Cost of living comparison
Belgium is 5.9% cheaper than Houston.
- Restaurants
-
pay 14.7% more in Belgium
- Groceries
-
pay 9.6% less in Belgium
- Transportation
-
pay 28.7% more in Belgium
- Housing
-
pay 27.9% less in Belgium
- Childcare
-
pay 51.0% less in Belgium
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 16.3% less in Belgium
- Clothing
-
pay 20.0% more in Belgium
The cost of transportation, clothing, and restaurants in Belgium are more expensive than in Houston. Expenses including childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, and groceries are lower in Belgium.
If you lived in Belgium instead of Houston, you would:
pay 14.7% more for restaurants
|
Houston
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.00
|
$19.07
€18.60
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.00
|
$10.84
€10.57
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.53
|
$2.78
€2.71
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.00
|
$2.46
€2.40
|
|
pay 9.6% less for groceries
|
Houston
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.97
|
$2.28
€2.22
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.39
|
$6.70
€6.53
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.43
|
$4.44
€4.33
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.53
|
$3.43
€3.34
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.15
|
$4.78
€4.66
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.99
|
$1.11
€1.08
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.58
|
$0.89
€0.87
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.72
|
$1.07
€1.05
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.28
|
$1.16
€1.13
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.30
|
$0.83
€0.81
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.07
|
$0.73
€0.71
|
|
pay 28.7% more for transportation
|
Houston
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$2.88
|
$6.91
€6.74
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$75.00
|
$45.41
€44.29
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$36,278.39
|
$27,628.35
€26,942.67
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$18.79
|
$26.01
€25.37
|
|
pay 27.9% less for housing
|
Houston
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$66.71
|
$49.35
€48.13
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,582.84
|
$815.11
€794.88
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,189.12
|
$705.09
€687.59
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$148.41
|
$154.10
€150.28
|
|
pay 51.0% less for childcare
|
Houston
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,457.58
|
$557.50
€543.66
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$23,000.00
|
$13,740.85
€13,399.83
|
|
pay 16.3% less for entertainment and sports
|
Houston
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.00
|
$4.34
€4.23
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.27
|
$3.51
€3.42
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.97
|
$9.08
€8.86
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$39.65
|
$36.02
€35.13
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.00
|
$12.48
€12.17
|
|
pay 20.0% more for clothing
|
Houston
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$47.14
|
$92.82
€90.52
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$43.00
|
$43.31
€42.23
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$103.28
|
$90.40
€88.15
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$132.12
|
$125.11
€122.00
|
|
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