Moving to Belgium from Massachusetts
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 25.9% cheaper than Massachusetts. A $75,000 salary in Massachusetts would need to be roughly €49,600 in Belgium to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch, French and German.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Belgium cheaper than Massachusetts?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 6.0% more
Groceries
pay 26.9% less
Transportation
pay 19.5% more
Housing
pay 50.3% less
Childcare
pay 40.7% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 18.9% less
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 → €49,600
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 29% less than cities in Massachusetts.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Massachusetts to Belgium.
people moved from United States to Belgium · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Belgium compared to Massachusetts.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Belgium performs significantly better than Massachusetts across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Belgium performs significantly better than Massachusetts across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Massachusetts performs better than Belgium across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Belgium performs significantly better than Massachusetts across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), OECD Regional Demography (2020). How we calculate this
Weather in Belgium vs Massachusetts
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
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,
Institut Royal Météorologique
Can you move from Massachusetts 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 holder visiting Belgium
Visa Free
Belgium passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 26% less expensive than Massachusetts, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Belgium?
Budget about €12,400 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.
