Cost of living comparison
United States is 2.6% more expensive than Brussels.
If you lived in United States instead of Brussels, you would:
pay 9.8% less for restaurants
|
Brussels
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.49
€15.07
|
$18.15
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.90
€9.04
|
$9.28
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.58
€2.36
|
$2.24
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.54
€2.32
|
$1.77
|
|
pay 38.7% more for groceries
|
Brussels
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.31
€2.11
|
$3.17
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.55
€6.90
|
$5.93
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.69
€4.28
|
$3.83
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.50
€3.20
|
$4.01
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.96
€4.53
|
$5.32
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.14
€1.04
|
$2.19
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.78
€0.72
|
$0.76
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.17
€1.07
|
$1.93
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.36
€1.24
|
$2.05
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.69
€0.63
|
$1.29
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.60
€0.54
|
$1.27
|
|
pay 17.5% less for transportation
|
Brussels
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$7.71
€7.05
|
$3.72
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$53.87
€49.22
|
$63.08
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$27,486.24
€25,110.05
|
$25,096.27
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$22.76
€20.79
|
$16.64
|
|
pay 26.1% more for housing
|
Brussels
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$55.77
€50.95
|
$70.73
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,043.18
€952.99
|
$1,528.07
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$873.71
€798.18
|
$1,282.97
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$164.26
€150.06
|
$138.81
|
|
pay 7.2% less for childcare
|
Brussels
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$944.84
€863.16
|
$1,137.97
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$24,473.75
€22,357.99
|
$15,943.15
|
|
pay 5.9% more for entertainment and sports
|
Brussels
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.50
€5.02
|
$5.19
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.72
€3.40
|
$4.51
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.80
€8.04
|
$8.57
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$34.17
€31.21
|
$42.79
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.19
€12.05
|
$12.04
|
|
pay 18.1% less for clothing
|
Brussels
|
United States
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$89.22
€81.51
|
$45.40
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$32.58
€29.77
|
$36.73
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$97.94
€89.48
|
$79.51
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$132.04
€120.63
|
$109.59
|
|
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