Moving to Belgium from United States
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United States to Belgium — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United States to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 3.4% more expensive than United States overall. A $75,000 salary in United States would need to be roughly €55,765 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 66°F in Washington, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from United States to Belgium.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → €55,765
To maintain the same standard of living in Belgium
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 22.1% more
Groceries
pay 15.7% less
Transportation
pay 38.3% more
Housing
pay 24.1% less
Childcare
pay 39.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 4.2% 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.
Get free moving quotes to Belgium
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from United States to Belgium, based on official data.
people moved from United States to Belgium · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United States to Belgium.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Belgium generally does better on safety, though United States leads in feel safe walking at night.
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
Belgium generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in health coverage index.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
United States generally does better on environment, though Belgium leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
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 States 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 States generally does better on employment & economy, though Belgium leads in poverty rate.
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 performs significantly better than United States across all family life metrics.
Data: Internal Revenue Service, 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 | Washington | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) | 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) | 63°/47°F (17°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) | 70°/54°F (21°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) | 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Washington | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) | 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C) |
| Feb | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) | 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C) |
| Mar | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) | 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C) |
| Apr | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) | 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) |
| May | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) | 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C) |
| Jun | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C) |
| Jul | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) | 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C) |
| Aug | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) | 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C) |
| Sep | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) | 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C) |
| Oct | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) | 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C) |
| Nov | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) | 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C) |
| Dec | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) | 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Institut Royal Météorologique
Visitor Visa Requirements
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 holder visiting Belgium
Visa Free
Belgium passport holder visiting United States
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 States?
Yes — Belgium is on average about 15% cheaper than United States. 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 €13,941 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?
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?
Belgium generally does better on safety, though United States leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Belgium is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States. About 62% of people in Belgium feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Belgium compared to United States?
Belgium generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in health coverage index. There are 63.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Belgium, compared to 36.1 in United States. Belgium scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).
What's the weather like in Belgium compared to United States?
The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in.
What language do they speak in Belgium?
The official languages in Belgium are Dutch, French and German. In United States, the official language is English.
