Labuan vs Qionghai
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Qionghai is approximately 55% less expensive than Labuan based on cost of living including rent. This makes Qionghai a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Qionghai has a FIRE Score of 89/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 68, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Qionghai is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
Side by side
Best in rowMalaysia
Labuan
China
Qionghai
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Labuan
Labuan is a cheap island that punishes anyone expecting a real city. Rents are genuinely low, with a 1-bedroom outside the center at $480/mo and utilities at just $32/mo, but a local average net salary of $367/mo tells you the economy is not built for outsiders chasing local wages. The catch is that the visa math does not match the cost math: the Malaysia DE Rantau Digital Nomad program wants $2,000/mo and the Malaysia Premium Visa Program (PVIP) wants $3,333/mo, so you need serious remote income to enjoy a place where a mid-range dinner for two costs $24. Come for the low overhead and the safety index of 65/100, not for the expat scene, which is small, or the English proficiency, which is limited.
About Malaysia
Skip this if PR or citizenship matters: MM2H leads nowhere permanent and naturalization is difficult. But for budget-focused retirees or remote workers on the DE Rantau visa, rent under $410/mo in the city center, high English proficiency, and a large expat community make daily life easy without the visa security.
Qionghai costs roughly 6.5x less than Labuan. Labuan scores significantly higher on safety — worth weighing against the cost gap. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Qionghai is approximately 55% less expensive than Labuan based on cost of living including rent. This makes Qionghai a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Qionghai has a FIRE Score of 89/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 68, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Qionghai is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Labuan
Labuan is a cheap island that punishes anyone expecting a real city. Rents are genuinely low, with a 1-bedroom outside the center at $480/mo and utilities at just $32/mo, but a local average net salary of $367/mo tells you the economy is not built for outsiders chasing local wages. The catch is that the visa math does not match the cost math: the Malaysia DE Rantau Digital Nomad program wants $2,000/mo and the Malaysia Premium Visa Program (PVIP) wants $3,333/mo, so you need serious remote income to enjoy a place where a mid-range dinner for two costs $24. Come for the low overhead and the safety index of 65/100, not for the expat scene, which is small, or the English proficiency, which is limited.
About Malaysia
Skip this if PR or citizenship matters: MM2H leads nowhere permanent and naturalization is difficult. But for budget-focused retirees or remote workers on the DE Rantau visa, rent under $410/mo in the city center, high English proficiency, and a large expat community make daily life easy without the visa security.
$2,224/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Qionghai
Qionghai is a budget expat's dream if you can tolerate a small community and limited English. A one-bedroom in the city center runs $400/mo, and your entire budget-tier lifestyle lands at $800/mo, which is absurdly cheap for a tropical town with a 68/100 safety index and decent healthcare. The FIRE score of 91/100 tells you everything: this is a place to stash cash, not to build a social circle or rely on English. Skip it if you need nightlife or a big expat network, but for retirees and frugal savers, the math is unbeatable.
About China
China works for remote workers and business expats fluent in navigating bureaucracy, not retirees seeking an easy landing. Rent outside the city center averages just $238.5/mo, backing the low COL index of 30.7. But with no retirement visa, no digital nomad visa, and an advisory level of 2, getting legal footing here is the real obstacle, not the budget.
$2,150/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Labuan | Qionghai |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $620 | $400 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $480 | $300 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1150 | $800 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $850 | $600 |
| Safety Index | 82.84 | 68 |
| Internet Speed | 30Mbps | 75Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Labuan | Qionghai |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $778/mo | N/A |
| Excluding rent | $298/mo | N/A |
| Rent | $480/mo | N/A |
| Groceries | $121/mo | N/A |
| Dining out | $55.00/mo | N/A |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $56.00/mo | N/A |
| Utilities & connectivity | $66.00/mo | N/A |
| Transport | N/A | 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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