Job Discussion Forums

[Captain Planet]

I have accepted a job in Keelung and have some questions about the city. It seems like most of the information that is available is either talking about the night market, or how trashy the city is. I am aware that it might not be the most convenient place to live, but the location is very appealing to me.

I like that the city is surrounded by either mountains or the ocean. Another part that I am excited about is that there should be less foreigners there, which should force me to learn mandarin faster.

So, on to my questions...

About how much would rent be? I have looked on the internet and have not been able to find anything regarding this.

I am assuming that the cost of food will be relatively similar to the rest of the island. Is this correct?

How is the pollution in Keelung? Does the constant rain help minimize it?

Thanks for your help.

[Ferfichkin]

My gut feeling is that you are unlikely to get someone who lives in Keelung to answer your questions, so I'll give them a try. For the record, I have never lived in Keelung, but my wife's family is from there, so I have spent a fair amount of time in that area.

Rent for a studio in Taipei will run you between 10,000-15,000NT. I bet you could get a decent little studio in Keelung for between 8,000-12,000NT. Maybe even less if you're willing to compromise on the quality and/or location a bit.

The cost of food is similar everywhere. Some places might be a marginally more expensive, but Keelung isn't one of them.

I can't say I've been any more or less bothered by the pollution in Keelung than in Taipei. Maybe I'm weird, but I don't really notice the pollution that much. If it does affect me, I'm not sure how.

Anyhow, good luck and make sure to get yourself a sturdy umbrella. You're in for a soggy ride.

[Captain Planet]

Awesome, thank you for your help! Thanks for the housing information.

Ya that is the only thing that I am concerned about, the rain. But I am hoping that it isn't so bad.

Thanks again.

[Ferfichkin]

I won't lie; it's pretty bad. Keelung is in a convenient location though. It's close to Taipei; it's close to the ocean; it's close to some beautiful mountains and scenic little towns. You'll have lots of fun places to go on the weekend.