Cost of living comparison
Belgium is 21.6% cheaper than Chicago.
- Restaurants
-
pay 8.9% less in Belgium
- Groceries
-
pay 28.7% less in Belgium
- Transportation
-
pay 23.4% more in Belgium
- Housing
-
pay 28.2% less in Belgium
- Childcare
-
pay 72.5% less in Belgium
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 37.9% less in Belgium
- Clothing
-
pay 1.4% more in Belgium
The cost of transportation and clothing in Belgium are more expensive than in Chicago. Expenses including childcare, entertainment and sports, groceries, housing, and restaurants are lower in Belgium.
If you lived in Belgium instead of Chicago, you would:
pay 8.9% less for restaurants
|
Chicago
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$25.00
|
$19.07
€18.60
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.34
|
$10.84
€10.57
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$3.02
|
$2.78
€2.71
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.44
|
$2.46
€2.40
|
|
pay 28.7% less for groceries
|
Chicago
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.19
|
$2.28
€2.22
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.87
|
$6.70
€6.53
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.94
|
$4.44
€4.33
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.75
|
$3.43
€3.34
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$6.63
|
$4.78
€4.66
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.44
|
$1.11
€1.08
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.90
|
$0.89
€0.87
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$1.07
€1.05
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$1.16
€1.13
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.16
|
$0.83
€0.81
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.37
|
$0.73
€0.71
|
|
pay 23.4% more for transportation
|
Chicago
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.16
|
$6.91
€6.74
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$75.00
|
$45.41
€44.29
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,965.00
|
$27,628.35
€26,942.67
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.43
|
$26.01
€25.37
|
|
pay 28.2% less for housing
|
Chicago
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$58.52
|
$49.35
€48.13
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,360.96
|
$815.11
€794.88
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,512.92
|
$705.09
€687.59
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$126.63
|
$154.10
€150.28
|
|
pay 72.5% less for childcare
|
Chicago
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$2,475.00
|
$557.50
€543.66
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$42,300.00
|
$13,740.85
€13,399.83
|
|
pay 37.9% less for entertainment and sports
|
Chicago
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.50
|
$4.34
€4.23
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.30
|
$3.51
€3.42
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$17.00
|
$9.08
€8.86
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$72.00
|
$36.02
€35.13
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.00
|
$12.48
€12.17
|
|
pay 1.4% more for clothing
|
Chicago
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$64.98
|
$92.82
€90.52
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$51.67
|
$43.31
€42.23
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$97.00
|
$90.40
€88.15
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$146.00
|
$125.11
€122.00
|
|
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