Cost of living comparison
Brussels is 7.7% more expensive than United States overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 21.1% more in Brussels
- Groceries
-
pay 7.7% less in Brussels
- Transportation
-
pay 30.3% more in Brussels
- Housing
-
pay 13.1% less in Brussels
- Childcare
-
pay 12.5% less in Brussels
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 9.3% less in Brussels
- Clothing
-
pay 45.3% more in Brussels
The cost of clothing, transportation, and restaurants in Brussels are more expensive than in United States. Expenses including housing, childcare, entertainment and sports, and groceries are lower in Brussels.
If you lived in Brussels instead of United States, you would:
pay 21.1% more for restaurants
|
United States
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.59
|
$21.44
€18.34
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.47
|
$12.86
€11.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.50
|
$2.89
€2.48
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.96
|
$2.56
€2.19
|
|
pay 7.7% less for groceries
|
United States
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.49
|
$2.59
€2.22
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.33
|
$7.47
€6.39
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.91
|
$6.00
€5.13
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.56
|
$4.29
€3.67
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.16
|
$5.66
€4.84
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.33
|
$1.16
€0.99
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.78
|
$0.96
€0.82
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.00
|
$1.19
€1.02
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.16
|
$1.38
€1.18
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.34
|
$0.98
€0.84
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.38
|
$0.94
€0.80
|
|
pay 30.3% more for transportation
|
United States
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.61
|
$6.92
€5.92
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$65.15
|
$53.59
€45.84
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,583.67
|
$32,152.89
€27,506.80
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.81
|
$25.94
€22.19
|
|
pay 13.1% less for housing
|
United States
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$67.50
|
$55.46
€47.45
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,655.99
|
$1,200.57
€1,027.08
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,423.40
|
$1,025.16
€877.03
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$148.34
|
$179.33
€153.42
|
|
pay 12.5% less for childcare
|
United States
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,351.84
|
$988.17
€845.38
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$22,265.44
|
$22,667.79
€19,392.29
|
|
pay 9.3% less for entertainment and sports
|
United States
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.78
|
$5.36
€4.58
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.04
|
$4.01
€3.43
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.68
|
$9.65
€8.25
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$50.84
|
$38.09
€32.59
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.30
|
$14.20
€12.15
|
|
pay 45.3% more for clothing
|
United States
|
Brussels
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.38
|
$96.46
€82.52
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.66
|
$51.32
€43.90
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$85.52
|
$115.01
€98.39
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$111.08
|
$143.35
€122.63
|
|
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