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Antwerp vs Bruges cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ง๐ช Antwerp
๐ง๐ช Bruges
At a glance
- Where Antwerp is clearly cheaper: Scooter rental (69%โ), Half-day tour (25%โ), Entry ticket (20%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Both cities are about equally easy to travel. Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Antwerp 1 vs Bruges 2. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Antwerp | Bruges | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | โฌ 18$20.9 | โฌ 20$23.3 | Antwerp โ10% |
| Street food1 item | โฌ 4.5$5.23 | โฌ 4.5$5.23 | similar |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | โฌ 40$46.5 | โฌ 35$40.7 | Bruges โ12% |
| Coffeeone cup | โฌ 3.5$4.07 | โฌ 4$4.65 | Antwerp โ12% |
| Beerone bottle | โฌ 5$5.81 | โฌ 5$5.81 | similar |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | โฌ 12$14 | โฌ 11$12.8 | Bruges โ8% |
| Bottled water | โฌ 1.3$1.51 | โฌ 1.5$1.74 | Antwerp โ13% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | โฌ 2$2.33 | โฌ 2.2$2.56 | Antwerp โ9% |
| Taxi5 km in town | โฌ 17$19.8 | โฌ 18$20.9 | Antwerp โ6% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | โฌ 10$11.6 | โฌ 11$12.8 | Antwerp โ9% |
| Transitone ride | โฌ 3$3.49 | โฌ 3$3.49 | similar |
| Scooter rentalper day | โฌ 5$5.81 | โฌ 16$18.6 | Antwerp โ69% |
| Hotel night3-star | โฌ 120$140 | โฌ 140$163 | Antwerp โ14% |
| Studio rent (month) | โฌ 850$988 | โฌ 780$907 | Bruges โ8% |
| Laundry | โฌ 8$9.3 | โฌ 8$9.3 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | โฌ 15$17.4 | โฌ 15$17.4 | similar |
| Haircutcut | โฌ 22$25.6 | โฌ 22$25.6 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | โฌ 60$69.8 | โฌ 65$75.6 | Antwerp โ8% |
| Half-day tourper person | โฌ 30$34.9 | โฌ 40$46.5 | Antwerp โ25% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | โฌ 12$14 | โฌ 15$17.4 | Antwerp โ20% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Antwerp or Bruges?
Antwerp is 7% cheaper than Bruges. Daily budget $314 vs $340; a month $4,762 vs $5,079.
Which is easier to travel, Antwerp or Bruges?
About the same: Antwerp 1.6/5, Bruges 1.6/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Antwerp and Bruges?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Antwerp is about $4,762 and Bruges about $5,079 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.