Moving to Belgium from Macedonia

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Macedonia to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 2.9 times more expensive than Macedonia overall. A MKD4,040,579 salary in Macedonia would need to be roughly €122,548 in Belgium to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch, French and German.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

MKD4,040,579 €122,548

To maintain the same standard of living in Belgium

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 2.6 times more

Groceries

pay 2.0 times more

Transportation

pay 2.3 times more

Housing

pay 3.1 times more

Childcare

pay 6.1 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.6 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 MKD = 0.0162 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?

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

Moved in 2023
435 ↑ 89% vs 2022

people moved from Macedonia 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 Macedonia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

MK
0.9
BE
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MK
5.7
BE
4.6

Macedonia generally does better on safety, though Belgium leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MK
$1,808
BE
$7,489
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

MK
29.6
BE
63.9

Belgium generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Macedonia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

MK
62.0
BE
15.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MK
4.0t
BE
7.3t

Macedonia generally does better on environment, though Belgium leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

MK
24.6
BE
43.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MK
38.0%
BE
51.9%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MK
13.1%
BE
5.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MK
$23,400
BE
$63,600

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

MK
76.8 yrs
BE
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MK
7.3
BE
3.2

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

Data: Public Revenue Office, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Skopje Rain: 19.8 in/yr (504 mm)
65° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Skopje Brussels
Jan–Mar 47°/30°F (9°/-1°C) 45°/34°F (7°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 74°/49°F (23°/9°C) 63°/47°F (17°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 84°/57°F (29°/14°C) 70°/54°F (21°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 54°/35°F (12°/2°C) 50°/40°F (10°/4°C)
View all months
Month Skopje Brussels
Jan 39°/26°F (4.0°/-3.6°C) 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C)
Feb 47°/30°F (8.4°/-1.3°C) 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C)
Mar 56°/35°F (13.6°/1.9°C) 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C)
Apr 65°/42°F (18.6°/5.4°C) 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C)
May 75°/50°F (23.9°/10.0°C) 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C)
Jun 81°/55°F (27.4°/13.0°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C)
Jul 86°/59°F (29.8°/14.8°C) 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C)
Aug 86°/58°F (30.0°/14.6°C) 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C)
Sep 79°/53°F (26.1°/11.4°C) 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C)
Oct 67°/43°F (19.5°/6.3°C) 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C)
Nov 52°/35°F (11.2°/1.4°C) 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C)
Dec 42°/28°F (5.3°/-2.2°C) 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C)

Data: HydroMeteorological Service of Republic of North Macedonia HydroMeteorological Service of Republic of North Macedonia, Institut Royal Météorologique Institut Royal Météorologique

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Macedonia 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.

Macedonia passport

Macedonia passport holder visiting Belgium

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

Belgium passport holder visiting Macedonia

Visa Free
Belgium passport holders can enter Macedonia 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 Macedonia?

On average Belgium is around 87% pricier than Macedonia, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Belgium?

Budget about €30,637 for 3 months in Belgium (based on a MKD4,040,579 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?

Macedonia 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 0.9 in Macedonia.

How is healthcare in Belgium compared to Macedonia?

Belgium generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Macedonia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 63.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Belgium, compared to 29.6 in Macedonia. Belgium scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Macedonia: 74).

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

The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 65°F in Skopje. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Skopje gets 19.8 in.

What language do they speak in Belgium?

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

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At a Glance

MK BE
Population 2,130,936 11,847,338
Currency Macedonian Denar (MKD) Euro (€)
Languages Macedonian Dutch, French, German
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +389 +32
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112