Cost of living comparison
Belgium is 2.1 times more expensive than South Africa overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 2.7 times more in Belgium
- Groceries
-
pay 65.3% more in Belgium
- Transportation
-
pay 66.0% more in Belgium
- Housing
-
pay 85.0% more in Belgium
- Childcare
-
pay 3.3 times more in Belgium
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 2.0 times more in Belgium
- Clothing
-
pay 61.1% more in Belgium
The cost of childcare, restaurants, entertainment and sports, housing, transportation, and groceries in Belgium are more expensive than in South Africa. Notably, childcare, restaurants, and entertainment and sports are significantly more expensive in Belgium.
If you lived in Belgium instead of South Africa, you would:
pay 2.7 times more for restaurants
|
South Africa
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$8.97
ZAR163.75
|
$19.07
€17.61
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.77
ZAR87.07
|
$10.84
€10.01
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.95
ZAR17.42
|
$2.78
€2.56
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.74
ZAR13.52
|
$2.46
€2.27
|
|
pay 65.3% more for groceries
|
South Africa
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.99
ZAR18.08
|
$2.28
€2.10
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.67
ZAR67.07
|
$6.70
€6.18
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.20
ZAR76.63
|
$4.44
€4.10
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.23
ZAR40.65
|
$3.43
€3.17
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.03
ZAR37.02
|
$4.78
€4.41
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.68
ZAR12.35
|
$1.11
€1.02
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
ZAR11.27
|
$0.89
€0.83
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.64
ZAR11.72
|
$1.07
€0.99
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.70
ZAR12.75
|
$1.16
€1.07
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.55
ZAR10.10
|
$0.83
€0.77
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.61
ZAR11.11
|
$0.73
€0.67
|
|
pay 66.0% more for transportation
|
South Africa
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.99
ZAR91.05
|
$6.91
€6.38
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$52.31
ZAR954.75
|
$45.41
€41.93
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$20,607.77
ZAR376,121.01
|
$27,628.35
€25,506.24
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$8.55
ZAR156.03
|
$26.01
€24.02
|
|
pay 85.0% more for housing
|
South Africa
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$41.37
ZAR755.05
|
$49.35
€45.56
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$382.55
ZAR6,982.15
|
$815.11
€752.50
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$326.35
ZAR5,956.30
|
$705.09
€650.93
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$80.40
ZAR1,467.38
|
$154.10
€142.27
|
|
pay 3.3 times more for childcare
|
South Africa
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$174.12
ZAR3,177.87
|
$557.50
€514.67
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$4,033.53
ZAR73,617.60
|
$13,740.85
€12,685.43
|
|
pay 2.0 times more for entertainment and sports
|
South Africa
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.11
ZAR38.47
|
$4.34
€4.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.88
ZAR34.36
|
$3.51
€3.24
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.90
ZAR53.01
|
$9.08
€8.38
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$29.50
ZAR538.43
|
$36.02
€33.26
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$6.62
ZAR120.84
|
$12.48
€11.52
|
|
pay 61.1% more for clothing
|
South Africa
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$47.72
ZAR870.87
|
$92.82
€85.69
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$32.06
ZAR585.12
|
$43.31
€39.98
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.39
ZAR1,649.73
|
$90.40
€83.45
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$81.37
ZAR1,485.06
|
$125.11
€115.50
|
|
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