Keelung (Chi-Lung) vs Zhunan: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Zhunan costs roughly 4% less than Keelung (Chi-Lung). Keelung (Chi-Lung) has significantly faster average internet speeds (125 Mbps vs 60 Mbps). Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Zhunan is approximately 17% less expensive than Keelung (Chi-Lung) based on cost of living including rent. This makes Zhunan a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Zhunan has a FIRE Score of 78/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 80, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Zhunan is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Keelung (Chi-Lung)
Keelung is a budget-friendly outlier in Taiwan, where a single adult can live comfortably on $1,020/mo and rent a one-bedroom downtown for just $564/mo, yet the average local salary of $2,437/mo leaves plenty of room to save. The city is safe (crime index 15/100) and has excellent healthcare, but English proficiency is limited and the expat community is small, so you'll need Mandarin to truly settle in. Its proximity to Taipei (45 km from TPE) makes it a practical base, though the air quality index of 55 and a subtropical climate that brings rain are real trade-offs. If you want a cheap, secure launchpad for Taiwan without the capital's costs, Keelung delivers, but don't expect a buzzing international scene.
About Taiwan
No retirement visa exists, and the digital nomad route demands $4,977/month income (remote work allowed), so budget retirees are locked out. This suits high-earning remote workers who want elite healthcare (86.5 index), high safety (82.9), and fast internet, and can tolerate a complex path to permanent residency and 40% top tax rates.
$2,143/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Zhunan
Zhunan is a cheap, safe small town that rewards people who do not need a big-city social scene. A 1-bedroom in the center runs $480/mo, a budget single month totals $566/mo, and the local average net salary of $2,432/mo covers that comfortably, though the $4,977/mo income floor on the Taiwan Digital Nomad Visa (Gold Card) prices out most remote workers. With 91 thousand residents, no expat community, and an air quality index of 68, it suits retirees and FIRE savers chasing a 78/100 score, not anyone hunting an international crowd.
About Taiwan
No retirement visa exists, and the digital nomad route demands $4,977/month income (remote work allowed), so budget retirees are locked out. This suits high-earning remote workers who want elite healthcare (86.5 index), high safety (82.9), and fast internet, and can tolerate a complex path to permanent residency and 40% top tax rates.
$2,196/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Keelung (Chi-Lung) | Zhunan |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $563.67 | $480 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $469.72 | $380 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1033.39 | $900 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $939.44 | $720 |
| Safety Index | 85 | 80 |
| Internet Speed | 125Mbps | 60Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Keelung (Chi-Lung) | Zhunan |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $886/mo | $838/mo |
| Excluding rent | $416/mo | $458/mo |
| Rent | $470/mo | $380/mo |
| Groceries | $156/mo | $181/mo |
| Dining out | $47.00/mo | $41.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $83.00/mo | $94.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $67.00/mo | $142/mo |
| Transport | $63.00/mo | N/A |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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Keelung (Chi-Lung) vs Zhunan -- Frequently Asked Questions
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