Cost of living comparison
Helsinki is 9.5% cheaper than Brussels.
If you lived in Helsinki instead of Brussels, you would:
pay 7.0% less for restaurants
Brussels
|
Helsinki
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.49
€15.42
|
$14.40
€13.46
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.90
€9.25
|
$10.42
€9.74
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.58
€2.41
|
$2.71
€2.53
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.54
€2.37
|
$1.88
€1.76
|
|
pay 2.3% less for groceries
Brussels
|
Helsinki
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.31
€2.16
|
$2.52
€2.35
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.55
€7.06
|
$4.03
€3.77
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.69
€4.38
|
$4.44
€4.15
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.50
€3.27
|
$3.02
€2.82
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.96
€4.64
|
$5.24
€4.90
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.14
€1.06
|
$1.12
€1.04
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.78
€0.73
|
$0.81
€0.76
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.17
€1.09
|
$1.06
€0.99
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.36
€1.27
|
$1.93
€1.81
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.69
€0.64
|
$0.50
€0.47
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.60
€0.56
|
$0.70
€0.65
|
|
pay 13.5% more for transportation
Brussels
|
Helsinki
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$7.71
€7.21
|
$8.73
€8.16
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$53.87
€50.37
|
$71.46
€66.81
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$27,486.24
€25,696.47
|
$35,182.39
€32,891.49
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$22.76
€21.28
|
$18.20
€17.01
|
|
pay 28.4% less for housing
Brussels
|
Helsinki
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$55.77
€52.14
|
$21.87
€20.45
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,043.18
€975.25
|
$1,063.35
€994.11
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$873.71
€816.82
|
$840.88
€786.13
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$164.26
€153.56
|
$80.65
€75.39
|
|
pay 66.8% less for childcare
Brussels
|
Helsinki
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$944.84
€883.32
|
$378.45
€353.81
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$24,473.75
€22,880.14
|
$6,404.29
€5,987.28
|
|
pay 27.3% more for entertainment and sports
Brussels
|
Helsinki
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.50
€5.14
|
$8.52
€7.97
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.72
€3.48
|
$4.55
€4.25
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.80
€8.22
|
$10.66
€9.97
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$34.17
€31.94
|
$37.26
€34.83
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.19
€12.33
|
$16.99
€15.88
|
|
pay 3.1% less for clothing
Brussels
|
Helsinki
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$89.22
€83.41
|
$92.71
€86.67
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$32.58
€30.46
|
$36.44
€34.07
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$97.94
€91.57
|
$79.67
€74.48
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$132.04
€123.45
|
$119.75
€111.95
|
|
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