Cost of living comparison
Brussels is 62.4% more expensive than Athens.
- Restaurants
-
pay 2.2 times more in Brussels
- Groceries
-
pay 41.2% more in Brussels
- Transportation
-
pay 44.2% more in Brussels
- Housing
-
pay 65.1% more in Brussels
- Childcare
-
pay 2.1 times more in Brussels
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 32.6% more in Brussels
- Clothing
-
pay 23.2% more in Brussels
The cost of restaurants, childcare, housing, transportation, groceries, and entertainment and sports in Brussels are more expensive than in Athens. Notably, restaurants and childcare are significantly more expensive in Brussels.
If you lived in Brussels instead of Athens, you would:
pay 2.2 times more for restaurants
|
Athens
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.08
€14.14
|
$21.44
€18.85
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.65
€8.48
|
$12.86
€11.31
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.06
€1.81
|
$2.89
€2.55
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.55
€0.48
|
$2.56
€2.25
|
|
pay 41.2% more for groceries
|
Athens
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.27
€1.12
|
$2.59
€2.28
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.59
€5.80
|
$7.47
€6.57
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.29
€5.53
|
$6.00
€5.28
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.50
€3.96
|
$4.29
€3.77
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.89
€4.30
|
$5.66
€4.98
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.93
€0.82
|
$1.16
€1.02
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.89
€0.79
|
$0.96
€0.85
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.60
€0.53
|
$1.19
€1.04
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.93
€0.81
|
$1.38
€1.22
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.57
€0.50
|
$0.98
€0.86
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.53
€0.46
|
$0.94
€0.82
|
|
pay 44.2% more for transportation
|
Athens
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$7.64
€6.72
|
$6.92
€6.09
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$30.01
€26.39
|
$53.59
€47.13
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$30,384.48
€26,723.85
|
$32,152.89
€28,279.21
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$12.86
€11.31
|
$25.94
€22.81
|
|
pay 65.1% more for housing
|
Athens
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$32.55
€28.63
|
$55.46
€48.78
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$634.68
€558.22
|
$1,200.57
€1,055.93
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$557.32
€490.17
|
$1,025.16
€901.66
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$153.41
€134.93
|
$179.33
€157.73
|
|
pay 2.1 times more for childcare
|
Athens
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$463.20
€407.39
|
$988.17
€869.11
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$10,722.29
€9,430.50
|
$22,667.79
€19,936.84
|
|
pay 32.6% more for entertainment and sports
|
Athens
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.36
€4.71
|
$5.36
€4.71
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.71
€3.26
|
$4.01
€3.52
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.88
€4.29
|
$9.65
€8.48
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$49.36
€43.42
|
$38.09
€33.50
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$9.65
€8.48
|
$14.20
€12.49
|
|
pay 23.2% more for clothing
|
Athens
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$86.11
€75.74
|
$96.46
€84.84
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$38.32
€33.71
|
$51.32
€45.14
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$93.75
€82.46
|
$115.01
€101.15
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$115.38
€101.48
|
$143.35
€126.08
|
|
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