Cost of Living Comparison Between Keelung and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Keelung and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,273 in Keelung versus $1,447 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,040 in Keelung versus $2,310 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,808 in Keelung versus $3,174 in Mexico City.

Living in Keelung costs roughly 12% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Keelung is 5% below, Mexico City is 8% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Keelung
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.17 NT$163
$12.98 MX$223
-60.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.43 NT$962
$52.6 MX$903
-42.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.40 NT$171
$9.43 MX$162
-42.74%
Cappuccino
$2.94 NT$92.9
$3.57 MX$61.3
-17.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 NT$34.73
$1.61 MX$27.55
-31.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 NT$25.46
$1.15 MX$19.81
-29.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.10 NT$66.3
$3.15 MX$54.0
-33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 NT$93.3
$4.86 MX$83.4
-39.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Keelung
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.40 NT$108
$1.70 MX$29.17
100.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 NT$47.15
$2.64 MX$45.23
-43.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.14 NT$35.97
$1.90 MX$32.67
-40.00%
Eggs
$2.48 NT$78.5
$2.54 MX$43.62
-2.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$31.37 NT$992
$10.08 MX$173
211.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.19 NT$196
$8.29 MX$142
-25.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.93 NT$503
$11.57 MX$199
37.68%
Apples (1kg)
$4.52 NT$143
$3.03 MX$52.0
49.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 NT$55.6
$1.71 MX$29.35
2.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 NT$71.3
$2.05 MX$35.16
9.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.09 NT$97.7
$2.06 MX$35.36
50.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.35 NT$42.58
$2.06 MX$35.43
-34.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 NT$61.4
$2.17 MX$37.25
-10.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 NT$72.3
$1.40 MX$24.08
63.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 NT$39.80
$1.12 MX$19.26
12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 NT$126
$4.29 MX$73.7
-7.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.70 NT$307
$15.41 MX$265
-37.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 NT$38.72
$1.67 MX$28.74
-26.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 NT$83.7
$3.69 MX$63.3
-28.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Keelung
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.49 NT$15.48
$0.38 MX$6.55
28.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.0 NT$2,151
$19.06 MX$327
256.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.81 NT$88.9
$1.38 MX$23.70
103.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.20 NT$37.89
$0.28 MX$4.74
328.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.10 NT$319
$5.42 MX$92.9
86.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 NT$32.04
$1.28 MX$21.98
-21.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K NT$1.1M
$19.0K MX$325.8K
76.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K NT$823.7K
$23.5K MX$402.7K
11.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Keelung
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.01 NT$1,391
$41.02 MX$704
7.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.37 NT$771
$26.92 MX$462
-9.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.78 NT$372
$29.69 MX$510
-60.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Keelung
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.04 NT$1,171
$52.3 MX$898
-29.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.67 NT$1,064
$26.23 MX$450
28.36%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 NT$275
$6.18 MX$106
40.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Keelung
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$364 NT$11.5K
$427 MX$7,331
-14.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.5K NT$649.6K
$10.7K MX$183.6K
92.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Keelung
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.6 NT$2,643
$56.8 MX$975
47.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.44 NT$1,089
$44.83 MX$769
-23.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$50.2 NT$1,586
$105 MX$1,794
-52.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.81 NT$1,069
$106 MX$1,819
-68.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Keelung
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$610 NT$19.3K
$995 MX$17.1K
-38.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$516 NT$16.3K
$621 MX$10.7K
-16.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,124 NT$35.5K
$2,126 MX$36.5K
-47.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,020 NT$32.2K
$1,254 MX$21.5K
-18.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,392 NT$107.2K
$3,903 MX$67.0K
-13.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,361 NT$74.6K
$2,096 MX$36.0K
12.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Keelung
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,435 NT$77.0K
$1,107 MX$19.0K
119.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.18
11.34
-80.78%

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

Last update for Keelung: June 6, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $610 in Keelung and $995 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Keelung pays 120% 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 $53.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $357 vs $288, with Mexico City 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 Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Keelung and Mexico City?
Keelung and Mexico City differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($1,273 vs $1,447 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 Mexico City?
Keelung pays 120% 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 Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $610 in Keelung versus $995 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Mexico City pay roughly 24% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Keelung – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $53.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,273 in Keelung versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Keelung but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. 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 Mexico City?
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 Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Keelung and Mexico City 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 Mexico City?
Expats usually find Keelung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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