Tokyo or Seoul.

If you live in the middle of the country, price a positioning flight to Los Angeles or San Francisco. A $90 domestic fare that unlocks a $700 Taipei fare is a better deal than a $1,100 itinerary from home.

What is the cheapest month to fly to Taiwan?

Taiwan has a humid subtropical climate, so the calendar that matters is a mix of weather, school holidays and Lunar New Year.

  • September to November (cheapest, best value): Fares drop once summer demand fades. October and November are also the most comfortable months to visit, with mild weather and typhoon season winding down.
  • Early January (cheap): The gap after the holidays and before Lunar New Year can be the lowest fare of the year.
  • Late January to February (expensive): Lunar New Year travel pushes fares up and sells out nonstops. In 2027 the holiday falls on February 6.
  • March to May (middle): Pleasant weather and moderate fares. Plum rains arrive in May and June.
  • June to August (most expensive): Summer holidays and Taiwanese-American family visits. This is also the peak of typhoon season, so you pay the most for the riskiest weather.

Our shoulder season guide explains the pattern, and the same logic applies here: the weeks on either side of a peak are where the discounts live.

Is it cheaper to fly to Taiwan or to Japan?

Often, yes. Taipei fares from the West Coast regularly land $100 to $250 below the same dates to Tokyo, and Taipei sits an easy two to four hour flight from Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Hong Kong and Manila. That makes it a smart gateway for a multi-country trip.

The play is an open-jaw ticket: fly into Taipei, then home from Osaka or Tokyo. Budget carriers such as Peach, Tigerair Taiwan, Scoot and Jetstar often sell the Taipei to Japan hop for $60 to $150 one way. If you only want Japan, compare against our cheap flights to Japan guide and the Tokyo flights page. For other Asian add-ons, see South Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam.

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How far in advance should you book flights to Taiwan?

Book roughly two to four months out for the best average fare. For Lunar New Year, the summer peak or the Christmas holidays, push that to four to six months ahead because the nonstops fill. Our international booking window guide covers the details for Asia.

Set a price alert as soon as you have rough dates. Transpacific fares move in short dips that disappear in a day or two, and a flexible route alert catches them for you.

Three ways to cut the Taiwan fare further

  • Compare all three nonstop airlines. EVA Air, China Airlines and STARLUX price differently on the same day, and the cheapest one changes by week.
  • Price a stopover. Taipei makes a natural break on the way to Southeast Asia, and a Taiwan stay on the way to Bangkok or Manila can cost little extra. See free stopover flights.
  • Check the baggage rules. Full-service Asian carriers include a checked bag on most fares, which makes them better value than a cheap fare that adds fees later. Our guide to avoiding baggage fees shows when it matters.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a cheap flight to Taiwan?
A cheap round-trip flight from the US to Taipei typically runs about $750 to $1,100 from the West Coast and $950 to $1,350 from the East Coast. Deal fares from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle can dip near $650, especially in the fall and in January before Lunar New Year.
What is the cheapest month to fly to Taiwan?
September through November and early January are usually the cheapest windows. Fares spike around Lunar New Year (February 6 in 2027) and again from June to August. October and November also bring the best weather, since typhoon season is winding down.
Which airport do you fly into for Taiwan?
Almost every US itinerary lands at Taipei Taoyuan (TPE). EVA Air, China Airlines and STARLUX fly nonstop from several US cities, mainly on the West Coast, with a few East Coast and central US routes. Kaohsiung (KHH) in the south is a domestic or regional airport for most visitors.
Do US citizens need a visa for Taiwan?
No. US passport holders can enter Taiwan visa-free for up to 90 days as of this writing. Your passport should be valid for at least six months. Always confirm current entry rules on the official Taiwan government site before you book.

Taiwan rewards the flexible traveler. Fly in the fall, price an open-jaw into Japan, and the airfare stops being the reason you have not gone yet.