Moving to Belgium from Louisiana

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Louisiana to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 0.4% cheaper than Louisiana. A $75,000 salary in Louisiana would need to be roughly €66,700 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 77°F in New Orleans, making it significantly cooler.

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

Is Belgium cheaper than Louisiana?

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

Restaurants

pay 17.2% more

Groceries

pay 16.3% less

Transportation

pay 38.2% more

Housing

pay 15.6% less

Childcare

pay 13.9% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.8% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 0.8925 EUR (October 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.

What salary do you need in Belgium?

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 → €66,700

To maintain the same standard of living in Belgium

Calculate with your salary →

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Belgium cost about 10% less than cities in Louisiana.

Louisiana

Lafayette 63%

Belgium

Brugge 56%
Hasselt 55%
Mons 53%
Charleroi 52%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Louisiana 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 Louisiana to Belgium.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2024

share of adults with obesity

LA
40.6%
BE
20.9%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2024

share of households with internet

LA
84.9%
BE
95.8%

Belgium performs significantly better than Louisiana across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

LA
3.9%
BE
5.9%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

LA
$55,662
BE
$60,750

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

LA
73.1 yrs
BE
82.3 yrs

Belgium performs significantly better than Louisiana across all family life metrics.

Weather in Belgium vs Louisiana

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

New Orleans Rain: 56.8 in/yr (1442 mm)
77° / 64°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months New Orleans Brussels
Jan–Mar 65°/51°F (18°/10°C) 45°/34°F (7°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 84°/70°F (29°/21°C) 63°/47°F (17°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/77°F (32°/25°C) 70°/54°F (21°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 71°/57°F (21°/14°C) 50°/40°F (10°/4°C)
View all months
Month New Orleans Brussels
Jan 60°/46°F (15.6°/8.0°C) 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C)
Feb 64°/50°F (17.9°/9.9°C) 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C)
Mar 71°/56°F (21.4°/13.3°C) 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C)
Apr 77°/63°F (25.2°/17.1°C) 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C)
May 85°/71°F (29.2°/21.5°C) 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C)
Jun 89°/76°F (31.8°/24.4°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C)
Jul 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.5°C) 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C)
Aug 91°/78°F (32.7°/25.7°C) 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C)
Sep 87°/75°F (30.4°/23.7°C) 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C)
Oct 79°/66°F (25.9°/18.9°C) 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C)
Nov 71°/57°F (21.5°/13.7°C) 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C)
Dec 63°/49°F (17.0°/9.3°C) 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C)

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

Can you move from Louisiana to Belgium?

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 Louisiana?

Costs in Belgium and Louisiana are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities.

How much money do I need to move to Belgium?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €16,675 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 Louisiana?

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

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

The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 77°F in New Orleans. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while New Orleans gets 56.8 in.

What language do they speak in Belgium?

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

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At a Glance

BE
Population 4,618,189 11,941,781
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