Moving to Belgium from Italy

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Italy to Belgium? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Italy to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 26.4% more expensive than Italy overall. A €65,577 salary in Italy would need to be roughly €73,554 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 69°F in Rome, making it significantly cooler.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Italy and Belgium.

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 €73,554

To maintain the same standard of living in Belgium

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 35.0% more

Groceries

pay 1.0% more

Transportation

pay 10.0% more

Housing

pay 34.9% more

Childcare

pay 48.2% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 36.7% more

See full cost of living breakdown

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Get free moving quotes to Belgium

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Italy to Belgium.

Moved in 2023
5,642 ↑ 2% vs 2022

people moved from Italy to Belgium · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Belgium?

Top countries of origin for Belgium's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Belgium compared to Italy.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IT
0.6
BE
1.1
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

IT
61%
BE
62%

Belgium generally does better on safety, though Italy leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

IT
$4,993
BE
$7,489
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IT
42.5
BE
63.9

Italy generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

IT
15.0
BE
15.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IT
5.1t
BE
7.3t

Italy performs better than Belgium across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IT
31.5
BE
43.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IT
29.6%
BE
51.9%

Belgium generally does better on infrastructure, though Italy leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

IT
7.6%
BE
5.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IT
$52,700
BE
$63,600

Belgium generally does better on employment & economy, though Italy leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

IT
82.6 yrs
BE
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IT
3.2
BE
3.2

Italy generally does better on family life, though Belgium leads in education spending.

Data: Italian Revenue Agency, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Rome Rain: 31.7 in/yr (804 mm)
69° / 50°F

Avg. annual high / low

Brussels Rain: 32.3 in/yr (820 mm)
57° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Rome Brussels
Jan–Mar 56°/39°F (13°/4°C) 45°/34°F (7°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 72°/53°F (22°/11°C) 63°/47°F (17°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/63°F (29°/17°C) 70°/54°F (21°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) 50°/40°F (10°/4°C)
View all months
Month Rome Brussels
Jan 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.1°C) 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C)
Feb 55°/38°F (13.0°/3.5°C) 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C)
Mar 59°/41°F (15.2°/5.2°C) 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C)
Apr 64°/46°F (17.7°/7.5°C) 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C)
May 73°/53°F (22.8°/11.6°C) 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C)
Jun 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.3°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C)
Jul 87°/64°F (30.3°/18.0°C) 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C)
Aug 87°/65°F (30.6°/18.3°C) 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C)
Sep 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.2°C) 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C)
Oct 71°/52°F (21.4°/11.3°C) 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C)
Nov 61°/44°F (15.9°/6.9°C) 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C)
Dec 55°/40°F (12.6°/4.2°C) 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C)

Data: Italian Air Force- Department of Meteorology Italian Air Force- Department of Meteorology, Institut Royal Météorologique Institut Royal Météorologique

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Italy 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.

Italy passport

Italy passport holder visiting Belgium

Visa Free
Italy passport holders can enter Belgium without a visa.
Belgium passport

Belgium passport holder visiting Italy

Visa Free
Belgium passport holders can enter Italy without a visa.

Data: 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 Italy?

On average Belgium is around 12% pricier than Italy, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Belgium?

Budget about €18,388 for 3 months in Belgium (based on a €65,577 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and 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 Italy leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Belgium is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.6 in Italy. About 62% of people in Belgium feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Belgium compared to Italy?

Italy 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 42.5 in Italy. Belgium scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Italy: 84).

What's the weather like in Belgium compared to Italy?

The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 69°F in Rome. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Rome gets 31.7 in.

What language do they speak in Belgium?

The official languages in Belgium are Dutch, French and German. In Italy, the official languages are Catalan and Italian.

Share this

At a Glance

IT BE
Population 61,095,551 11,847,338
Currency Euro (€) Euro (€)
Languages Catalan, Italian Dutch, French, German
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +39 +32
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112