Moving to Belgium from California
What to Expect
Considering a move from California to Belgium? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from California to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 7.8% cheaper than California. A $75,000 salary in California would need to be roughly €55,938 in Belgium to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch, French and German. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Brussels averages 57°F vs 74°F in Sacramento, making it significantly cooler.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between California and Belgium.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → €55,938
To maintain the same standard of living in Belgium
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 14.6% more
Groceries
pay 23.5% less
Transportation
pay 18.7% more
Housing
pay 36.2% less
Childcare
pay 51.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 17.2% less
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 California to Belgium.
people moved from United States to Belgium · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Belgium compared to California.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Belgium performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
California performs better than Belgium across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
California performs better than Belgium across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Belgium performs significantly better than California across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Sacramento | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) | 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) | 63°/47°F (17°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) | 70°/54°F (21°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) | 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Sacramento | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) | 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C) |
| Feb | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) | 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C) |
| Mar | 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) | 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C) |
| Apr | 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) | 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) |
| May | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) | 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C) |
| Jun | 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C) |
| Jul | 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) | 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C) |
| Aug | 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) | 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C) |
| Sep | 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) | 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C) |
| Oct | 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) | 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C) |
| Nov | 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) | 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C) |
| Dec | 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) | 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Institut Royal Météorologique
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Belgium. To live, work, or study long-term in Belgium, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Belgium's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Belgium
Visa Free
Belgium passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Belgium than California?
On average Belgium is about 15% less expensive than California, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Belgium?
Budget about €13,984 for 3 months in Belgium (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Belgium?
From major Belgium cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in California and Belgium are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Belgium compared to California?
Belgium performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Belgium compared to California?
The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 74°F in Sacramento. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Sacramento gets 18.5 in.
What language do they speak in Belgium?
The official languages in Belgium are Dutch, French and German. In California, the official language is English.
