Cost of living comparison
Belgium is 61.6% more expensive than Sweden overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 34.5% more in Belgium
- Groceries
-
pay 3.4% less in Belgium
- Transportation
-
pay 1.2% less in Belgium
- Housing
-
pay 42.8% more in Belgium
- Childcare
-
pay 4.5 times more in Belgium
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 3.9% less in Belgium
- Clothing
-
pay 15.4% more in Belgium
The cost of childcare, housing, restaurants, and clothing in Belgium are more expensive than in Sweden. Expenses including entertainment and sports, groceries, and transportation are lower in Belgium. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Belgium.
If you lived in Belgium instead of Sweden, you would:
pay 34.5% more for restaurants
|
Sweden
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$11.92
SEK119.19
|
$19.07
€17.40
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.45
SEK94.55
|
$10.84
€9.89
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.04
SEK20.42
|
$2.78
€2.53
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.93
SEK19.28
|
$2.46
€2.24
|
|
pay 3.4% less for groceries
|
Sweden
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.49
SEK24.86
|
$2.28
€2.08
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.18
SEK51.85
|
$6.70
€6.11
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.43
SEK54.35
|
$4.44
€4.05
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.74
SEK37.40
|
$3.43
€3.13
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.68
SEK46.77
|
$4.78
€4.36
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.19
SEK11.91
|
$1.11
€1.01
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.06
SEK10.56
|
$0.89
€0.82
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.13
SEK11.35
|
$1.07
€0.98
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.73
SEK17.30
|
$1.16
€1.06
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.67
SEK6.74
|
$0.83
€0.76
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.70
SEK7.02
|
$0.73
€0.66
|
|
pay 1.2% less for transportation
|
Sweden
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.64
SEK66.36
|
$6.91
€6.31
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$68.10
SEK681.10
|
$45.41
€41.44
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$26,850.74
SEK268,531.53
|
$27,628.35
€25,209.10
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$21.47
SEK214.67
|
$26.01
€23.74
|
|
pay 42.8% more for housing
|
Sweden
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$30.29
SEK302.90
|
$49.35
€45.03
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$821.73
SEK8,218.01
|
$815.11
€743.73
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$641.62
SEK6,416.79
|
$705.09
€643.35
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$77.37
SEK773.80
|
$154.10
€140.61
|
|
pay 4.5 times more for childcare
|
Sweden
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$122.27
SEK1,222.86
|
$557.50
€508.68
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$3,135.75
SEK31,360.30
|
$13,740.85
€12,537.65
|
|
pay 3.9% less for entertainment and sports
|
Sweden
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.64
SEK66.43
|
$4.34
€3.96
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.78
SEK37.85
|
$3.51
€3.20
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$6.41
SEK64.09
|
$9.08
€8.29
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$38.70
SEK387.02
|
$36.02
€32.87
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.24
SEK142.38
|
$12.48
€11.38
|
|
pay 15.4% more for clothing
|
Sweden
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$79.10
SEK791.04
|
$92.82
€84.69
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$35.56
SEK355.63
|
$43.31
€39.51
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$84.42
SEK844.30
|
$90.40
€82.48
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$125.14
SEK1,251.51
|
$125.11
€114.15
|
|
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