Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Keelung

For one person, living is cheaper in Keelung: $978 a month against $1,372 in Almaty, rent and utilities included – about $4,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,372
/mo nomad
Keelung
🇹🇼 Taiwan
$978
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Almaty and in Keelung

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Almaty and in Keelung actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,372 per month in Almaty vs $978 in Keelung, rent included.

  • Almaty $1,372
  • Keelung $978

A couple spends around $2,142 per month in Almaty vs $1,717 in Keelung, rent included.

  • Almaty $2,142
  • Keelung $1,717

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Almaty vs $2,457 in Keelung, rent included.

  • Almaty $2,913
  • Keelung $2,457

Almaty costs about 40% more than Keelung, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Almaty sits 2% above the global median, while Keelung is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Keelung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.16 ₸5,949
$4.65 NT$151
183.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.86 ₸20.3K
$31.92 NT$1,035
40.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.90 ₸4,022
$4.85 NT$157
83.51%
Cappuccino
$3.25 ₸1,469
$2.85 NT$92.4
14.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 ₸639
$1.03 NT$33.31
36.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ₸399
$0.73 NT$23.60
20.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 ₸1,513
$1.54 NT$50.1
117.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 ₸1,827
$2.81 NT$91.1
43.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Keelung
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ₸762
$3.24 NT$105
-47.84%
White Bread (500g)
$0.86 ₸390
$1.39 NT$45.01
-38.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.03 ₸917
$1.12 NT$36.44
81.25%
Eggs
$2.43 ₸1,100
$2.22 NT$72.1
9.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.46 ₸5,632
$29.36 NT$952
-57.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.71 ₸3,033
$5.83 NT$189
15.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ₸4,905
$17.08 NT$554
-36.48%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 ₸813
$4.35 NT$141
-58.62%
Banana (1kg)
$2.25 ₸1,018
$1.89 NT$61.4
19.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.91 ₸1,314
$3.02 NT$98.0
-3.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.75 ₸1,243
$2.16 NT$70.1
27.31%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ₸337
$1.19 NT$38.69
-36.97%
Onion (1kg)
$0.55 ₸248
$1.90 NT$61.6
-71.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 ₸732
$2.42 NT$78.5
-33.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 ₸474
$0.91 NT$29.60
15.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.58 ₸1,167
$3.76 NT$122
-31.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.15 ₸5,042
$9.24 NT$300
20.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 ₸547
$1.09 NT$35.21
11.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 ₸1,104
$2.56 NT$83.0
-4.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Keelung
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₸117
$0.64 NT$20.87
-59.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.03 ₸9,957
$63.7 NT$2,064
-65.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ₸611
$2.61 NT$84.7
-48.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 ₸288
$0.96 NT$31.16
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.16 ₸5,044
$9.61 NT$311
16.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 ₸324
$1.03 NT$33.31
-30.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K ₸10.2M
$33.3K NT$1.1M
-32.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3K ₸13.7M
$23.0K NT$744.6K
31.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Keelung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.8 ₸41.5K
$41.52 NT$1,346
121.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.66 ₸4,820
$15.14 NT$491
-29.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.86 ₸8,072
$11.07 NT$359
61.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Keelung
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.3 ₸31.8K
$34.14 NT$1,107
106.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.60 ₸12.5K
$32.11 NT$1,041
-14.05%
Cinema Ticket
$6.78 ₸3,064
$7.92 NT$257
-14.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Keelung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$449 ₸202.9K
$336 NT$10.9K
33.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K ₸5.5M
$16.9K NT$546.4K
-28.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Keelung
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.9 ₸40.7K
$73.0 NT$2,368
23.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.02 ₸21.3K
$36.15 NT$1,172
30.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$142 ₸64.1K
$47.16 NT$1,529
200.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 ₸60.0K
$31.66 NT$1,027
319.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Keelung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$805 ₸363.7K
$401 NT$13.0K
100.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₸225.9K
$254 NT$8,247
96.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,429 ₸645.9K
$978 NT$31.7K
46.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$904 ₸408.8K
$731 NT$23.7K
23.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,503 ₸1.1M
$3,385 NT$109.8K
-26.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,559 ₸704.7K
$2,352 NT$76.3K
-33.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Keelung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$870 ₸393.3K
$2,436 NT$79.0K
-64.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.65
2.27
809.69%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Almaty: October 10, 2026

Last update for Keelung: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Almaty
$500
Keelung
$254 49.1% $245
Groceries & Markets
Almaty
$250
Keelung
$341 36.3% $91
Eating Out
Almaty
$205
Keelung
$106 48.1% $99
Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
$185
Keelung
$85 54.3% $101
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
$120
Keelung
$68 43.7% $53
Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
$84
Keelung
$50 40.4% $34
Getting Around
Almaty
$28
Keelung
$74 167% $46

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $805 in Almaty versus $401 in Keelung. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 180% higher in Keelung, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Almaty versus $32.00 in Keelung. Groceries tell a different story – $250 in Almaty vs $341 in Keelung – so Almaty wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇰🇿 Almaty
🇹🇼 Keelung
🕒 Local time
01:07 1:07 AM
03:07 3:07 AM
2 h ahead of Almaty
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,475,400
372,100
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TWD, USD, EUR to KZT – Kazakhstani Tenge Converter

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 452 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.21 USD). 1 EUR = 508 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.97 EUR).

New Taiwan Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 32.43 TWD (100 TWD = 3.08 USD). 1 EUR = 36.46 TWD (100 TWD = 2.74 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Almaty Keelung 4,520 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Almaty
  • Keelung

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Almaty vs Keelung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Keelung cheaper than Almaty?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 40%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,058 per month in Almaty and $1,467 in Keelung. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Keelung, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Almaty or in Keelung?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Almaty and $32.00 in Keelung. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Almaty and in Keelung?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,372 in Almaty and $978 in Keelung. That's a gap of about 40%.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Almaty or in Keelung?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Keelung, where all-in costs run around $978, than in Almaty at $1,372. In Keelung it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Almaty or Keelung more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Keelung – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Almaty or Keelung?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Keelung. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Almaty makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Almaty vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?