For the past approximately 25 years, a Canadian couple has been frequently relocating, totaling 15 times, and has moved to Taiwan twice. They believe that Taiwan is easier to live in and save money compared to Canada, as it offers two economic advantages that are relatively rare in the Asian region.
According to a report by Business Insider, the couple consists of 45-year-old Canadian woman Becky Martin and her husband Craig Schmidt. Over the course of 25 years, they have moved back and forth between Canada and Taiwan.
In the early 2000s, the couple originally resided in Ontario, Canada. Martin worked as a social worker for youth while Schmidt was a graphic designer. Despite working long hours, they found it difficult to save money due to their substantial student loan debts.
At the recommendation of a friend, they decided to move to Taiwan to work as English teachers, taking advantage of the lower cost of living. Within just one year, they managed to pay off a debt of 40,000 Canadian dollars (approximately 30,000 USD).
During their two-year stay in Taiwan, the couple moved residences three times. Based on career considerations and family matters, they chose to move back to Canada in 2004 to lead a more traditional married life. In the initial years after returning home, they excelled in their jobs and started a family, leading a fulfilling family life.
However, the couple found themselves facing financial strain once again, prompting them to return to Taiwan to work in 2009. Within a year and a half, they paid off a debt of 45,000 Canadian dollars (around 33,000 USD) and rented a beautiful apartment for less than 1,000 USD per month.
Martin stated, “We understood the work, culture, weather, and expectations, and knew how much we could earn and save.”
This time, they lived in Taiwan for over 7 years, moving residences twice during that period. Ultimately, they decided to “permanently” move back to Canada to settle down, missing their family and friends.
Martin explained that important friends and relatives were 12,000 kilometers away, making it difficult for them to share their lives. Additionally, with aging parents and family members passing away, they made the choice to return to Canada. To reduce living costs, they moved homes several times in Canada.
Martin noted that the cost of living in Canada is very high, with only the northern regions being relatively cheaper. While living costs decrease as you move further north, it comes at the expense of being far from most people, job opportunities, and favorable weather conditions.
Based on her personal research and life experiences, she emphasized Taiwan as one of the few places in Asia with the dual advantages of “low cost of living” and “relatively high salaries.”
She stated, “Cities in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and China have very high living costs – you earn more but also spend more. If you decide to relocate to places like the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and India, these are exciting and beautiful places with lower expenses and cost of living, but salaries are also not high.”
She also mentioned that language barrier is a significant challenge for foreigners living in Taiwan. Mandarin Chinese is the common language in Taiwan but can be difficult to learn.
Despite the couple’s frequent relocations due to life pressures and financial difficulties, Martin expressed no regrets. Schmidt also shared the sentiment, saying, “It strengthened our marriage and gave us the opportunity to reinvent ourselves. Each move we made was for a good reason.”