Cost of living in Belgium
Summary of cost of living in Belgium
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: €3,383
- Single person estimated monthly costs: €1,645
- Cost of living in Belgium is cheaper than in 68% of countries in Western Europe (13 out of 19)
- Cost of living in Belgium is more expensive than in 71% of countries in the World (29 out of 95)
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| Food | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | €17 | ||
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | €8 | ||
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | €4.71 | ||
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | €0.99 | ||
| 12 eggs, large | €3.73 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | €2.10 | ||
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | €6 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | €2.01 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | €1.43 | ||
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | €1.88 | ||
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | €8 | ||
| 2 liters of coca-cola | €2.37 | ||
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | €1.32 | ||
| Housing | |||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | €1,176 | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | €923 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | €150 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | €834 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | €604 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | €116 | ||
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | €32 | ||
| 40” flat screen tv | €402 | ||
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | €140 | ||
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | €9 | ||
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | €10 | ||
| Clothes | |||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | €91 | ||
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | €46 | ||
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | €90 | ||
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | €146 | ||
| Transportation | |||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | €22,310 | ||
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | €1.41 | ||
| Monthly ticket public transport | €50 | ||
| Personal Care | |||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | €8 | ||
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | €7 | ||
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | €26 | ||
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | €5.48 | ||
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | €4.52 | ||
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | €4.12 | ||
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | €1.66 | ||
| Tube of toothpaste | €2.32 | ||
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | €20 | ||
| Entertainment | |||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | €43 | ||
| 2 tickets to the movies | €21 | ||
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | €70 | ||
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | €64 | ||
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | €10 | ||
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | €3.51 | ||
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | €4.29 | ||
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | €427 | ||
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | €0.24 | ||
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | €30 | ||
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | €7 | ||
Map of Cost of Living in Belgium
This map shows only the top cities in Belgium. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan:
List of all the cities available in Expatistan
The color of each marker corresponds with the cost of living in the city red markers show more expensive cities green ones show cheaper cities
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.
What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a
central reference city (that happens to be Prague).
Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the
database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Cost of Living Ranking in Belgium
(top cities by data quality)
| Ranking | City | Price Index * |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Brussels | 144 |
| 2nd | Antwerp | 137 |
| 3rd | Ghent | 136 |
| 4th | Leuven | 128 |
Price Index:
To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a central reference city (that happens to be Prague). Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Are you moving to Belgium? Do you know how much money you will need there to maintain your current standard of living?
Find out what is the real equivalent in Belgium of your current salary and improve your chances of a happy relocation.
Get a salary calculation for:
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Brussels is 24% cheaper than in Chicago, Illinois
- Cost of living in Brussels is 11% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Brussels is 23% more expensive than in Lisbon
- Cost of living in Brussels is 30% more expensive than in Bangkok
- Cost of living in Brussels is about the same as in Milan
- Cost of living in Brussels is 6% more expensive than in Barcelona
- Cost of living in Brussels is 14% cheaper than in Brighton and Hove
- Cost of living in Brussels is 21% cheaper than in Amsterdam
- Cost of living in Brussels is 142% more expensive than in Madras
- Cost of living in Brussels is 44% more expensive than in Braga
- Cost of living in Ostend is 11% more expensive than in Lisbon
- Cost of living in Brussels is 20% cheaper than in Paris
- Cost of living in Brussels is 43% more expensive than in Santiago
- Cost of living in Brussels is 35% more expensive than in Alicante
- Cost of living in Brussels is 60% more expensive than in Budapest
- Cost of living in Brussels is 53% more expensive than in Windhoek
- Cost of living in Brussels is 23% cheaper than in Miami, Florida
- Cost of living in Brussels is 41% cheaper than in New York City
- Cost of living in Brussels is 34% more expensive than in Seville
- Cost of living in Brussels is about the same as in Berlin
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Brussels costs €1,250 (about 23 hours ago)
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Antwerp costs €500 (3 days ago)
- Internet connection 300 mbps, 1 month in Brussels costs €20 (4 days ago)
- Public transport in Brussels costs €300 (8 days ago)
- 500 ml beer in neighbourhood pub in Leuven costs €4.00 (9 days ago)
- Cappuccino in expat area of the city in Leuven costs €3.00 (9 days ago)
- Basic dinner out in neighborhood pub, dinner for two in Leuven costs €35 (9 days ago)
- 4 rolls of toilet paper in Leuven costs €1.00 (9 days ago)
- Monthly rent - 45 m2 furnished studio in normal area in Leuven costs €500 (9 days ago)
- Monthly rent - 45 m2 furnished studio in expensive area in Leuven costs €800 (9 days ago)