Luolong vs Mito
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Luolong is approximately 5% less expensive than Mito based on cost of living including rent. This makes Luolong a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Luolong has a FIRE Score of 86/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 70, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Luolong is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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Best in rowChina
Luolong
Japan
Mito
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Luolong
Luolong is a cheap, safe bet for remote workers chasing a FIRE number, with a 1-bedroom city centre flat at $300/mo and a single person's monthly cost outside rent at $450/mo. The catch is isolation: no expat community, limited English, and an air quality index of 85 that will test your lungs. If you want low costs and an 80 Mbps connection more than you want company, it works; otherwise, look elsewhere.
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.
Luolong costs roughly 85% less than Mito. Mito scores significantly higher on safety and retiree suitability — worth weighing against the cost gap. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Luolong is approximately 5% less expensive than Mito based on cost of living including rent. This makes Luolong a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Luolong has a FIRE Score of 86/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 70, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Luolong is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Luolong
Luolong is a cheap, safe bet for remote workers chasing a FIRE number, with a 1-bedroom city centre flat at $300/mo and a single person's monthly cost outside rent at $450/mo. The catch is isolation: no expat community, limited English, and an air quality index of 85 that will test your lungs. If you want low costs and an 80 Mbps connection more than you want company, it works; otherwise, look elsewhere.
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.
$2,250/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Mito
Mito is a brutally practical choice for anyone who wants Japan without Tokyo's price tag, and the numbers back that up. A one-bedroom runs a flat $316/mo whether you're in the center or not, and a three-bedroom outside the center is just $380/mo, which is absurdly cheap for a city of 271,000 people. The overall expat score of 95/100 and a FIRE score of 95/100 tell you this is a place to bank cash, not burn it, especially with a single person's non-rent costs at $650/mo and a cheap $6 meal on every corner. But don't come expecting to chat up locals in English, proficiency is limited, and the $6,667/mo income requirement for the digital nomad visa is a steep gate for a city where the comfortable tier total is only $2,100/mo.
About Japan
Safe, efficient, and financially punishing for anyone chasing early retirement. A 1BR in central Tokyo runs $531.81/mo, cheap by American standards, but progressive income tax up to ~55% (incl. local) erases most remote-work savings. No retirement visa exists, and the digital nomad route requires $6,667/mo income with zero path to permanent residency or citizenship without a long, difficult grind.
$2,214/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Luolong | Mito |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $300 | $316.33 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $200 | $316.33 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $600 | $442.86 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $400 | $379.59 |
| Safety Index | 70 | 89.71 |
| Internet Speed | 80Mbps | 200Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Luolong | Mito |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | N/A | $786/mo |
| Excluding rent | N/A | $470/mo |
| Rent | N/A | $316/mo |
| Groceries | N/A | $153/mo |
| Dining out | N/A | $63.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | N/A | $66.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | N/A | $188/mo |
| 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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