Moving to Belgium from China
What to Expect
Considering a move from China to Belgium? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from China to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 3.2 times more expensive than China overall. A CN¥507,480 salary in China would need to be roughly €139,084 in Belgium to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch, French and German.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between China and Belgium.
What does your salary buy?
CN¥507,480 → €139,084
To maintain the same standard of living in Belgium
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 6.7 times more
Groceries
pay 2.1 times more
Transportation
pay 3.3 times more
Housing
pay 4.0 times more
Childcare
pay 39.4% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.7 times 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 China to Belgium.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Belgium compared to China.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
China generally does better on safety, though Belgium leads in road traffic deaths.
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
China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Belgium performs significantly better than China across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Belgium generally does better on infrastructure, though China leads in water stress level.
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
China 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 performs significantly better than China across all family life metrics.
Data: State Administration of Taxation, 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 | Beijing | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C) | 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) | 63°/47°F (17°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) | 70°/54°F (21°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/32°F (11°/0°C) | 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Beijing | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C) | 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C) |
| Feb | 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C) | 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C) |
| Mar | 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C) | 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C) |
| Apr | 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C) | 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) |
| May | 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C) | 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C) |
| Jun | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C) | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C) |
| Jul | 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C) | 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C) |
| Aug | 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C) | 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C) |
| Sep | 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) | 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C) |
| Oct | 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C) | 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C) |
| Nov | 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C) | 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C) |
| Dec | 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C) | 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) |
Data:
China Meteorological Administration,
Institut Royal Météorologique
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between China 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.
China passport holder visiting Belgium
Visa Required
Belgium passport holder visiting China
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 Belgium than China?
On average Belgium is around 116% pricier than China, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Belgium?
Budget about €34,771 for 3 months in Belgium (based on a CN¥507,480 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?
China generally does better on safety, though Belgium leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Belgium is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in China. About 62% of people in Belgium feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Belgium compared to China?
China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 63.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Belgium, compared to 25.2 in China. Belgium scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (China: 81).
What's the weather like in Belgium compared to China?
The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 64°F in Beijing. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Beijing gets 22.8 in.
What language do they speak in Belgium?
The official languages in Belgium are Dutch, French and German. In China, the official language is Chinese.
