Moving to Belgium from Kentucky

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Kentucky to Belgium — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Kentucky to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 20.9% more expensive than Kentucky. A $75,000 salary in Kentucky would need to be roughly €77,432 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 Bowling Green, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Kentucky to Belgium.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 €77,432

To maintain the same standard of living in Belgium

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 39.3% more

Groceries

pay 0.1% more

Transportation

pay 65.4% more

Housing

pay 7.3% less

Childcare

pay 32.5% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 19.4% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 0.876 EUR (July 2026)

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?

How many people actually move from Kentucky to Belgium, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
1,627 ↓ 1% vs 2022

people moved from United States 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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Kentucky to Belgium.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

KY
38.2%
BE
22.1%

Belgium performs significantly better than Kentucky across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

KY
87.4%
BE
91.0%

Belgium performs significantly better than Kentucky across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

KY
3.5%
BE
5.5%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

KY
$50,135
BE
$63,600

Belgium generally does better on employment & economy, though Kentucky leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

KY
73.5 yrs
BE
81.9 yrs

Belgium performs significantly better than Kentucky 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.

Bowling Green Rain: 49.9 in/yr (1267 mm)
69° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bowling Green Brussels
Jan–Mar 52°/31°F (11°/-1°C) 45°/34°F (7°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/55°F (25°/13°C) 63°/47°F (17°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 87°/64°F (30°/18°C) 70°/54°F (21°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 59°/38°F (15°/3°C) 50°/40°F (10°/4°C)
View all months
Month Bowling Green Brussels
Jan 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.1°C) 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C)
Feb 50°/30°F (10.0°/-1.3°C) 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C)
Mar 60°/37°F (15.4°/2.8°C) 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C)
Apr 70°/46°F (20.9°/7.6°C) 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C)
May 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.8°C) 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C)
Jun 86°/64°F (30.1°/17.7°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C)
Jul 89°/68°F (31.9°/19.9°C) 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C)
Aug 89°/66°F (31.6°/18.9°C) 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C)
Sep 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.4°C) 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C)
Oct 71°/46°F (21.8°/7.9°C) 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C)
Nov 59°/38°F (15.2°/3.1°C) 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C)
Dec 48°/29°F (8.8°/-1.6°C) 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Institut Royal Météorologique 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

United States passport holder visiting Belgium

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Belgium without a visa.
Belgium passport

Belgium passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Belgium passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

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 Kentucky?

No — Belgium is on average about 18% more expensive than Kentucky. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Belgium?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €19,358 in Belgium on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Belgium?

Usually fine from major cities in Belgium. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Belgium compared to Kentucky?

Belgium performs significantly better than Kentucky across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 69°F in Bowling Green. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Bowling Green gets 49.9 in.

What language do they speak in Belgium?

The official languages in Belgium are Dutch, French and German. In Kentucky, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

BE
Population 4,339,367 11,847,338
Currency United States Dollar ($) Euro (€)
Languages English Dutch, French, German
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +32
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 112