Moving to Belgium from Thailand

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Thailand to Belgium? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Thailand to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 2.1 times more expensive than Thailand overall. A THB2,500,000 salary in Thailand would need to be roughly €137,000 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. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Brussels averages 57°F vs 91°F in Bangkok, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Thailand and Belgium.

What does your salary buy?

THB2,500,000 → €137,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Belgium

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 4.3 times more

Groceries

pay 41.6% more

Transportation

pay 46.7% more

Housing

pay 2.7 times more

Childcare

pay 89.0% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 73.7% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 THB = 0.0266 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.

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 46% more than cities in Thailand.

Belgium

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

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Thailand to Belgium.

Moved in 2023
267 ↓ 16% vs 2022

people moved from Thailand 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

The numbers behind daily life in Belgium compared to Thailand.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

TH
4.8
BE
1.1
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

TH
67%
BE
62%

Belgium generally does better on safety, though Thailand leads in feel safe walking at night.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

TH
$1,067
BE
$7,489
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

TH
5.4
BE
35.7

Thailand 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

TH
29.0
BE
15.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

TH
4.0t
BE
7.3t

Thailand 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

TH
14.9
BE
44.2
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

TH
23.0%
BE
52.8%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

TH
0.8%
BE
5.9%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

TH
$8,057
BE
$60,750

Thailand 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

TH
76.6 yrs
BE
82.3 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

TH
7.7
BE
3.1

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

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2011–2022), World Health Organization (2024), The Revenue Department, Government of Thailand (2016), Service Public Fédéral Finances (2016). How we calculate this

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Bangkok Rain: 59.0 in/yr (1498 mm)
91° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bangkok Brussels
Jan–Mar 91°/74°F (33°/23°C) 45°/34°F (7°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 93°/78°F (34°/26°C) 63°/47°F (17°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/77°F (32°/25°C) 70°/54°F (21°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 89°/73°F (32°/23°C) 50°/40°F (10°/4°C)
View all months
Month Bangkok Brussels
Jan 90°/70°F (32.0°/21.0°C) 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C)
Feb 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.3°C) 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C)
Mar 93°/77°F (33.7°/24.9°C) 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C)
Apr 95°/79°F (34.9°/26.1°C) 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C)
May 93°/78°F (34.0°/25.6°C) 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C)
Jun 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.4°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C)
Jul 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.0°C) 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C)
Aug 90°/77°F (32.5°/24.9°C) 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C)
Sep 90°/76°F (32.3°/24.6°C) 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C)
Oct 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.3°C) 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C)
Nov 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.1°C) 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C)
Dec 88°/69°F (31.3°/20.8°C) 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C)

Data: Thai Meteorological Department Thai Meteorological Department, Institut Royal Météorologique Institut Royal Météorologique

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Thailand 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.

Thailand passport

Thailand passport holder visiting Belgium

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

Belgium passport holder visiting Thailand

Visa Free
Belgium passport holders can enter Thailand 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 Thailand?

On average Belgium is around 107% pricier than Thailand, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Belgium?

Budget about €34,250 for 3 months in Belgium (based on a THB2,500,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Belgium?

Connectivity is usually fine (Belgium: 44.2 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?

Belgium generally does better on safety, though Thailand leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Belgium is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.8 in Thailand. About 62% of people in Belgium feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Belgium compared to Thailand?

Thailand 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 5.4 in Thailand. Belgium scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Thailand: 82).

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

The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 91°F in Bangkok. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Bangkok gets 59.0 in.

What language do they speak in Belgium?

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

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At a Glance

TH BE
Population 71,619,863 11,941,781
Currency Thai Baht (THB) Euro (€)
Languages Thai Dutch, French, German
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +66 +32
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 191 112