Moving to Belgium from Massachusetts

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Massachusetts to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 2.0% cheaper than Massachusetts. A $75,000 salary in Massachusetts would need to be roughly €57,316 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 Massachusetts and Belgium.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 €57,316

To maintain the same standard of living in Belgium

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 14.6% more

Groceries

pay 19.6% less

Transportation

pay 42.4% more

Housing

pay 32.5% less

Childcare

pay 50.3% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 15.7% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 0.8744 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 Massachusetts to Belgium.

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

The numbers behind daily life in Belgium compared to Massachusetts.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

MA
28.8%
BE
22.1%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

MA
91.9%
BE
91.0%

Massachusetts performs better than Belgium across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MA
4.7%
BE
5.5%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

MA
$87,892
BE
$63,600

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

MA
79.0 yrs
BE
81.9 yrs

Belgium performs significantly better than Massachusetts 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.

Boston Rain: 43.8 in/yr (1112 mm)
59° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Boston Brussels
Jan–Mar 40°/26°F (4°/-3°C) 45°/34°F (7°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 66°/50°F (19°/10°C) 63°/47°F (17°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 78°/62°F (25°/17°C) 70°/54°F (21°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/38°F (11°/3°C) 50°/40°F (10°/4°C)
View all months
Month Boston Brussels
Jan 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.4°C) 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C)
Feb 39°/25°F (3.7°/-4.1°C) 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C)
Mar 45°/31°F (7.4°/-0.5°C) 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C)
Apr 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C)
May 66°/50°F (18.9°/9.9°C) 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C)
Jun 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.3°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C)
Jul 81°/65°F (27.4°/18.6°C) 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C)
Aug 80°/65°F (26.4°/18.1°C) 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C)
Sep 72°/57°F (22.4°/14.1°C) 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C)
Oct 61°/47°F (16.3°/8.1°C) 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C)
Nov 51°/38°F (10.8°/3.3°C) 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C)
Dec 41°/28°F (5.1°/-2.1°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 Massachusetts?

On average Belgium is about 13% less expensive than Massachusetts, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Belgium?

Budget about €14,329 for 3 months in Belgium (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Belgium?

From major Belgium cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Massachusetts and Belgium are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Belgium compared to Massachusetts?

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

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

The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 59°F in Boston. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Boston gets 43.8 in.

What language do they speak in Belgium?

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

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At a Glance

BE
Population 6,547,629 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