Cost of living comparison
Boston is 37.7% more expensive than Brussels.
- Restaurants
-
pay 2.2% more in Boston
- Groceries
-
pay 64.6% more in Boston
- Transportation
-
pay 4.0% less in Boston
- Housing
-
pay 80.9% more in Boston
- Childcare
-
pay 78.1% more in Boston
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 55.2% more in Boston
- Clothing
-
pay 13.2% less in Boston
The cost of housing, childcare, groceries, entertainment and sports, and restaurants in Boston are more expensive than in Brussels. Expenses including clothing and transportation are lower in Boston. Notably, housing and childcare are significantly more expensive in Boston.
If you lived in Boston instead of Brussels, you would:
pay 2.2% more for restaurants
|
Brussels
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$21.44
€18.89
|
$22.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$12.86
€11.33
|
$12.55
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.89
€2.55
|
$3.14
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.56
€2.25
|
$2.56
|
|
pay 64.6% more for groceries
|
Brussels
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.59
€2.28
|
$4.39
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.47
€6.59
|
$9.48
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.00
€5.29
|
$4.97
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.29
€3.78
|
$4.43
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.66
€4.99
|
$6.22
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.16
€1.02
|
$2.50
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.96
€0.85
|
$1.02
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.19
€1.05
|
$3.23
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.38
€1.22
|
$3.19
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.98
€0.87
|
$2.08
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.94
€0.83
|
$1.72
|
|
pay 4.0% less for transportation
|
Brussels
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.92
€6.10
|
$3.64
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$53.59
€47.22
|
$90.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$32,152.89
€28,334.42
|
$32,000.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$25.94
€22.86
|
$16.62
|
|
pay 80.9% more for housing
|
Brussels
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$55.46
€48.88
|
$70.88
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,200.57
€1,057.99
|
$3,280.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,025.16
€903.42
|
$2,453.85
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$179.33
€158.03
|
$148.96
|
|
pay 78.1% more for childcare
|
Brussels
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$988.17
€870.81
|
$2,428.57
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$22,667.79
€19,975.76
|
$25,000.00
|
|
pay 55.2% more for entertainment and sports
|
Brussels
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.36
€4.72
|
$8.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.01
€3.53
|
$5.79
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.65
€8.50
|
$13.83
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$38.09
€33.57
|
$86.18
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.20
€12.51
|
$16.00
|
|
pay 13.2% less for clothing
|
Brussels
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$96.46
€85.00
|
$64.32
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$51.32
€45.22
|
$43.83
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$115.01
€101.35
|
$98.17
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$143.35
€126.32
|
$157.18
|
|
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