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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,682 in Mexico City versus $959 in Keelung.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,599 in Mexico City versus $1,702 in Keelung.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,516 in Mexico City versus $2,444 in Keelung.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 75% more expensive than in Keelung, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 23% above, Keelung is 30% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Keelung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.83 MX$200
$4.73 NT$151
150.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2 MX$884
$30.44 NT$969
71.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.87 MX$184
$4.75 NT$151
128.84%
Cappuccino
$4.03 MX$68.2
$2.84 NT$90.4
41.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$28.99
$0.99 NT$31.39
72.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 MX$22.70
$0.77 NT$24.62
74.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 MX$57.5
$1.59 NT$50.5
113.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 MX$97.3
$2.87 NT$91.4
100.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Keelung
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 MX$31.99
$3.02 NT$96.0
-37.42%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 MX$53.8
$1.42 NT$45.08
123.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.05 MX$34.74
$1.15 NT$36.55
78.26%
Eggs
$3.01 MX$51.1
$2.27 NT$72.2
32.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.61 MX$214
$28.98 NT$923
-56.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.94 MX$169
$5.45 NT$173
82.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.00 MX$271
$16.50 NT$525
-3.03%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 MX$55.6
$4.34 NT$138
-24.42%
Banana (1kg)
$2.06 MX$34.87
$1.86 NT$59.2
10.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.09 MX$35.36
$1.77 NT$56.3
18.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.50 MX$42.44
$2.19 NT$69.7
14.16%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 MX$34.76
$1.23 NT$39.17
66.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 MX$31.70
$1.96 NT$62.3
-4.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.57 MX$26.66
$2.36 NT$75.2
-33.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 MX$23.64
$0.84 NT$26.75
65.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.38 MX$91.2
$3.89 NT$124
38.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.95 MX$304
$9.50 NT$303
88.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 MX$34.31
$1.11 NT$35.23
81.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76 MX$80.7
$2.53 NT$80.4
88.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Keelung
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 MX$6.13
$0.63 NT$20.21
-42.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.80 MX$353
$61.6 NT$1,962
-66.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.06 MX$34.92
$2.69 NT$85.8
-23.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 MX$9.55
$0.95 NT$30.33
-41.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.82 MX$98.6
$9.19 NT$293
-36.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.05
$0.98 NT$31.34
57.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$380.6K
$33.7K NT$1.1M
-33.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K MX$448.7K
$22.9K NT$730.6K
15.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Keelung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$66.0 MX$1,118
$40.23 NT$1,281
63.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.98 MX$525
$14.47 NT$461
114.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.20 MX$613
$10.86 NT$346
233.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Keelung
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.5 MX$975
$34.66 NT$1,104
65.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.75 MX$453
$30.72 NT$978
-12.92%
Cinema Ticket
$7.13 MX$121
$7.81 NT$249
-8.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Keelung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$457 MX$7,738
$342 NT$10.9K
33.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.2K MX$224.5K
$17.2K NT$546.6K
-22.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Keelung
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.8 MX$1,285
$66.7 NT$2,123
13.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.1 MX$917
$35.36 NT$1,126
53.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 MX$1,974
$46.42 NT$1,478
150.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 MX$2,063
$31.40 NT$1,000
287.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Keelung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,147 MX$19.4K
$393 NT$12.5K
191.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$726 MX$12.3K
$250 NT$7,955
190.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,503 MX$42.4K
$958 NT$30.5K
161.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,331 MX$22.6K
$750 NT$23.9K
77.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,895 MX$66.0K
$3,383 NT$107.7K
15.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,149 MX$36.4K
$2,347 NT$74.7K
-8.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Keelung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,069 MX$18.1K
$2,418 NT$77.0K
-55.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.35
2.27
400.00%

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

Last update for Mexico City: August 17, 2026

Last update for Keelung: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,147 in Mexico City and $393 in Keelung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Keelung pays 126% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $30.00 in Keelung for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $344 vs $329 per month, with Keelung cheaper across the board.

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
Mexico City vs Keelung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Keelung?
Mexico City and Keelung differ by about 75% in total monthly costs ($1,682 vs $959 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 126% 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 Mexico City and in Keelung?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,147 in Mexico City versus $393 in Keelung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Keelung – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $52.0 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 $959 in Keelung versus $1,682 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 Mexico City 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 Mexico City or Keelung safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City 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: Mexico City or Keelung?
Expats usually find Keelung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% 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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