Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Keelung

For one person, living is cheaper in Keelung: $978 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $20,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Keelung
🇹🇼 Taiwan
$978
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX 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 Austin, TX and in Keelung actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $978 in Keelung.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Keelung $978

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,717 in Keelung.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Keelung $1,717

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $2,457 in Keelung.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Keelung $2,457

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 172% more expensive than in Keelung, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Keelung is 28% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Keelung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$4.65 NT$151
346.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$31.92 NT$1,035
165.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$4.85 NT$157
154.02%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$2.85 NT$92.4
97.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.03 NT$33.31
261.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.73 NT$23.60
242.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$1.54 NT$50.1
422.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$2.81 NT$91.1
220.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Keelung
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$3.24 NT$105
-65.43%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.39 NT$45.01
169.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$1.12 NT$36.44
191.07%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$2.22 NT$72.1
87.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$29.36 NT$952
-56.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$5.83 NT$189
142.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$17.08 NT$554
-5.04%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$4.35 NT$141
-0.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.89 NT$61.4
-22.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.02 NT$98.0
49.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$2.16 NT$70.1
100.93%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.19 NT$38.69
116.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.90 NT$61.6
23.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.42 NT$78.5
-26.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.91 NT$29.60
143.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$3.76 NT$122
162.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$9.24 NT$300
63.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.09 NT$35.21
167.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.56 NT$83.0
35.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Keelung
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.64 NT$20.87
132.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
$63.7 NT$2,064
-34.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.61 NT$84.7
4.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$0.96 NT$31.16
72.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$9.61 NT$311
267.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.03 NT$33.31
-7.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$33.3K NT$1.1M
8.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$23.0K NT$744.6K
17.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Keelung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$41.52 NT$1,346
451.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$15.14 NT$491
292.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$11.07 NT$359
531.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Keelung
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$34.14 NT$1,107
67.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
$32.11 NT$1,041
-49.14%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$7.92 NT$257
80.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Keelung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$336 NT$10.9K
348.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$16.9K NT$546.4K
27.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Keelung
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$73.0 NT$2,368
-27.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$36.15 NT$1,172
21.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$47.16 NT$1,529
79.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$31.66 NT$1,027
225.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Keelung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$401 NT$13.0K
376.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$254 NT$8,247
400.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$978 NT$31.7K
274.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$731 NT$23.7K
247.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$3,385 NT$109.8K
124.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$2,352 NT$76.3K
34.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Keelung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
$2,436 NT$79.0K
110.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
2.27
199.12%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Keelung: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Keelung
$254 80% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Keelung
$341 15.7% $63
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Keelung
$68 81.1% $291
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Keelung
$106 70% $248
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Keelung
$85 33.9% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Keelung
$50 41.7% $36
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Keelung
$74 25.5% $15

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $401 in Keelung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 110% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $32.00 in Keelung for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $341 per month, with Keelung cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇹🇼 Keelung
🕒 Local time
13:10 1:10 PM
02:10 2:10 AM
13 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
372,100
Exchange rates and currency converter

TWD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 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
  • Austin, TX Keelung 12,560 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • 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
Austin, TX vs Keelung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Keelung?
Keelung wins on cost – living expenses run 172% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Keelung the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Keelung?
Average pay runs 110% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX compared to Keelung?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $401 in Keelung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Austin, TX compared to Keelung?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $978 in Keelung – a 172% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Keelung?
A monthly transit pass in Keelung runs roughly 53% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Austin, TX or in Keelung?
At $978 in Keelung versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Keelung but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Keelung the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Keelung?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Austin, TX compared to Keelung?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Keelung are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Keelung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 172% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Austin, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

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