Cost of living comparison
Belgium is 8.5% cheaper than United States overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 10.7% more in Belgium
- Groceries
-
pay 21.9% less in Belgium
- Transportation
-
pay 23.6% more in Belgium
- Housing
-
pay 31.1% less in Belgium
- Childcare
-
pay 48.5% less in Belgium
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 19.4% less in Belgium
- Clothing
-
pay 27.2% more in Belgium
The cost of clothing, transportation, and restaurants in Belgium are more expensive than in United States. Expenses including childcare, housing, groceries, and entertainment and sports are lower in Belgium.
If you lived in Belgium instead of United States, you would:
pay 10.7% more for restaurants
|
United States
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.59
|
$19.07
€17.54
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.47
|
$10.84
€9.97
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.50
|
$2.78
€2.55
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.96
|
$2.46
€2.26
|
|
pay 21.9% less for groceries
|
United States
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.49
|
$2.28
€2.09
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.33
|
$6.70
€6.16
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.91
|
$4.44
€4.08
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.56
|
$3.43
€3.15
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.16
|
$4.78
€4.39
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.33
|
$1.11
€1.02
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.78
|
$0.89
€0.82
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.00
|
$1.07
€0.99
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.16
|
$1.16
€1.07
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.34
|
$0.83
€0.76
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.38
|
$0.73
€0.67
|
|
pay 23.6% more for transportation
|
United States
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.61
|
$6.91
€6.36
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$65.15
|
$45.41
€41.76
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,583.67
|
$27,628.35
€25,404.21
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.81
|
$26.01
€23.92
|
|
pay 31.1% less for housing
|
United States
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$67.50
|
$49.35
€45.38
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,655.99
|
$815.11
€749.49
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,423.40
|
$705.09
€648.33
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$148.34
|
$154.10
€141.70
|
|
pay 48.5% less for childcare
|
United States
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,351.84
|
$557.50
€512.62
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$22,265.44
|
$13,740.85
€12,634.69
|
|
pay 19.4% less for entertainment and sports
|
United States
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.78
|
$4.34
€3.99
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.04
|
$3.51
€3.23
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.68
|
$9.08
€8.35
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$50.84
|
$36.02
€33.12
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.30
|
$12.48
€11.47
|
|
pay 27.2% more for clothing
|
United States
|
Belgium
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.38
|
$92.82
€85.35
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.66
|
$43.31
€39.82
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$85.52
|
$90.40
€83.12
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$111.08
|
$125.11
€115.04
|
|
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