MigrantoCost of living in Belgium
What a month costs, how prices compare with other countries, and where the money goes
Monthly cost in Belgium
Spending runs from €1,050 a month in the poorest fifth to €4,200 in the richest
Per person, whole country
€2,060
what a typical person spends in a month
Spending across the population
€1,050richest 20%
€4,200
Where people spend money in Belgium
One person's out-of-pocket spending, averaged across the whole country
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Key facts
The cost of living in Belgium in numbers
Among the most expensive countries in the world
More expensive than 89% of countries. A basket that costs €865 at world-middle prices costs €1,500 here.
Groceries takes an unusual share of the budget
It absorbs 12.2% of spending here, or €251 a month, against 19.7% in a typical country, 7.5 points less.
Typical spending takes 78% of the average wage
A typical person spends €2,060 a month while the average take-home wage is €2,630, so 22% of an average wage sits above what a typical person spends.
How living costs in Belgium compare
Neighbours, region and the world on the same monthly figure
What things cost here
How much the same goods and services cost in Belgium against other countries
More expensive than 89% of countries
Where Belgium sits when every country is lined up from cheapest to most expensive
Pakistanmost expensive
Bermuda
middle
A basket of goods and services that costs €865 at world-middle prices costs €1,500 here.
Data source: household consumption 2023 (World Bank), International Comparison Program 2021 (World Bank), category breakdown 2022 (Eurostat), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
Living-cost calculator
What it costs to live in Belgium
Tell us what you earn and spend today — we'll estimate what the same lifestyle would cost in Belgium and how much you could have left each month
- What your lifestyle costs
- How much could be left each month
- How it compares with today
Cost of living in Belgium
€1,050/mo
vs €692 in your country
Take-home
€1,280
vs €1,040 in your country
Potential savings
€231
more than in your country
Standard of living
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in Belgium?
A typical person in Belgium spends about €2,060 a month — around €24,700 a year — on housing, groceries, transport and other everyday costs. It's a nationwide average across different regions, cities and types of housing.
What is the standard of living in Belgium?
By spending, Belgium ranks #15 of 185 countries. A typical person spends about €2,060 a month, the poorest 20% about €1,050 and the richest 20% about €4,200. The gap between them shows how unevenly people live.
What is the cost of living in Belgium in US dollars?
The cost of living in Belgium is about $2,381 a month, or roughly $28,572 a year per person.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Belgium?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about €1,050 a month per person, a typical one around €2,060, and a comfortable life around €2,570. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
What do people spend the most on in Belgium?
The biggest expense is housing, at about €529 a month (26% of spending). Then come groceries (€251, 12%) and transport (€198, 10%).
Is the average salary in Belgium enough to live on?
In most cases yes, but without much of a cushion. Average spending is about €2,060 a month, while the average take-home pay in Belgium is about €2,630. For more on incomes, see salaries in Belgium.
Is Belgium an expensive country to live in?
Yes. Belgium is more expensive than 92% of countries worldwide and ranks 10th of 41 in Europe by cost of living.
What currency is used in Belgium?
Belgium uses the Euro (EUR). Amounts on this page are shown in it; the currency switcher converts them.
Where to live?
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Living in Belgium
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