Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Keelung Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Keelung

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $967 in Keelung.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $1,708 in Keelung.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $2,450 in Keelung.

Living in Barcelona is roughly 156% more expensive than in Keelung, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Keelung is 29% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Keelung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74 €16.33
$4.88 NT$155
284.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5 €60.6
$31.81 NT$1,013
118.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.77 €12.00
$4.79 NT$153
187.47%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.70
$2.84 NT$90.6
9.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 €2.47
$1.00 NT$31.74
183.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 €1.64
$0.73 NT$23.24
157.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.98 €3.47
$1.55 NT$49.49
156.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 €3.95
$2.84 NT$90.5
59.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Keelung
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 €1.11
$3.12 NT$99.3
-59.29%
White Bread (500g)
$2.16 €1.88
$1.39 NT$44.29
55.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.53
$1.18 NT$37.68
49.15%
Eggs
$5.13 €4.47
$2.25 NT$71.6
128.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.88 €15.59
$29.54 NT$940
-39.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.65 €8.41
$5.64 NT$180
71.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.15 €17.56
$17.02 NT$542
18.39%
Apples (1kg)
$3.25 €2.84
$4.40 NT$140
-26.14%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 €1.94
$1.97 NT$62.6
13.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.60 €2.27
$1.77 NT$56.3
46.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.76 €2.40
$2.21 NT$70.2
24.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.21 €1.93
$1.20 NT$38.12
84.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.12 €1.85
$1.90 NT$60.5
11.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 €1.35
$2.46 NT$78.2
-36.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 €0.83
$0.90 NT$28.71
5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34 €6.40
$3.81 NT$121
92.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.05 €7.01
$9.74 NT$310
-17.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 €1.35
$1.09 NT$34.57
41.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 €2.43
$2.47 NT$78.6
12.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Keelung
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.11 €2.71
$0.61 NT$19.45
409.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.86 €22.54
$63.0 NT$2,004
-58.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.27 €2.85
$2.75 NT$87.4
18.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 €1.29
$0.99 NT$31.45
49.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.27 €29.88
$9.35 NT$298
266.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.73 €1.51
$1.04 NT$33.12
66.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K €31.7K
$34.3K NT$1.1M
6.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K €26.6K
$23.4K NT$743.6K
30.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Keelung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 €163
$41.86 NT$1,332
346.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14 €13.20
$15.24 NT$485
-0.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69 €32.85
$11.29 NT$359
233.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Keelung
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.9 €48.76
$35.55 NT$1,132
57.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08 €14.89
$31.90 NT$1,015
-46.46%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41 €9.95
$7.76 NT$247
47.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Keelung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$997 €869
$348 NT$11.1K
186.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.4K
$16.9K NT$539.4K
-2.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Keelung
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6 €80.8
$69.6 NT$2,214
33.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22 €35.93
$36.18 NT$1,152
13.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 €96.9
$48.34 NT$1,539
130.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €109
$31.31 NT$997
299.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Keelung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,707 €1,488
$405 NT$12.9K
321.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,286 €1,121
$251 NT$8,001
411.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,565 €2,236
$1,009 NT$32.1K
154.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,942 €1,693
$732 NT$23.3K
165.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,647 €6,666
$3,420 NT$108.9K
123.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,167 €4,504
$2,351 NT$74.8K
119.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Keelung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,348 €2,047
$2,491 NT$79.3K
-5.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.16
2.27
39.21%

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

Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026

Last update for Keelung: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $405 in Keelung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Keelung pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $32.00 in Keelung. Groceries flip the comparison at $336 vs $337, with Barcelona cheaper for home cooking.

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
Barcelona vs Keelung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Keelung?
Barcelona and Keelung differ by about 156% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $967 including rent). Keelung is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 6% lower in Keelung. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Keelung?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $405 in Keelung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Keelung?
Childcare runs $997 in Barcelona versus $348 in Keelung. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Barcelona pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $967 in Keelung versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Keelung but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Keelung the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and 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.
Is Barcelona or Keelung safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona 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.
Where should expats move: Barcelona or Keelung?
Expats usually find Keelung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 156% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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