Cost of living comparison
Brussels is 19.0% more expensive than France.
If you lived in Brussels instead of France, you would:
pay 7.4% more for restaurants
France
|
Brussels
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.13
€15.14
|
$16.49
€15.47
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.98
€9.36
|
$9.90
€9.28
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.76
€2.59
|
$2.58
€2.42
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.88
€1.77
|
$2.54
€2.38
|
|
pay 7.2% less for groceries
France
|
Brussels
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.66
€1.56
|
$2.31
€2.17
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$8.33
€7.81
|
$7.55
€7.08
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.25
€3.98
|
$4.69
€4.40
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.47
€3.26
|
$3.50
€3.28
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.22
€4.90
|
$4.96
€4.66
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.30
€1.22
|
$1.14
€1.07
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.98
€0.92
|
$0.78
€0.74
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.29
€1.21
|
$1.17
€1.10
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.51
€1.42
|
$1.36
€1.28
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.87
€0.82
|
$0.69
€0.64
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.03
€0.97
|
$0.60
€0.56
|
|
pay 8.0% more for transportation
France
|
Brussels
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$7.84
€7.35
|
$7.71
€7.24
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$52.45
€49.21
|
$53.87
€50.55
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$26,223.89
€24,604.57
|
$27,486.24
€25,788.97
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$18.05
€16.93
|
$22.76
€21.35
|
|
pay 45.5% more for housing
France
|
Brussels
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$30.93
€29.02
|
$55.77
€52.33
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$760.64
€713.67
|
$1,043.18
€978.76
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$610.71
€573.00
|
$873.71
€819.76
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$135.03
€126.70
|
$164.26
€154.11
|
|
pay 78.2% more for childcare
France
|
Brussels
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$674.24
€632.61
|
$944.84
€886.50
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$11,309.03
€10,610.69
|
$24,473.75
€22,962.49
|
|
pay 0.3% more for entertainment and sports
France
|
Brussels
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.24
€5.85
|
$5.50
€5.16
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.93
€2.75
|
$3.72
€3.49
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$11.11
€10.42
|
$8.80
€8.25
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$37.98
€35.63
|
$34.17
€32.06
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$11.22
€10.53
|
$13.19
€12.38
|
|
pay 0.9% more for clothing
France
|
Brussels
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$85.18
€79.92
|
$89.22
€83.71
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$38.90
€36.50
|
$32.58
€30.57
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.98
€85.36
|
$97.94
€91.89
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$122.71
€115.13
|
$132.04
€123.89
|
|
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