Property: Not All Terminal MRT Stations in Taipei Are the Most Affordable – 4 Budget-Friendly Stations Are One Stop Before the End

The MRT has become one of the most important commuting tools in the Greater Taipei area. A real estate agency analyzed the most affordable stations along each Taipei MRT line over the past year. Data shows that Tamsui Station on the Tamsui-Xinyi Line offers the most affordable housing prices, being the only station across all MRT lines with an average unit price below NT$300,000, and an average total price of less than NT$7 million. Other stations including Yongning, Zoo, and Danfeng also show competitive pricing in their surrounding areas.

Chen Jinping, Deputy Director of the Research and Development Center at Yungching Housing, analyzed the stations with the lowest average unit prices across the six major Taipei MRT lines over the past year. She noted that despite generally high property prices in the Taipei-New Taipei region, extending the home-buying scope beyond the city center still reveals relatively affordable "price sweet spots." Notably, while it's commonly believed that terminal MRT stations offer cheaper housing, actual data presents a different picture.

Chen pointed out that among the six MRT lines in northern Taipei, only Zoo Station and Tamsui Station are true terminal stations. The others—Yongning, Danfeng, Xindian District Office, and Hsingfu—are all located at the second-to-last stop on their respective lines. This indicates that the most affordable stations aren't necessarily at the end of the line, but rather near the terminus, still offering transportation convenience and relatively reasonable entry-level home prices.

Specifically, Yongning, Danfeng, and Hsingfu stations—each one stop before the terminal—share common characteristics, according to Chen. These stations are situated at the boundary between mature urban areas and newly developed zones, combining existing lifestyle amenities with relatively abundant housing supply. Residents enjoy MRT access while larger land development volumes provide more market options, helping to curb rapid price increases and keeping housing prices relatively affordable. As a result, these stations are favored by first-time buyers and owner-occupiers.

Chen noted that while many MRT沿线 homes have seen shrinking unit sizes due to rising prices, Zoo Station presents a different trend. Data shows that the average transaction area at Zoo Station reaches 52.7 pings, making it the largest among the six MRT lines analyzed and one of the few areas that successfully combines MRT convenience with spacious living.

Chen emphasized that Zoo Station is the only one among the six stations located within Taipei City with a unit price still below the NT$400,000 threshold. However, housing transactions here are not dominated by small units. With an average size of 52.7 pings—the largest among the six stations—and a product mix focused on family-sized and larger homes, the average total price reaches NT$20.15 million. Therefore, Zoo Station is better suited for upgrade buyers who value a Taipei City address, natural surroundings, and spacious living. First-time buyers with limited budgets should target smaller older apartments to effectively lower their entry barrier.

Overall, the Taipei MRT network continues to expand and improve. Looking at the most affordable stations on each line, not all are located at the very end. Some non-terminal stations, due to higher housing supply, older building ages, or product differentiation from emerging redeveloped areas, have formed "price sweet spots" along the MRT lines. This reflects that relatively reasonable home-buying opportunities still exist in the Taipei-New Taipei region and provides a more valuable reference for owner-occupiers seeking MRT access. With continued improvements in transportation infrastructure and regional development, these stations—offering both price advantages and transportation convenience—are likely to remain in the market spotlight.