Moving to Belgium from Switzerland
What to Expect
Considering a move from Switzerland to Belgium? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Switzerland to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 36.6% cheaper than Switzerland overall. A CHF58,584 salary in Switzerland would need to be roughly €38,535 in Belgium to maintain the same lifestyle.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Switzerland and Belgium.
What does your salary buy?
CHF58,584 → €38,535
To maintain the same standard of living in Belgium
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 36.9% less
Groceries
pay 34.5% less
Transportation
pay 31.9% less
Housing
pay 30.2% less
Childcare
pay 62.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 32.7% 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.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Switzerland to Belgium.
people moved from Switzerland to Belgium · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Belgium compared to Switzerland.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Switzerland performs better than Belgium across all safety metrics.
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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Switzerland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium 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
Switzerland 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
Switzerland performs better than Belgium across all infrastructure metrics.
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
Switzerland performs better than Belgium across all employment & economy metrics.
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 Switzerland leads in life expectancy.
Data: Swiss Federal Tax Administration, 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 | Bern | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) | 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) | 63°/47°F (17°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) | 70°/54°F (21°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) | 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bern | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) | 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C) |
| Feb | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) | 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C) |
| Mar | 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) | 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C) |
| Apr | 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) | 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) |
| May | 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) | 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C) |
| Jun | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C) |
| Jul | 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) | 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C) |
| Aug | 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) | 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C) |
| Sep | 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) | 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C) |
| Oct | 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) | 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C) |
| Nov | 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) | 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C) |
| Dec | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) | 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) |
Data:
MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology,
Institut Royal Météorologique
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Switzerland 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.
Switzerland passport holder visiting Belgium
Visa Free
Belgium passport holder visiting Switzerland
Visa FreeData: 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 Switzerland?
On average Belgium is about 40% less expensive than Switzerland, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Belgium?
Budget about €9,634 for 3 months in Belgium (based on a CHF58,584 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Belgium?
Connectivity is usually fine (Belgium: 43.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Belgium offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Belgium safe for expats?
Switzerland performs better than Belgium across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Belgium is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Switzerland. About 62% of people in Belgium feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Belgium compared to Switzerland?
Switzerland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 63.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Belgium, compared to 44.4 in Switzerland. Belgium scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Switzerland: 86).
What's the weather like in Belgium compared to Switzerland?
The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 55°F in Bern. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Bern gets 42.8 in.
What language do they speak in Belgium?
The official languages in Belgium are Dutch, French and German. In Switzerland, the official languages are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German.
