Europe · Brussels
Cost of living in Belgium
Belgium is 22% cheaper than the US, ranking #34 of 203 countries we cover for cost of living.
World Bank data through 2024 · last reviewed 2026-06.
What drives the cost here
Price levels by category, where the world average = 100. Above 100 is pricier than the global norm; below it is cheaper.
In Belgium, communication is the priciest category relative to the world (207), while food & groceries is the most affordable (124).
Category price levels: World Bank ICP 2021 (world average = 100) · source
What your money is worth here
A $100,000 US lifestyle would cost roughly $78,000 in Belgium.
Quality of life
96/100 · #17 of 198Beyond cost — health, safety, and connectivity. The score is a transparent, equal-weight composite of the verified metrics below (see methodology).
About Belgium
Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country prospered as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. In recent years, longstanding tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemish of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy. The capital city of Brussels is home to numerous international organizations, including the EU and NATO.
Background from the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived 2026-06-03.
Frequently asked
Is Belgium expensive to live in?
Belgium is 22% cheaper than the US, ranking #34 of the 203 countries we track. Its most expensive category relative to the world is communication; food & groceries costs the least.
How much money do you need to live in Belgium?
A lifestyle that costs $100,000 in the United States would cost roughly $78,000 in Belgium, going by overall price levels. The salary translator turns your own figure into a local equivalent.
Is Belgium cheaper than the United States?
Yes. Its overall price level is 78.2, against 100 for the United States.
What is the quality of life in Belgium?
Belgium scores 96 out of 100 on our quality-of-life index (#17 of 198), a composite of life expectancy, safety, health, and connectivity, with life expectancy around 82 years.
Every number, sourced.
We cite the exact source and year for each figure. Derived values are computed at build time, never hand-entered.
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