Moving to Belgium from New Zealand
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from New Zealand to Belgium — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from New Zealand to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 20.6% more expensive than New Zealand overall. A NZ$130,152 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly €76,656 in Belgium to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch, French and German. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from New Zealand to Belgium.
What does your salary buy?
NZ$130,152 → €76,656
To maintain the same standard of living in Belgium
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 44.2% more
Groceries
pay 9.4% more
Transportation
pay 20.2% more
Housing
pay 20.0% more
Childcare
pay 15.5% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 0.6% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Get free moving quotes to Belgium
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from New Zealand to Belgium, based on official data.
people moved from New Zealand to Belgium · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from New Zealand to Belgium.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand generally does better on safety, though Belgium leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Belgium generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
New Zealand performs better than Belgium across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
New Zealand generally does better on infrastructure, though Belgium leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
New Zealand generally does better on employment & economy, though Belgium leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Belgium generally does better on family life, though New Zealand leads in life expectancy.
Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Wellington | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 63°/47°F (17°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 70°/54°F (21°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Institut Royal Météorologique
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Belgium
Visa Free
Belgium passport holder visiting New Zealand
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 New Zealand?
No — Belgium is on average about 17% more expensive than New Zealand. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Belgium?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €19,164 in Belgium on a NZ$130,152 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Belgium?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Belgium has 43.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Belgium safe for expats?
New Zealand 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 1.1 in New Zealand.
How is healthcare in Belgium compared to New Zealand?
Belgium generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 63.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Belgium, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Belgium scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Belgium compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Belgium?
The official languages in Belgium are Dutch, French and German. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
