Cost of living comparison
Belgium is 6.7% more expensive than France overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 14.0% more in Belgium
- Groceries
-
pay 9.8% less in Belgium
- Transportation
-
pay 5.3% more in Belgium
- Housing
-
pay 24.9% more in Belgium
- Childcare
-
pay 15.4% more in Belgium
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 6.7% less in Belgium
- Clothing
-
pay 3.9% more in Belgium
The cost of housing, childcare, restaurants, transportation, and clothing in Belgium are more expensive than in France. Expenses including groceries and entertainment and sports are lower in Belgium.
If you lived in Belgium instead of France, you would:
pay 14.0% more for restaurants
France
|
Belgium
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.64
€14.95
|
$19.07
€18.24
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.86
€10.38
|
$10.84
€10.36
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.73
€2.61
|
$2.78
€2.65
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.86
€1.77
|
$2.46
€2.35
|
|
pay 9.8% less for groceries
France
|
Belgium
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.71
€1.64
|
$2.28
€2.18
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$8.46
€8.09
|
$6.70
€6.40
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.52
€4.32
|
$4.44
€4.25
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.79
€3.63
|
$3.43
€3.28
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.82
€5.57
|
$4.78
€4.57
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.27
€1.22
|
$1.11
€1.06
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.96
€0.91
|
$0.89
€0.86
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.28
€1.23
|
$1.07
€1.03
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.47
€1.41
|
$1.16
€1.11
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.90
€0.86
|
$0.83
€0.79
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.97
€0.93
|
$0.73
€0.69
|
|
pay 5.3% more for transportation
France
|
Belgium
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$7.25
€6.93
|
$6.91
€6.61
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$50.39
€48.18
|
$45.41
€43.42
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,262.62
€29,890.62
|
$27,628.35
€26,415.85
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.66
€16.88
|
$26.01
€24.87
|
|
pay 24.9% more for housing
France
|
Belgium
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$30.07
€28.75
|
$49.35
€47.19
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$750.17
€717.25
|
$815.11
€779.34
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$604.38
€577.86
|
$705.09
€674.15
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$140.10
€133.95
|
$154.10
€147.34
|
|
pay 15.4% more for childcare
France
|
Belgium
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$690.26
€659.97
|
$557.50
€533.03
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$9,163.56
€8,761.41
|
$13,740.85
€13,137.82
|
|
pay 6.7% less for entertainment and sports
France
|
Belgium
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.20
€5.93
|
$4.34
€4.15
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.01
€2.88
|
$3.51
€3.35
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$11.83
€11.31
|
$9.08
€8.68
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$35.91
€34.34
|
$36.02
€34.44
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.10
€11.57
|
$12.48
€11.93
|
|
pay 3.9% more for clothing
France
|
Belgium
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$89.62
€85.69
|
$92.82
€88.75
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$37.76
€36.10
|
$43.31
€41.41
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$91.52
€87.50
|
$90.40
€86.43
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$126.90
€121.33
|
$125.11
€119.62
|
|
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