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When it comes to start-ups, Silicon Valley has long reigned supreme, staking claim to international success stories from Apple to Facebook. But the landscape is shifting. New start-up scenes are popping up across the globe as cities seek to take a piece of the pie and entrepreneurial hopefuls look for new locations to set up shop. One of the regions leading the way is East Asia. With access to growing markets, a skilled talent pool and comparatively lower living costs than the Valley and its other Western counterparts, East Asian cities are stepping up to win over entrepreneurs. CNBC Make It takes a look at the leading start-up cities in the region and how they fare in terms of cost and ease of doing business.

Aside from cost, there are, of course, other factors to consider when launching a start-up, such as community, availability of investment and access to local expertise. Here's a closer look at each of the leading cities and what they have to offer aspiring entrepreneurs.

Mainland China

Tianhan Chen | Cpressphoto | Getty Images

Beijing China's capital stands out ahead of its Asian peers in terms of the scale and valuation of its start-up scene. Home to as many as 7,000 start-ups and more than 40 unicorns — businesses with a valuation of more than $1 billion — opportunity and talent abound in the sprawling megacity. Tech hubs such as Zhongguancun, China's answer to Silicon Valley, house some of Beijing's estimated 300 coworking spaces. The wider Haidan District remains the headquarters for some of the city's greatest success stories, such as Xiaomi and Baidu. Shanghai One of the world's most populous cities, Shanghai enjoys a generally affordable cost of living. It has also made strides to nurture its start-up scene, and some districts provide housing allowances or free rent if businesses choose to register there. With 2,000 to 3,000 start-ups currently in the city, Shanghai lags behind Beijing in terms of the relative size of its ecosystem. However, the city tends to enjoy a higher success rate in terms of businesses' abilities to expand internationally — aided by its approximately 500 incubators and accelerators — according to the South China Morning Post. Shenzhen Shenzhen has undergone a meteoric transformation in the past three decades, growing from a small fishing village with a population of 175,000 to a metropolis of more than 12.5 million inhabitants. That sudden growth has also spawned a thriving start-up community, boasting global names such as Tencent and OnePlus. A haven for hardware developers, the city attracts some of the largest volumes of research and development investment of anywhere in the country.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Jerome Favre | Bloomberg via Getty Images Restrictions

Hong Kong Strategically positioned with links to China's mainland, Hong Kong has long been one of the world's leading financial centers, but until recently has struggled to replicate that success in its relatively nascent start-up scene. However, the past few years have seen a boost in entrepreneurial activity and the city now claims more than 2,000 start-ups and around 50 coworking spaces. Last year, Hong Kong celebrated the birth of its first unicorn, van-hailing app GoGoVan.

Japan

Motion blur of busy pedestrians walking at famous Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo, Japan Dillemma Photography | Getty Images

South Korea

Shoppers in the Myeongdong area of Seoul, South Korea, on May 18, 2017.

Seoul Seoul, home to half of South Korea's 50 million-person population, also houses up to 3,500 start-ups and around 100 accelerators, most notably in its famed Gangnam district. In an effort to build a creative economy, the South Korean government has invested heavily in its start-up ecosystem and last year appointed its first start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises minister. The country also boasts the highest government backing per capita for start-ups, though that tends to be skewed in favor of Korean nationals.

Taiwan

A modern metropolis: Taipei, Taiwan. Daniel Aguilera | Getty Images