Taipei→Budai: high-speed rail is the fastest, and car rental is the cheapest
Skip the queues and the hassle of public transport
Distance：279 km ｜Travel time：220 mins
fare estimation
Taipei to Budai - train, bus, taxi vs tripool: time & cost
There are many ways to travel from Taipei to Budai Township, Chiayi County, but if you want to balance cost, time, and convenience without driving yourself, booking a private transfer is usually the best choice. You’ll find plenty of ride ads and chat groups online, but the top priority when choosing is legality. If the driver takes bookings directly rather than through a registered car company or travel agency, you could run into problems if stopped by the police. Vehicles whose license plates do not begin with T or R are essentially operating illegally (often referred to locally as unlicensed private cars). Before booking, it’s also wise to check online reviews of the company or platform—not only the average rating on Google Maps or Facebook, but also the number of reviews, since platforms with thousands of positive ratings are far more trustworthy than those with only a few dozen. Tripool is one such government-licensed ride-hailing platform in Taiwan. All fares from Taipei City to Budai are completely transparent, and payments are made securely through credit card or convenience store checkout, ensuring clear, traceable transactions and avoiding the disputes that often come with paying cash.
After analyzing the available data, we found the following alternatives to private charters or transfers. For the journey from Taipei to Budai, the fastest land transportation is high-speed rail, but if you do not want to spend a lot of money, a car rental is the most cost-saving option for a group of 6-8 people. The data in the following table is based on a party of 6 and compares the pros and cons of a private car transfer, car rental, taxi, and high-speed rail. For a more complete analysis of transportation costs and time, please see the FAQ below. Furthermore, for solo travelers willing to sacrifice a bit of travel time in exchange for a convenient and affordable door-to-door service, we recommend considering Tripool's carpool.
- 1–8 passengers
- Truly pickup anywhere
- Ride guaranteed
- No hidden fees
- Pre-booking only
- No cash
- Comfortable seating
- No time wasted
- Tickets often sold out in peak season
- Multiple transfers needed
- Higher fare
- Low-cost
- Flexible schedule
- Extra commute to car pick-up
- Time restrictions for pick-up and return
- Additional risk involved
- Requires same-day return or a multi-day rental
- Meets urgent needs
- No upfront payment
- Inconsistent quality
- Usually limited to 4 passengers
- Higher price
| Item | tripool | HSR | Car Rental | Taxi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel Time | 220 mins | 160 mins | 250-280 mins | 225-235 mins |
| Price per Person | NT$1,240/person | NT$1,310/person | NT$1,170/person | NT$2,340-2,800/person |
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About tripool
tripool is a licensed smart ride platform offering shared rides, point-to-point transfers, charter services, and airport pickups. Whether you're traveling solo or with family, you’ll always find the most suitable way to get around.
In addition to Taiwan, we also offer airport transfers and private tours in Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand — ensuring your journey stays smooth and worry-free from the moment you land.
Save Up to 40%Our smart dispatch system reduces empty trips, helping you save up to 40% on fares—saving both money and time.
Flexible Cancellation, Zero StressPlans changed? No worries. Cancel within the allowed time and receive a full refund—completely stress-free.
Trusted by Real UsersEvery driver is carefully selected and trained. With over 500,000 rides served and a 99% satisfaction rate, we’ve earned travelers’ trust across Asia.
Our vehicles
5-Seater Sedan
Toyota Altis or similar
7-Seater MPV
Toyota Corolla Cross, RAV4, or similar
9-Seater Van
Volkswagen Caravelle, Ford Tourneo or similar
Trusted by industry leaders
- 泰福生技股份有限公司
- 新唐科技股份有限公司
- 晶鑽生醫股份有限公司
- 鴻華先進科技股份有限公司
- 豪勉科技股份有限公司
- 知識科技股份有限公司
- 狄卡科技股份有限公司
- 勤美股份有限公司
- 國立中央大學
- 築間餐飲事業股份有限公司
Budai private Transfer FAQs
- To take the High Speed Rail (HSR) from downtown Taipei to Budai, HSR is comfortable and quick but pricey. From the earliest departure at 06:26 to the latest at 22:16, there are up to 59 high-speed rail from Taipei to Chiayi each day. Assuming you depart from Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, you may walk or take a bus—if available—to Taipei HSR station. Including walking to the platform, buying a ticket, and waiting for the train, it takes at least 25 minutes. Then, take a 73-103-minute (91 min on average) HSR ride from Taipei Station to Chiayi HSR Station. The ticket price is NT$1,080 per person, followed by a 5-minute walk to exit the station, wait for a ride at the taxi stand, and after a trip of about 40 minutes with a fare of NT$700, you will arrive at your destination in Budai Township, Chiayi County. The entire journey, including transfers, takes a total of 2 hours and 38 minutes. Assuming 6 people traveling together (and have to split into two taxis), the average cost per person for the HSR and transfers is NT$1,310. In contrast, if you use Tripool for a door-to-door private car service, the average cost per person is about NT$1,240, and the journey takes 3 hours and 40 minutes. For long-distance travel, the HSR is indeed faster, but it comes with an extra transportation cost of about NT$420. Therefore, for those who are not in a major hurry, you may consider a cheaper and door-to-door private transfer option, like Tripool. If you are traveling in a group of three or less, you can also consider Tripool's carpooling service to save up to an additional 50% on transportation costs.
