Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucharest and Keelung Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucharest and Keelung

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,331 in Bucharest versus $1,273 in Keelung.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,166 in Bucharest versus $2,040 in Keelung.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,000 in Bucharest versus $2,808 in Keelung.

Living in Bucharest is roughly 5% more expensive than Keelung, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bucharest 1% lower, Keelung 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bucharest
Keelung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.87 RON 62.7
$5.17 NT$163
168.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.0 RON 317
$30.43 NT$962
130.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.23 RON 37.24
$5.40 NT$171
52.41%
Cappuccino
$3.45 RON 15.60
$2.94 NT$92.9
17.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 RON 10.54
$1.10 NT$34.73
111.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 RON 10.47
$0.81 NT$25.46
185.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.51 RON 15.89
$2.10 NT$66.3
67.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 RON 17.16
$2.95 NT$93.3
28.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucharest
Keelung
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 RON 8.06
$3.40 NT$108
-47.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 RON 6.47
$1.49 NT$47.15
-4.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.83 RON 8.28
$1.14 NT$35.97
60.53%
Eggs
$3.53 RON 15.98
$2.48 NT$78.5
42.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.61 RON 43.47
$31.37 NT$992
-69.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.92 RON 31.28
$6.19 NT$196
11.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.27 RON 55.5
$15.93 NT$503
-22.98%
Apples (1kg)
$1.39 RON 6.29
$4.52 NT$143
-69.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 RON 7.76
$1.76 NT$55.6
-2.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.75 RON 7.92
$2.25 NT$71.3
-22.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.40 RON 10.85
$3.09 NT$97.7
-22.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 RON 4.69
$1.35 NT$42.58
-22.96%
Onion (1kg)
$0.96 RON 4.36
$1.94 NT$61.4
-50.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 RON 4.46
$2.29 NT$72.3
-57.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 RON 4.12
$1.26 NT$39.80
-27.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.35 RON 28.73
$3.97 NT$126
59.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.62 RON 29.94
$9.70 NT$307
-31.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 RON 5.54
$1.22 NT$38.72
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 RON 9.08
$2.65 NT$83.7
-24.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Bucharest
Keelung
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 RON 5.05
$0.49 NT$15.48
128.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.94 RON 90.2
$68.0 NT$2,151
-70.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.70 RON 3.18
$2.81 NT$88.9
-75.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.66 RON 2.97
$1.20 NT$37.89
-45.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.79 RON 30.74
$10.10 NT$319
-32.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.73 RON 7.81
$1.01 NT$32.04
71.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K RON 131.5K
$33.4K NT$1.1M
-13.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4K RON 137.4K
$26.1K NT$823.7K
16.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucharest
Keelung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 RON 804
$44.01 NT$1,391
304.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.16 RON 41.45
$24.37 NT$771
-62.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.22 RON 50.7
$11.78 NT$372
-4.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucharest
Keelung
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.2 RON 250
$37.04 NT$1,171
49.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.55 RON 134
$33.67 NT$1,064
-12.24%
Cinema Ticket
$8.96 RON 40.51
$8.69 NT$275
3.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucharest
Keelung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$657 RON 2,973
$364 NT$11.5K
80.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.5K RON 65.8K
$20.5K NT$649.6K
-29.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucharest
Keelung
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.4 RON 368
$83.6 NT$2,643
-2.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.88 RON 208
$34.44 NT$1,089
33.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.4 RON 405
$50.2 NT$1,586
78.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 RON 495
$33.81 NT$1,069
223.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucharest
Keelung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$644 RON 2,914
$610 NT$19.3K
5.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$444 RON 2,007
$516 NT$16.3K
-14.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,343 RON 6,074
$1,124 NT$35.5K
19.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$847 RON 3,833
$1,020 NT$32.2K
-16.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,941 RON 17.8K
$3,392 NT$107.2K
16.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,248 RON 10.2K
$2,361 NT$74.6K
-4.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucharest
Keelung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,425 RON 6,444
$2,435 NT$77.0K
-41.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.1
2.18
225.69%

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

Last update for Bucharest: June 8, 2026

Last update for Keelung: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $644 in Bucharest and $610 in Keelung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Keelung pays 71% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70.0 in Bucharest vs $30.00 in Keelung. Groceries flip the comparison at $233 vs $357, with Bucharest 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
Bucharest vs Keelung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bucharest and Keelung?
Bucharest and Keelung differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($1,331 vs $1,273 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, Keelung earns 71% less. 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 Bucharest and Keelung?
Rent for a central apartment: $644 in Bucharest versus $610 in Keelung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bucharest or Keelung?
All in, you'll spend $1,331 per month in Bucharest versus $1,273 in Keelung – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Bucharest and Keelung?
A monthly transit pass in Keelung runs roughly 241% less than in Bucharest. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,273 in Keelung versus $1,331 in Bucharest, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Keelung but tight or insufficient in Bucharest. The gap between the two cities makes Keelung the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bucharest 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 Bucharest or Keelung safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bucharest 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: Bucharest or Keelung?
Expats usually find Keelung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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