Moving to Belgium from West Virginia

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from West Virginia to Belgium — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from West Virginia to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 26.9% more expensive than West Virginia. A $75,000 salary in West Virginia would need to be roughly €85,504 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 73°F in Charleston, making it significantly cooler.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

How your spending power changes when you relocate from West Virginia to Belgium.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 €85,504

To maintain the same standard of living in Belgium

Calculate with your salary →

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 36.1% more

Groceries

pay 8.2% more

Transportation

pay 51.3% more

Housing

pay 8.0% less

Childcare

pay 18.5% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 20.1% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate:1 USD = 0.878 EUR(July 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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from West Virginia to Belgium, and how the trend has changed.

Moved in 2023
1,627 ↓ 1% vs 2022

people moved from United States 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

How West Virginia and Belgium stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rateCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

WV
40.5%
BE
22.1%

Belgium performs significantly better than West Virginia across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet accessUS Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

WV
84.7%
BE
91.0%

Belgium performs significantly better than West Virginia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rateBureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

WV
4.4%
BE
5.5%
GDP per capitaBureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

WV
$46,834
BE
$63,600

Belgium generally does better on employment & economy, though West Virginia leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancyOECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

WV
72.8 yrs
BE
81.9 yrs

Belgium performs significantly better than West Virginia 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.

CharlestonRain: 44.4 in/yr (1128 mm)
73°/60°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

MonthsCharlestonBrussels
Jan–Mar61°/47°F (16°/8°C)45°/34°F (7°/1°C)
Apr–Jun79°/67°F (26°/19°C)63°/47°F (17°/8°C)
Jul–Sep85°/75°F (30°/24°C)70°/54°F (21°/13°C)
Oct–Dec67°/54°F (20°/12°C)50°/40°F (10°/4°C)
View all months
MonthCharlestonBrussels
Jan57°/43°F (13.7°/6.0°C)42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C)
Feb60°/46°F (15.3°/7.5°C)44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C)
Mar65°/52°F (18.3°/10.9°C)50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C)
Apr72°/59°F (22.2°/14.9°C)56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C)
May79°/67°F (25.9°/19.5°C)64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C)
Jun85°/74°F (29.2°/23.3°C)68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C)
Jul88°/77°F (30.9°/24.9°C)72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C)
Aug86°/76°F (30.2°/24.5°C)72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C)
Sep82°/72°F (27.8°/22.1°C)66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C)
Oct75°/62°F (23.7°/16.9°C)58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C)
Nov67°/54°F (19.6°/12.0°C)48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C)
Dec60°/46°F (15.3°/7.6°C)44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Institut Royal Météorologique 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

United States passport holder visiting Belgium

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Belgium without a visa.
Belgium passport

Belgium passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Belgium passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

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 West Virginia?

Day-to-day costs in Belgium run about 30% higher than West Virginia on average; specific cities can swing further.

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 €21,376 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 West Virginia and Belgium.

How is healthcare in Belgium compared to West Virginia?

Belgium performs significantly better than West Virginia across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Belgium compared to West Virginia?

The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 73°F in Charleston. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Charleston gets 44.4 in.

What language do they speak in Belgium?

The official languages in Belgium are Dutch, French and German. In West Virginia, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

BE
Population1,852,99411,847,338
CurrencyUnited States Dollar ($)Euro (€)
LanguagesEnglishDutch, French, German
Driving sideRightRight
Calling code+1+32
Time zones111
Emergency number911112