🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,272 in Keelung versus $1,336 in Bucharest.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,083 in Keelung versus $2,162 in Bucharest.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,893 in Keelung versus $2,988 in Bucharest.
🙂Living in Keelung costs roughly 5% less than in Bucharest, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Keelung is 5% below, Bucharest is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Keelung
Bucharest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.96NT$156
$13.58RON 61.4
-63.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.19NT$950
$68.1RON 308
-55.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.56NT$175
$8.05RON 36.38
-30.93%
Cappuccino
$2.99NT$94.3
$3.40RON 15.36
-12.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12NT$35.18
$2.32RON 10.50
-51.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85NT$26.72
$2.38RON 10.74
-64.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.19NT$69.0
$3.54RON 15.99
-38.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86NT$89.9
$4.01RON 18.14
-28.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Keelung
Bucharest
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.45NT$108
$1.74RON 7.88
98.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.48NT$46.46
$1.42RON 6.42
4.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20NT$37.84
$1.93RON 8.73
-37.82%
Eggs
$2.42NT$76.2
$3.54RON 15.99
-31.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$31.12NT$979
$9.27RON 41.90
235.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.00NT$189
$7.13RON 32.21
-15.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.00NT$504
$12.28RON 55.5
30.29%
Apples(1kg)
$4.72NT$149
$1.35RON 6.11
249.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80NT$56.8
$1.74RON 7.86
3.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21NT$69.5
$1.76RON 7.98
25.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.07NT$96.5
$2.40RON 10.83
27.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.35NT$42.38
$1.05RON 4.72
28.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.91NT$60.1
$0.96RON 4.35
98.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.29NT$72.1
$0.92RON 4.15
148.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25NT$39.47
$0.91RON 4.09
37.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.01NT$126
$6.38RON 28.82
-37.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.70NT$305
$6.45RON 29.16
50.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21NT$38.08
$1.22RON 5.51
-0.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55NT$80.2
$1.98RON 8.95
28.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Keelung
Bucharest
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49NT$15.40
$1.16RON 5.27
-57.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.1NT$2,113
$19.48RON 88.0
244.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.91NT$91.5
$0.72RON 3.25
304.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.18NT$37.13
$0.62RON 2.79
90.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.15NT$319
$6.94RON 31.35
46.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05NT$32.90
$1.71RON 7.75
-38.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2KNT$1.0M
$29.0KRON 131.0K
14.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KNT$820.6K
$30.3KRON 137.0K
-13.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Keelung
Bucharest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.91NT$1,382
$178RON 803
-75.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.18NT$761
$9.16RON 41.40
163.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.88NT$374
$11.12RON 50.3
6.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Keelung
Bucharest
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.59NT$1,152
$54.7RON 247
-33.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.23NT$1,077
$29.04RON 131
17.87%
Cinema Ticket
$8.30NT$261
$9.27RON 41.92
-10.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Keelung
Bucharest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$358NT$11.3K
$677RON 3,060
-47.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.8KNT$653.5K
$14.9KRON 67.2K
39.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Keelung
Bucharest
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.7NT$2,698
$79.8RON 361
7.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.71NT$1,093
$45.29RON 205
-23.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.2NT$1,581
$89.2RON 403
-43.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.65NT$1,059
$109RON 493
-69.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Keelung
Bucharest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$602NT$18.9K
$662RON 2,992
-9.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$511NT$16.1K
$432RON 1,953
18.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,099NT$34.6K
$1,355RON 6,126
-18.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,033NT$32.5K
$841RON 3,802
22.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,381NT$106.4K
$3,857RON 17.4K
-12.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,334NT$73.5K
$2,305RON 10.4K
1.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Keelung
Bucharest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,440NT$76.8K
$1,463RON 6,615
66.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.18
7.1
-69.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Keelung: May 31, 2026
Last update for Bucharest: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $602 in Keelung and $662 in Bucharest. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Keelung pays 67% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $30.00 in Keelung vs $68.0 in Bucharest. Groceries flip the comparison at $356 vs $233, 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
Keelung vs Bucharest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Keelung and Bucharest?
Keelung and Bucharest differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($1,272 vs $1,336 including rent). Keelung is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Keelung or Bucharest?
Keelung pays 67% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Keelung and Bucharest?
Rent for a central apartment: $602 in Keelung versus $662 in Bucharest. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Keelung or Bucharest?
All in, you'll spend $1,272 per month in Keelung versus $1,336 in Bucharest – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Keelung and Bucharest?
A monthly transit pass in Keelung runs roughly 245% 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 $1,272 in Keelung versus $1,336 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 Keelung and Bucharest?
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 Keelung or Bucharest safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Keelung and Bucharest 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: Keelung or Bucharest?
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.