Cost of living comparison
Brussels is 32.1% more expensive than France overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 24.8% more in Brussels
- Groceries
-
pay 6.0% more in Brussels
- Transportation
-
pay 12.9% more in Brussels
- Housing
-
pay 60.5% more in Brussels
- Childcare
-
pay 95.3% more in Brussels
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 4.9% more in Brussels
- Clothing
-
pay 20.6% more in Brussels
The cost of childcare, housing, restaurants, clothing, transportation, and groceries in Brussels are more expensive than in France. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Brussels.
If you lived in Brussels instead of France, you would:
pay 24.8% more for restaurants
|
France
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.64
€15.25
|
$21.44
€20.90
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.86
€10.59
|
$12.86
€12.54
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.73
€2.66
|
$2.89
€2.82
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.86
€1.81
|
$2.56
€2.49
|
|
pay 6.0% more for groceries
|
France
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.71
€1.67
|
$2.59
€2.53
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$8.46
€8.25
|
$7.47
€7.29
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.52
€4.40
|
$6.00
€5.85
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.79
€3.70
|
$4.29
€4.18
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.82
€5.68
|
$5.66
€5.52
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.27
€1.24
|
$1.16
€1.13
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.96
€0.93
|
$0.96
€0.94
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.28
€1.25
|
$1.19
€1.16
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.47
€1.44
|
$1.38
€1.35
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.90
€0.88
|
$0.98
€0.96
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.97
€0.95
|
$0.94
€0.91
|
|
pay 12.9% more for transportation
|
France
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$7.25
€7.07
|
$6.92
€6.75
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$50.39
€49.14
|
$53.59
€52.26
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,262.62
€30,486.74
|
$32,152.89
€31,354.92
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.66
€17.22
|
$25.94
€25.29
|
|
pay 60.5% more for housing
|
France
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$30.07
€29.32
|
$55.46
€54.09
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$750.17
€731.55
|
$1,200.57
€1,170.77
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$604.38
€589.38
|
$1,025.16
€999.72
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$140.10
€136.62
|
$179.33
€174.88
|
|
pay 95.3% more for childcare
|
France
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$690.26
€673.13
|
$988.17
€963.64
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$9,163.56
€8,936.14
|
$22,667.79
€22,105.22
|
|
pay 4.9% more for entertainment and sports
|
France
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.20
€6.05
|
$5.36
€5.23
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.01
€2.94
|
$4.01
€3.91
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$11.83
€11.54
|
$9.65
€9.41
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$35.91
€35.02
|
$38.09
€37.15
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.10
€11.80
|
$14.20
€13.85
|
|
pay 20.6% more for clothing
|
France
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$89.62
€87.40
|
$96.46
€94.06
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$37.76
€36.82
|
$51.32
€50.05
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$91.52
€89.25
|
$115.01
€112.15
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$126.90
€123.75
|
$143.35
€139.79
|
|
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