Cost of living comparison
United States is 23.8% more expensive than Belgium.
If you lived in United States instead of Belgium, you would:
pay 12.6% less for restaurants
Belgium
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.43
€17.28
|
$18.15
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.18
€9.55
|
$9.28
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.64
€2.48
|
$2.24
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.36
€2.21
|
$1.77
|
|
pay 53.9% more for groceries
Belgium
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.91
€1.79
|
$3.17
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.70
€6.28
|
$5.93
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.76
€3.53
|
$3.83
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.74
€2.57
|
$4.01
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.52
€4.24
|
$5.32
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.05
€0.98
|
$2.19
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.79
€0.75
|
$0.76
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.07
€1.01
|
$1.93
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.14
€1.07
|
$2.05
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.71
€0.67
|
$1.29
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.56
€0.53
|
$1.27
|
|
pay 13.7% less for transportation
Belgium
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$7.59
€7.12
|
$3.72
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$48.84
€45.80
|
$63.08
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$25,847.12
€24,241.14
|
$25,096.27
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$23.82
€22.34
|
$16.64
|
|
pay 51.4% more for housing
Belgium
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$52.54
€49.27
|
$70.73
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$812.75
€762.25
|
$1,528.07
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$677.61
€635.51
|
$1,282.97
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$147.81
€138.62
|
$138.81
|
|
pay 85.0% more for childcare
Belgium
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$446.94
€419.17
|
$1,137.97
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$13,799.70
€12,942.27
|
$15,943.15
|
|
pay 20.9% more for entertainment and sports
Belgium
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.38
€4.11
|
$5.19
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.23
€3.02
|
$4.51
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.08
€7.57
|
$8.57
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$31.77
€29.80
|
$42.79
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$11.38
€10.67
|
$12.04
|
|
pay 18.3% less for clothing
Belgium
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$84.51
€79.26
|
$45.40
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.84
€37.37
|
$36.73
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$89.20
€83.66
|
$79.51
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$119.38
€111.96
|
$109.59
|
|
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