Cost of Living

Brussels, Belgium

Live cost-of-living data for Brussels — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
32/ 10068% cheaper than New York
-9% rent since Jul 2026
$3,030/mo
Median Income
44/100
Safety
32%
Income Tax
temperate oceanic
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
62/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,200/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$900/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,980/month
Food & Groceries
68/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.4/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$2.2/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$2/kg
Transportation
48/100
Monthly Transit Pass$58/month
One-Way Ticket$2.5/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.6/km
Utilities
68/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$210/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$48/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$25/month
Healthcare
85/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$60/visit
Dentist Visit$90/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
70/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$600/month
International Primary School (yearly)$14,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$450/course
Entertainment
58/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$12/ticket
Theater Ticket$45/ticket
Museum Entry$18/ticket
Clothing
62/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$70/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$45/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$100/pair
Personal Care
58/100
Haircut (Men)$25/cut
Haircut (Women)$50/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$6/bottle
Dining Out
62/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$16/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$70/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$10/meal
Childcare
68/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$900/month
Babysitter (per hour)$16/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$22/pack
Fitness & Sports
55/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$50/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$22/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$9/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

130 Mbps
Internet Speed
$220
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
large
Nomad Community
68/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Ixelles, Saint-Gilles

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brussels cheap to live in?

Brussels has a cost of living index of 32/100, where New York = 100. It is 68% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,160–$1,624 per month.

How much does rent cost in Brussels?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Brussels costs approximately $1,200/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $900/month.

Is Brussels good for digital nomads?

Brussels has a large digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 130 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $220/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Brussels?

The median net monthly salary in Brussels is approximately $3,030 USD. The income tax rate is around 32%.

How does Brussels compare to New York for cost of living?

Brussels (cost index 32) is 68% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,700/month by moving from New York to Brussels.

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