Moving to Belgium from Ohio

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Ohio to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 2.1% more expensive than Ohio. A $75,000 salary in Ohio would need to be roughly €68,300 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 76°F in Columbus, 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 Ohio?

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

Restaurants

pay 30.9% more

Groceries

pay 10.4% less

Transportation

pay 18.9% more

Housing

pay 8.2% less

Childcare

pay 10.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.9% more

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 → €68,300

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 2% more than cities in Ohio.

Ohio

Dayton 59%
Canton 49%

Belgium

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

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Ohio 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 Ohio to Belgium.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

OH
39.5%
BE
20.9%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

OH
89.0%
BE
95.8%

Belgium performs significantly better than Ohio across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

OH
4.0%
BE
5.9%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

OH
$60,669
BE
$60,750

Belgium generally does better on employment & economy, though Ohio leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

OH
75.3 yrs
BE
82.3 yrs

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

Weather in Belgium vs Ohio

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Columbus Rain: 46.8 in/yr (1188 mm)
76° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Columbus Brussels
Jan–Mar 63°/41°F (17°/5°C) 45°/34°F (7°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 84°/62°F (29°/16°C) 63°/47°F (17°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/71°F (32°/21°C) 70°/54°F (21°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 68°/47°F (20°/8°C) 50°/40°F (10°/4°C)
View all months
Month Columbus Brussels
Jan 58°/37°F (14.2°/2.7°C) 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C)
Feb 62°/40°F (16.7°/4.5°C) 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C)
Mar 69°/46°F (20.8°/7.8°C) 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C)
Apr 77°/53°F (24.8°/11.4°C) 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C)
May 84°/62°F (28.9°/16.6°C) 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C)
Jun 90°/70°F (32.2°/20.9°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C)
Jul 92°/73°F (33.4°/22.7°C) 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C)
Aug 91°/72°F (33.0°/22.4°C) 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C)
Sep 86°/67°F (30.2°/19.3°C) 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C)
Oct 77°/56°F (25.2°/13.1°C) 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C)
Nov 68°/46°F (20.2°/7.8°C) 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C)
Dec 59°/39°F (15.2°/3.8°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 Ohio 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 Ohio?

Costs in Belgium and Ohio are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities.

How much money do I need to move to Belgium?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €17,075 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 Ohio?

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

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

The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 76°F in Columbus. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Columbus gets 46.8 in.

What language do they speak in Belgium?

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

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At a Glance

BE
Population 11,900,510 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