Moving to Belgium from New Jersey

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from New Jersey to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 5.8% cheaper than New Jersey. A $75,000 salary in New Jersey would need to be roughly €56,484 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?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from New Jersey to Belgium.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 €56,484

To maintain the same standard of living in Belgium

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 17.5% more

Groceries

pay 28.4% less

Transportation

pay 37.6% more

Housing

pay 24.5% less

Childcare

pay 52.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 17.1% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 0.876 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?

How many people actually move from New Jersey 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 New Jersey to Belgium.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

NJ
30.0%
BE
22.1%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

NJ
91.9%
BE
91.0%

New Jersey 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

NJ
4.5%
BE
5.5%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

NJ
$70,788
BE
$63,600

New Jersey 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

NJ
77.5 yrs
BE
81.9 yrs

Belgium performs significantly better than New Jersey 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.

Trenton Rain: 46.5 in/yr (1180 mm)
63° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Trenton Brussels
Jan–Mar 44°/27°F (7°/-3°C) 45°/34°F (7°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 71°/51°F (22°/10°C) 63°/47°F (17°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) 70°/54°F (21°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 54°/36°F (12°/2°C) 50°/40°F (10°/4°C)
View all months
Month Trenton Brussels
Jan 39°/23°F (3.9°/-4.9°C) 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C)
Feb 42°/26°F (5.7°/-3.4°C) 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C)
Mar 51°/32°F (10.5°/-0.1°C) 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C)
Apr 61°/41°F (16.3°/5.0°C) 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C)
May 72°/51°F (22.1°/10.3°C) 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C)
Jun 81°/60°F (27.1°/15.7°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C)
Jul 85°/66°F (29.6°/18.9°C) 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C)
Aug 84°/64°F (28.7°/17.9°C) 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C)
Sep 76°/56°F (24.5°/13.6°C) 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C)
Oct 65°/44°F (18.3°/6.8°C) 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C)
Nov 54°/37°F (12.5°/2.7°C) 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C)
Dec 43°/28°F (6.2°/-2.4°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 New Jersey?

Yes — Belgium is on average about 14% cheaper than New Jersey. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Belgium?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €14,121 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 New Jersey?

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

What's the weather like in Belgium compared to New Jersey?

The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 63°F in Trenton. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Trenton gets 46.5 in.

What language do they speak in Belgium?

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

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At a Glance

BE
Population 8,791,894 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