Moving to Belgium from United Kingdom
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United Kingdom to Belgium — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United Kingdom to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 1.3% more expensive than United Kingdom overall. A £55,766 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly €62,917 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.
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What to expect for your wallet after moving from United Kingdom to Belgium.
What does your salary buy?
£55,766 → €62,917
To maintain the same standard of living in Belgium
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 35.0% more
Groceries
pay 18.3% more
Transportation
pay 6.9% less
Housing
pay 13.0% less
Childcare
pay 34.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 15.5% 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?
How many people actually move from United Kingdom to Belgium, based on official data.
people moved from United Kingdom to Belgium · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United Kingdom to Belgium.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Kingdom 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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
United Kingdom 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
United Kingdom 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
share of people below the poverty line
United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom leads in life expectancy.
Data: HM Revenue & Customs, 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 | London | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) | 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) | 63°/47°F (17°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) | 70°/54°F (21°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) | 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | London | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) | 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C) |
| Feb | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) | 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C) |
| Mar | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) | 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C) |
| Apr | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) | 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) |
| May | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) | 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C) |
| Jun | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C) |
| Jul | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) | 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) | 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C) |
| Sep | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) | 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C) |
| Oct | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) | 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C) |
| Nov | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) | 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C) |
| Dec | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) | 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) |
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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 Kingdom passport holder visiting Belgium
Visa Free
Belgium passport holder visiting United Kingdom
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 United Kingdom?
Yes — Belgium is on average about 4% cheaper than United Kingdom. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Belgium?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €15,729 in Belgium on a £55,766 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?
United Kingdom performs better than Belgium across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Belgium is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in United Kingdom.
How is healthcare in Belgium compared to United Kingdom?
United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 63.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Belgium, compared to 31.7 in United Kingdom. Belgium scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).
What's the weather like in Belgium compared to United Kingdom?
The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 60°F in London. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.
What language do they speak in Belgium?
The official languages in Belgium are Dutch, French and German. In United Kingdom, the official language is English.
Met Office
Institut Royal Météorologique