Moving to Belgium from Canada
What to Expect
Considering a move from Canada to Belgium? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Canada to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 21.0% more expensive than Canada overall. A CA$103,526 salary in Canada would need to be roughly €68,048 in Belgium to maintain the same lifestyle.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Canada and Belgium.
What does your salary buy?
CA$103,526 → €68,048
To maintain the same standard of living in Belgium
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 44.9% more
Groceries
pay 5.2% less
Transportation
pay 39.3% more
Housing
pay 2.6% less
Childcare
pay 16.9% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 5.3% 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 Canada to Belgium.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Belgium compared to Canada.
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 Canada 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Canada generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Canada generally does better on environment, though Belgium leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Canada 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
Canada generally does better on employment & economy, though Belgium leads in gdp per capita.
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 generally does better on family life, though Canada leads in life expectancy.
Data: Canada Revenue Agency, 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 | Ottawa | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C) | 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/45°F (18°/7°C) | 63°/47°F (17°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) | 70°/54°F (21°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C) | 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Ottawa | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C) | 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C) |
| Feb | 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C) | 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C) |
| Mar | 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C) | 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C) |
| Apr | 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C) | 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) |
| May | 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C) | 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C) |
| Jun | 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C) | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C) |
| Jul | 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C) | 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C) |
| Aug | 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C) | 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C) |
| Sep | 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C) | 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C) |
| Oct | 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C) | 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C) |
| Nov | 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C) | 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C) |
| Dec | 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C) | 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) |
Data:
Meteorological Service of Canada,
Institut Royal Météorologique
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Canada 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.
Canada passport holder visiting Belgium
Visa Free
Belgium passport holder visiting Canada
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 Canada?
On average Belgium is around 6% pricier than Canada, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Belgium?
Budget about €17,012 for 3 months in Belgium (based on a CA$103,526 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Belgium?
Connectivity is usually fine (Belgium: 43.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Belgium offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Belgium safe for expats?
Belgium generally does better on safety, though Canada leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Belgium is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.3 in Canada. About 62% of people in Belgium feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Belgium compared to Canada?
Canada generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 63.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Belgium, compared to 25.0 in Canada. Belgium scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Canada: 91).
What's the weather like in Belgium compared to Canada?
The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 52°F in Ottawa. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Ottawa gets 37.1 in.
What language do they speak in Belgium?
The official languages in Belgium are Dutch, French and German. In Canada, the official languages are English and French.
