Cost of living comparison
Belgium is 2.7% more expensive than Ireland overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 24.1% more in Belgium
- Groceries
-
pay 4.9% more in Belgium
- Transportation
-
pay 16.2% less in Belgium
- Housing
-
pay 20.3% less in Belgium
- Childcare
-
pay 29.5% more in Belgium
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 22.7% less in Belgium
- Clothing
-
pay 19.9% more in Belgium
The cost of childcare, restaurants, clothing, and groceries in Belgium are more expensive than in Ireland. Expenses including entertainment and sports, housing, and transportation are lower in Belgium.
If you lived in Belgium instead of Ireland, you would:
pay 24.1% more for restaurants
|
Ireland
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$17.71
€15.59
|
$19.07
€16.79
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.75
€8.58
|
$10.84
€9.54
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.15
€1.89
|
$2.78
€2.44
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.66
€1.46
|
$2.46
€2.17
|
|
pay 4.9% more for groceries
|
Ireland
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.78
€1.57
|
$2.28
€2.01
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.12
€3.63
|
$6.70
€5.90
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.05
€4.44
|
$4.44
€3.91
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.71
€3.27
|
$3.43
€3.02
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.48
€3.95
|
$4.78
€4.20
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.22
€1.07
|
$1.11
€0.97
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.91
€0.80
|
$0.89
€0.79
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.24
€1.09
|
$1.07
€0.95
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.58
€1.39
|
$1.16
€1.02
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.80
€0.70
|
$0.83
€0.73
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.59
€0.52
|
$0.73
€0.64
|
|
pay 16.2% less for transportation
|
Ireland
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$7.11
€6.26
|
$6.91
€6.09
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$119.47
€105.19
|
$45.41
€39.98
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$37,943.34
€33,406.72
|
$27,628.35
€24,325.02
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$20.48
€18.03
|
$26.01
€22.90
|
|
pay 20.3% less for housing
|
Ireland
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$46.92
€41.31
|
$49.35
€43.45
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,406.76
€1,238.56
|
$815.11
€717.65
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,187.82
€1,045.80
|
$705.09
€620.79
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$159.87
€140.76
|
$154.10
€135.68
|
|
pay 29.5% more for childcare
|
Ireland
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$996.31
€877.19
|
$557.50
€490.84
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,771.62
€5,961.98
|
$13,740.85
€12,097.96
|
|
pay 22.7% less for entertainment and sports
|
Ireland
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.94
€5.23
|
$4.34
€3.82
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.80
€3.35
|
$3.51
€3.09
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$16.44
€14.47
|
$9.08
€8.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$55.70
€49.04
|
$36.02
€31.72
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.29
€10.82
|
$12.48
€10.98
|
|
pay 19.9% more for clothing
|
Ireland
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$77.94
€68.62
|
$92.82
€81.72
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$37.83
€33.30
|
$43.31
€38.13
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$85.63
€75.39
|
$90.40
€79.59
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$89.10
€78.45
|
$125.11
€110.15
|
|
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