Moving to Belgium from Maryland

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Maryland to Belgium — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Maryland to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 19.1% cheaper than Maryland. A $75,000 salary in Maryland would need to be roughly €54,100 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 70°F in Baltimore, 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 Maryland?

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 17.2% more

Groceries

pay 21.6% less

Transportation

pay 19.4% more

Housing

pay 39.2% less

Childcare

pay 42.3% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 17.6% 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 → €54,100

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 17% less than cities in Maryland.

Belgium

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

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Maryland to Belgium, and how the trend has changed.

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

How Maryland and Belgium stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

MD
33.4%
BE
20.9%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

MD
91.6%
BE
95.8%

Belgium performs significantly better than Maryland across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MD
3.7%
BE
5.9%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

MD
$69,127
BE
$60,750

Maryland performs better than Belgium across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

MD
76.8 yrs
BE
82.3 yrs

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

Weather in Belgium vs Maryland

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Baltimore Rain: 42.4 in/yr (1078 mm)
70° / 53°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Baltimore Brussels
Jan–Mar 51°/35°F (11°/2°C) 45°/34°F (7°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/61°F (26°/16°C) 63°/47°F (17°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 88°/71°F (31°/22°C) 70°/54°F (21°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 60°/44°F (16°/7°C) 50°/40°F (10°/4°C)
View all months
Month Baltimore Brussels
Jan 46°/32°F (8.0°/-0.1°C) 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C)
Feb 49°/34°F (9.5°/1.2°C) 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C)
Mar 59°/40°F (14.8°/4.5°C) 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C)
Apr 69°/51°F (20.8°/10.4°C) 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C)
May 79°/61°F (26.3°/16.1°C) 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C)
Jun 89°/71°F (31.6°/21.5°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C)
Jul 92°/75°F (33.4°/23.9°C) 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C)
Aug 90°/73°F (32.2°/22.8°C) 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C)
Sep 83°/65°F (28.1°/18.5°C) 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C)
Oct 71°/54°F (21.9°/12.3°C) 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C)
Nov 60°/44°F (15.8°/6.4°C) 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C)
Dec 50°/35°F (9.8°/1.6°C) 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C)

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

Can you move from Maryland 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 Maryland?

Generally yes: Belgium runs about 19% cheaper than Maryland on average, though it depends heavily on the city.

How much money do I need to move to Belgium?

A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around €13,525 in Belgium for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Belgium?

Working remotely from Belgium's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Maryland and Belgium.

How is healthcare in Belgium compared to Maryland?

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

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

The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 70°F in Baltimore. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Baltimore gets 42.4 in.

What language do they speak in Belgium?

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

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At a Glance

BE
Population 6,265,347 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