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: $1,316 in Bucharest versus $1,269 in Keelung.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,132 in Bucharest versus $2,047 in Keelung.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,949 in Bucharest versus $2,824 in Keelung.

Living in Bucharest is roughly 4% more expensive than in 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
$13.55 RON 61.6
$5.18 NT$167
161.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7 RON 312
$30.17 NT$974
127.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.83 RON 35.59
$5.33 NT$172
46.90%
Cappuccino
$3.44 RON 15.65
$2.97 NT$95.8
15.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 RON 10.43
$1.11 NT$35.98
106.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 RON 11.02
$0.79 NT$25.64
206.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 RON 15.47
$2.18 NT$70.4
55.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89 RON 17.68
$2.94 NT$95.0
32.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucharest
Keelung
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 RON 8.21
$3.45 NT$111
-47.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 RON 6.45
$1.56 NT$50.4
-8.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.86 RON 8.45
$1.19 NT$38.56
56.30%
Eggs
$3.70 RON 16.80
$2.38 NT$77.0
55.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.40 RON 42.74
$31.14 NT$1,006
-69.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.20 RON 32.72
$5.93 NT$191
21.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 RON 54.5
$15.58 NT$503
-23.11%
Apples (1kg)
$1.39 RON 6.33
$4.59 NT$148
-69.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 RON 7.80
$1.81 NT$58.4
-4.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.74 RON 7.92
$2.22 NT$71.6
-21.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 RON 11.24
$3.07 NT$99.1
-19.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.00 RON 4.55
$1.33 NT$43.10
-24.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 RON 4.68
$1.91 NT$61.5
-46.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 RON 4.54
$2.28 NT$73.5
-56.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 RON 4.24
$1.28 NT$41.42
-27.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.37 RON 28.97
$3.95 NT$128
61.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.70 RON 30.45
$9.05 NT$292
-25.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 RON 5.79
$1.21 NT$39.13
4.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 RON 9.12
$2.66 NT$86.0
-24.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Bucharest
Keelung
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 RON 5.38
$0.53 NT$17.06
122.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.18 RON 87.2
$66.6 NT$2,150
-71.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.66 RON 2.99
$2.81 NT$90.9
-76.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.62 RON 2.81
$1.19 NT$38.39
-47.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.95 RON 31.59
$10.30 NT$333
-32.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.72 RON 7.80
$1.00 NT$32.37
72.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K RON 128.3K
$33.6K NT$1.1M
-16.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K RON 136.7K
$25.4K NT$820.5K
18.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucharest
Keelung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$182 RON 828
$43.58 NT$1,407
317.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.96 RON 40.71
$24.59 NT$794
-63.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.24 RON 51.1
$11.73 NT$379
-4.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucharest
Keelung
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.7 RON 244
$37.84 NT$1,222
41.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.04 RON 132
$34.48 NT$1,113
-15.78%
Cinema Ticket
$9.00 RON 40.91
$8.33 NT$269
8.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucharest
Keelung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$661 RON 3,005
$354 NT$11.4K
86.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K RON 66.4K
$20.4K NT$658.5K
-28.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucharest
Keelung
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.2 RON 369
$85.8 NT$2,770
-5.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.34 RON 202
$34.98 NT$1,130
26.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.2 RON 410
$51.4 NT$1,661
75.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 RON 500
$33.24 NT$1,073
230.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucharest
Keelung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$661 RON 3,005
$607 NT$19.6K
8.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$443 RON 2,014
$504 NT$16.3K
-12.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,328 RON 6,038
$1,120 NT$36.2K
18.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$830 RON 3,772
$1,032 NT$33.3K
-19.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,866 RON 17.6K
$3,290 NT$106.2K
17.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,178 RON 9,902
$2,312 NT$74.7K
-5.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucharest
Keelung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,432 RON 6,512
$2,450 NT$79.1K
-41.53%
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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Keelung: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $661 in Bucharest and $607 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: $69.0 in Bucharest vs $30.00 in Keelung. Groceries flip the comparison at $235 vs $354, 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 in Keelung?
Bucharest and Keelung differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($1,316 vs $1,269 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 71% 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 Bucharest and in Keelung?
Rent for a central apartment: $661 in Bucharest versus $607 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 $1,316 per month in Bucharest versus $1,269 in Keelung – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Bucharest and in Keelung?
A monthly transit pass in Keelung runs roughly 247% 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 $1,269 in Keelung versus $1,316 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 4% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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