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Belgium Cost of Living 2026
๐ง๐ช 4 cities in Belgium, sorted by daily travel budget. Not the exchange rate โ how cheap it feels on your own income, and where a price becomes a rip-off. Updated October 2026
Cities in Belgium compared
| City | Per day | Per month | Local meal | Coffee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ๐ง๐ช BrusselsBig city | $303 | $5,628 | โฌ19 | โฌ3.6 |
| ๐ง๐ช GhentTourist ยท mid-size | $305 | $5,241 | โฌ18 | โฌ3.5 |
| ๐ง๐ช AntwerpBig city | $314 | $4,762 | โฌ18 | โฌ3.5 |
| ๐ง๐ช BrugesTourist ยท small town | $340 | $5,079 | โฌ20 | โฌ4 |
Per day = one mid-range night + three meals, a coffee and two taxi rides. Open a city for item-by-item prices, rip-off thresholds and live traveler reports.
Everyday prices in Belgium
| City | Beer | 5 km taxi | Hotel night | Massage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ๐ง๐ช Brussels | โฌ4.8 | โฌ14 | โฌ120 | โฌ60 |
| ๐ง๐ช Ghent | โฌ5 | โฌ15 | โฌ120 | โฌ70 |
| ๐ง๐ช Antwerp | โฌ5 | โฌ17 | โฌ120 | โฌ60 |
| ๐ง๐ช Bruges | โฌ5 | โฌ18 | โฌ140 | โฌ65 |
Belgium vs nearby countries
| Country | Per day | Per month | vs Belgium |
|---|---|---|---|
| ๐ฎ๐น Italy | $315 | $4,523 | 0% |
| ๐ง๐ช Belgium | $315 | $5,177 | this country |
| ๐ฌ๐ง United Kingdom | $317 | $5,918 | 0% |
| ๐ซ๐ฎ Finland | $320 | $4,627 | +1% |
| ๐ฆ๐น Austria | $323 | $5,073 | +2% |
| ๐ณ๐ด Norway | $329 | $5,744 | +4% |
| ๐ฎ๐ช Ireland | $340 | $7,237 | +8% |
| ๐ณ๐ฑ Netherlands | $341 | $6,720 | +8% |
Countries in the same region with a similar daily travel budget. Tap a country for its city-by-city prices.
Brussels vs New York: item by item
| Item | Brussels | New York | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local meal | โฌ19โ $22.1 | $20 | +10% |
| Coffee | โฌ3.6โ $4.19 | $6 | -30% |
| Beer | โฌ4.8โ $5.58 | $9 | -38% |
| 5 km taxi | โฌ14โ $16.3 | $23 | -29% |
| Hotel night | โฌ120โ $140 | $270 | -48% |
| 1-bed rent | โฌ1,200โ $1,395 | $3,300 | -58% |
Same purchase in both cities, converted to US dollars. Daily travel budget: Brussels $303 vs New York $467 โ about 35% cheaper.
Compare Belgium with other cities
Belgium travel difficulty
| City | Overall | Rip-offs | Language | Transport | Payments | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antwerp | Easy 1.6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Bruges | Easy 1.6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Ghent | Easy 1.6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Brussels | Easy 2.0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Rip-offs, language, getting around, payments and safety, 1โ5 (closer to 1 is easier). Tap a city for reasons and tips. Full difficulty ranking โบ
City guides
FAQ
How much is a daily travel budget in Belgium?
With a mid-range room, between $303 and $340 a day depending on the city โ about $315 on average. Hostels and local eateries cut that by 30% or more.
How much does a month in Belgium cost?
Short-term rental plus living costs runs $5,628โ$5,628 by city, about $5,177 on average.
Which city in Belgium is cheapest?
By daily budget, Brussels ($303/day) is the cheapest and Bruges ($340/day) the most expensive.
Which nearby country is cheaper than Belgium?
Among countries in the same region with similar budgets, Italy runs about $315 a day โ 0% less than Belgium (about $315).
Is Belgium cheaper than New York?
In Brussels, a traveler's day runs about $303 versus $467 in New York โ roughly 35% cheaper. The gap differs by item, so meals, coffee, taxis and hotels are listed separately above.