Moving to United States from Belgium
What to Expect
Considering a move from Belgium to United States? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Belgium to United States, you would find that United States is 13.4% more expensive than Belgium overall. A €65,700 salary in Belgium would need to be roughly $87,923 in United States to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Washington averages 66°F vs 57°F in Brussels, making it significantly warmer.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Belgium and United States.
What does your salary buy?
€65,700 → $87,923
To maintain the same standard of living in United States
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 17.3% less
Groceries
pay 30.8% more
Transportation
pay 15.0% less
Housing
pay 42.2% more
Childcare
pay 73.3% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 8.0% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Belgium to United States.
people moved from Belgium to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
120.30,733
Belgium
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in United States compared to Belgium.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Belgium generally does better on safety, though United States leads in feel safe walking at night.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Belgium generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in suicide rate.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Belgium generally does better on environment, though United States leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
United States generally does better on infrastructure, though Belgium leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
United States generally does better on employment & economy, though Belgium leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Belgium performs better than United States across all family life metrics.
Data: Service Public Fédéral Finances, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Brussels | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 63°/47°F (17°/8°C) | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 70°/54°F (21°/13°C) | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Brussels | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C) | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) |
| Feb | 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C) | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) |
| Mar | 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C) | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) |
| Apr | 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) |
| May | 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C) | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) |
| Jun | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C) | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) |
| Jul | 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C) | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) |
| Aug | 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C) | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) |
| Sep | 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C) | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) |
| Oct | 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C) | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) |
| Nov | 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C) | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) |
| Dec | 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) |
Data:
Institut Royal Météorologique,
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Belgium and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Belgium passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel Authorisation
United States passport holder visiting Belgium
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in United States than Belgium?
On average United States is around 17% pricier than Belgium, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to United States?
Budget about $21,981 for 3 months in United States (based on a €65,700 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from United States?
Connectivity is usually fine (United States: 37.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does United States offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is United States safe for expats?
Belgium generally does better on safety, though United States leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in United States is 6.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Belgium. About 63% of people in United States feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in United States compared to Belgium?
Belgium generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in suicide rate. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in United States, compared to 63.9 in Belgium. United States scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Belgium: 86).
What's the weather like in United States compared to Belgium?
The average high temperature in Washington is 66°F, compared to 57°F in Brussels. Washington receives around 41.5 in of rainfall per year, while Brussels gets 32.3 in.
What language do they speak in United States?
The official language in United States is English. In Belgium, the official languages are Dutch, French and German.
