Moving to Belgium from Washington
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Washington to Belgium — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Washington to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 1.2% cheaper than Washington. A $75,000 salary in Washington would need to be roughly €62,759 in Belgium to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch, French and German.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Washington to Belgium.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → €62,759
To maintain the same standard of living in Belgium
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 17.4% more
Groceries
pay 18.1% less
Transportation
pay 26.0% more
Housing
pay 24.8% less
Childcare
pay 46.6% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 11.8% 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?
Real numbers on people moving from Washington to Belgium, and how the trend has changed.
people moved from United States to Belgium · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
How Washington and Belgium stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Belgium performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Washington 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
share of people below the poverty line
Washington performs better than Belgium across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Belgium performs significantly better than Washington across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Olympia | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 50°/34°F (10°/1°C) | 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 65°/43°F (18°/6°C) | 63°/47°F (17°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 76°/49°F (24°/10°C) | 70°/54°F (21°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/36°F (11°/2°C) | 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Olympia | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°/34°F (7.7°/0.9°C) | 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C) |
| Feb | 49°/33°F (9.6°/0.4°C) | 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C) |
| Mar | 54°/35°F (12.2°/1.7°C) | 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C) |
| Apr | 59°/38°F (14.9°/3.2°C) | 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) |
| May | 65°/43°F (18.5°/6.2°C) | 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C) |
| Jun | 71°/48°F (21.4°/8.7°C) | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C) |
| Jul | 77°/51°F (24.9°/10.4°C) | 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C) |
| Aug | 78°/51°F (25.4°/10.3°C) | 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C) |
| Sep | 72°/46°F (22.1°/7.8°C) | 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C) |
| Oct | 60°/40°F (15.7°/4.7°C) | 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C) |
| Nov | 50°/36°F (10.1°/2.4°C) | 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C) |
| Dec | 44°/33°F (6.8°/0.3°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 Washington?
Generally yes: Belgium runs about 4% cheaper than Washington on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Belgium?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around €15,690 in Belgium for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Belgium?
Working remotely from Belgium's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Washington and Belgium.
How is healthcare in Belgium compared to Washington?
Belgium performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Belgium compared to Washington?
The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 60°F in Olympia. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Olympia gets 50.0 in.
What language do they speak in Belgium?
The official languages in Belgium are Dutch, French and German. In Washington, the official language is English.