- If you have a driver's license, do not mind driving yourself, and you do not need to use the travel time to rest in the car, there are about 30 rental car companies, such as 蘋果交通, 超級大租車, 步步小客車租賃, available in the Zhongzheng District, Taipei City area. Typically, car rentals are billed by the day. A small sedan like a Toyota Corolla or Ford Fiesta costs around NT$1500 per day, while a 9-seater van like a Hyundai Staria or Volkswagen Caravelle starts at NT$4500 per day. Extra costs such as fuel (approx. NT$3/km), eTag tolls (approx. NT$1/km), roadside parking (approx. NT$40/hour), insurance, and potential fines are not included. Most rental agreements specify a daily mileage limit of 200-400 km, with surcharges ranging from NT$100 to NT$2,000 for exceeding it. Since the vast majority of rental companies do not offer one-way rentals, assuming you make a same-day round trip between Taipei (Zhongzheng District) and Budai, the estimated cost for a sedan is NT$4000 or NT$7000 for a 9-seater van. This is, of course, cheaper than taking a taxi. But if you only need a one-way trip and will return a day or more later, then renting a car is very inconvenient. Moreover, the rental location may be some distance from your home/office/starting point, and you must adhere to their business hours for pickup and return. The rental process itself is tedious, often taking an extra 30 minutes for contracts and vehicle inspection. You may even need to refuel the car yourself before returning. If you encounter a dishonest operator, you risk being hit with various unjustified charges upon return.
- If you choose to take a taxi directly, in the Taipei City area, you can use apps to hail a cab from 55688 Taiwan Taxi, Uber, Line Go, Yoxi, etc., and if you cannot hail a cab on the street, you can also consider calling taxi fleets, such as 德泰交通, 聖雄衛星車隊, 聯展計程車 to try to book a ride. Based on the meter, the estimated fare is between NT$7,015 and 8,400, but you could save up to NT$2,800 by booking with Tripool instead. However, when considering the return trip, in Chiayi County there are only about 330 licensed taxis. This is about 1% of the number of taxis in Taipei City, and its density is just 0.4% of the Taipei/New Taipei metro area, making it 240 times more difficult to hail a cab there. Considering all factors, Tripool is your best choice for traveling from Taipei to Budai in terms of both price and service quality.
- Every order can only reserve one car, and it is easier for passengers to make any change or cancelation. Please make two separate bookings on the website or the app if passengers need a round trip. There is no particular promotion about a round trip for now, but it's welcome to use any coupon for each ride.
- Among these options, Uber is the only one with broad and reliable coverage in Taiwan, available in major cities such as Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung. Grab does not operate in Taiwan. Didi previously entered the market but has since exited. Bolt has just launched in Taiwan and is currently limited to Taipei. Lyft is not available in Taiwan. If you are choosing among these five, Uber is by far the most practical and widely used option in Taiwan. However, for longer intercity transfers, airport rides, or day trips, tripool is often a better choice—offering transparent pricing, professional drivers, and coverage across Taiwan.
- There are many gypsy cabs or illegal taxis in Line and Facebook groups. Their fares are cheap but with many risks. If the cabs are pulled over by polices, passengers cannot continue the trip. If there is an accident, none of the insurance companies will settle a claim. Worst of all, illegal drivers may conduct crimes without any trace. Don't put your life at risk for just saving a few bucks. On the other hand, tripool contracts with legal drivers without any criminal record. All vehicles provide up to $5 million in insurance. The easiest way to distinguish a legal vehicle is the car plate number. Unless the initial character of the car plate number is either T or R, the car is 100% illegal for taxi service.
- Tripool will send a receipt through the third-party system one week after the ride. If passengers need to claim reimbursement for travel expenses, there is a blank to fill with the company's title and tax ID. It's legal, and there is no extra 5% for the receipt. Once the receipt is received via email, it can be printed out for reimbursement or saved as a PDF.
- Some drivers in Line and Facebook groups claim that they can offer private transportation services with a group of more than 8 in a single van, but their services are illegal. According to Taiwan traffic laws, a van can only accommodate nine people maximum, including a driver. Excluding a driver, the maximum number of passengers is 8. If your group is 9 or more and you prefer to travel together in one vehicle, a bus is the only legal option. Some 9-seater van drivers modify their cars and add one or two extra chairs. If these modified vans are detected by the polices on the street, your trip will be terminated immediately. Worst of all, there are additional risks for accidents. And insurance is definitely not covering it. Don't risk your family's and friends' life for a lower price. If your group is no more than 10, we recommend hiring a 9-seater van and a 5-seater sedan. It is cheaper than booking a bus on most occasions. But if your group is more than 12, hiring a bus may be ideal. However, there are few exceptions, such as traveling to mountain areas or narrow lanes. It is better to consult our online service before booking.
Besides from Taipei to Budai , there are other popular routes, such as…
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Distance：279 km ｜Travel time：220 mins
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