Moving to Belgium from Philippines

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Philippines to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 2.7 times more expensive than Philippines overall. A ₱4,800,000 salary in Philippines would need to be roughly €184,000 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 88°F in Manila, 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 Philippines?

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

Restaurants

pay 5.0 times more

Groceries

pay 43.4% more

Transportation

pay 2.5 times more

Housing

pay 3.6 times more

Childcare

pay 4.3 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.3 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 PHP = 0.014 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?

₱4,800,000 → €184,000

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 95% more than cities in Philippines.

Philippines

Pasig 30%
Angeles 28%
Batangas 25%

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 Philippines to Belgium, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
587 ↓ 15% vs 2022

people moved from Philippines 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 Philippines to Belgium.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

PH
4.3
BE
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

PH
9.7
BE
4.6

Belgium performs significantly better than Philippines across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

PH
$560
BE
$7,489
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

PH
7.9
BE
35.7

Philippines generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

PH
92.0
BE
15.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

PH
1.5t
BE
7.3t

Philippines generally does better on environment, though Belgium leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

PH
7.1
BE
44.2
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

PH
27.8%
BE
52.8%

Belgium generally does better on infrastructure, though Philippines leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

PH
2.2%
BE
5.9%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

PH
$4,171
BE
$60,750

Philippines generally does better on employment & economy, though Belgium leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

PH
70.0 yrs
BE
82.3 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PH
21.7
BE
3.1

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

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Internal Revenue (2016), Service Public Fédéral Finances (2016). How we calculate this

Weather in Belgium vs Philippines

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Manila Rain: 86.7 in/yr (2201 mm)
88° / 77°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Manila Brussels
Jan–Mar 87°/75°F (31°/24°C) 45°/34°F (7°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/79°F (33°/26°C) 63°/47°F (17°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 88°/78°F (31°/26°C) 70°/54°F (21°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 87°/77°F (30°/25°C) 50°/40°F (10°/4°C)
View all months
Month Manila Brussels
Jan 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.5°C) 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C)
Feb 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C) 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C)
Mar 90°/77°F (32.1°/24.9°C) 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C)
Apr 92°/79°F (33.5°/26.2°C) 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C)
May 92°/80°F (33.2°/26.7°C) 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C)
Jun 90°/79°F (32.2°/26.2°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C)
Jul 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.8°C) 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C)
Aug 87°/78°F (30.6°/25.5°C) 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C)
Sep 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C)
Oct 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C)
Nov 87°/77°F (30.7°/24.9°C) 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C)
Dec 85°/75°F (29.7°/23.9°C) 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C)

Data: Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Institut Royal Météorologique Institut Royal Météorologique

Can you move from Philippines to Belgium?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Philippines 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.

Philippines passport

Philippines passport holder visiting Belgium

Visa Required
Philippines passport holders need a visa to enter Belgium.
Belgium passport

Belgium passport holder visiting Philippines

Visa Free
Belgium passport holders can enter Philippines without a visa.

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 Philippines?

No — Belgium is on average about 173% more expensive than Philippines. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Belgium?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €46,000 in Belgium on a ₱4,800,000 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 44.2 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?

Belgium performs significantly better than Philippines across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Belgium is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.3 in Philippines.

How is healthcare in Belgium compared to Philippines?

Philippines generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 35.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Belgium, compared to 7.9 in Philippines. Belgium scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Philippines: 58).

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

The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 88°F in Manila. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Manila gets 86.7 in.

What language do they speak in Belgium?

The official languages in Belgium are Dutch, French and German. In Philippines, the official languages are English and Filipino.

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At a Glance

PH BE
Population 116,786,962 11,941,781
Currency Philippine Peso (₱) Euro (€)
Languages English, Filipino Dutch, French, German
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +63 +32
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911 112