Cost of living comparison
Brussels is 35.8% more expensive than Madrid.
If you lived in Brussels instead of Madrid, you would:
pay 24.7% more for restaurants
|
Madrid
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.08
€15.00
|
$21.44
€20.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.72
€10.00
|
$12.86
€12.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.79
€2.60
|
$2.89
€2.70
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.80
€1.68
|
$2.56
€2.39
|
|
pay 27.6% more for groceries
|
Madrid
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.50
€1.40
|
$2.59
€2.42
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.92
€6.46
|
$7.47
€6.97
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.41
€4.11
|
$6.00
€5.60
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.05
€2.85
|
$4.29
€4.00
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.78
€3.53
|
$5.66
€5.28
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.13
€1.05
|
$1.16
€1.08
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.87
€0.81
|
$0.96
€0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.01
€0.94
|
$1.19
€1.11
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.05
€0.98
|
$1.38
€1.29
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.83
€0.78
|
$0.98
€0.92
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.82
€0.76
|
$0.94
€0.88
|
|
pay 22.8% more for transportation
|
Madrid
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.79
€6.33
|
$6.92
€6.46
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$42.87
€40.00
|
$53.59
€50.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,759.38
€33,362.28
|
$32,152.89
€29,997.56
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.90
€13.90
|
$25.94
€24.20
|
|
pay 22.3% more for housing
|
Madrid
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$31.85
€29.71
|
$55.46
€51.75
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,468.90
€1,370.43
|
$1,200.57
€1,120.09
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,074.71
€1,002.67
|
$1,025.16
€956.44
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$130.03
€121.32
|
$179.33
€167.31
|
|
pay 99.6% more for childcare
|
Madrid
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$567.57
€529.52
|
$988.17
€921.92
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$10,069.47
€9,394.47
|
$22,667.79
€21,148.28
|
|
pay 33.7% more for entertainment and sports
|
Madrid
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$3.75
€3.50
|
$5.36
€5.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.59
€2.41
|
$4.01
€3.74
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$6.43
€6.00
|
$9.65
€9.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$43.11
€40.22
|
$38.09
€35.54
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$10.72
€10.00
|
$14.20
€13.25
|
|
pay 20.0% more for clothing
|
Madrid
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$90.50
€84.43
|
$96.46
€89.99
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$37.21
€34.72
|
$51.32
€47.88
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$97.88
€91.32
|
$115.01
€107.30
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$121.40
€113.26
|
$143.35
€133.74
|
|
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