Cost of living comparison
United States is 12.0% cheaper than Brussels.
If you lived in United States instead of Brussels, you would:
pay 30.1% less for restaurants
Brussels
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.17
€15.93
|
$14.25
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.90
€9.56
|
$7.75
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.76
€2.42
|
$1.90
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.52
€2.21
|
$1.53
|
|
pay 17.7% more for groceries
Brussels
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.99
€1.74
|
$2.71
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.58
€6.65
|
$5.56
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.77
€4.18
|
$3.22
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.48
€3.05
|
$2.30
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.05
€4.43
|
$4.18
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.21
€1.06
|
$2.07
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.97
€0.85
|
$0.75
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.27
€1.12
|
$1.88
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.26
€1.11
|
$1.94
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.80
€0.70
|
$1.24
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.75
€0.66
|
$1.25
|
|
pay 27.5% less for transportation
Brussels
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.36
€5.58
|
$2.62
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$60.57
€53.11
|
$63.05
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$30,285.12
€26,557.05
|
$23,189.08
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$24.79
€21.73
|
$16.83
|
|
pay 17.7% more for housing
Brussels
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$53.30
€46.74
|
$67.11
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,033.45
€906.24
|
$1,225.46
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$851.48
€746.66
|
$1,034.80
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$122.71
€107.61
|
$128.68
|
|
pay 23.8% less for childcare
Brussels
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$952.87
€835.57
|
$891.12
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$25,773.31
€22,600.64
|
$15,195.09
|
|
pay 5.0% less for entertainment and sports
Brussels
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.85
€4.25
|
$4.52
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.71
€3.25
|
$4.18
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.36
€7.33
|
$7.90
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$41.75
€36.61
|
$39.67
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.54
€12.75
|
$11.58
|
|
pay 33.3% less for clothing
Brussels
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$100.24
€87.90
|
$43.02
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$42.59
€37.35
|
$35.26
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$101.04
€88.60
|
$75.54
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$143.85
€126.15
|
$95.31
|
|
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