Moving to Belgium from Zimbabwe

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Zimbabwe to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 2.3 times more expensive than Zimbabwe overall. A ZWL24,000,000 salary in Zimbabwe would need to be roughly €150,000 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 78°F in Harare, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

ZWL24,000,000 → €150,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Belgium

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 3.1 times more

Groceries

pay 49.0% more

Transportation

pay 24.5% more

Housing

pay 3.2 times more

Childcare

pay 3.3 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 83.5% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 ZWL = 0.0028 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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Moved in 2023
49 ↑ 7% vs 2022

people moved from Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

ZW
6.8
BE
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ZW
29.9
BE
4.6

Belgium performs significantly better than Zimbabwe across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ZW
$103
BE
$7,489
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

ZW
1.4
BE
35.7

Zimbabwe 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

ZW
56.0
BE
15.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ZW
0.8t
BE
7.3t

Zimbabwe 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

ZW
1.9
BE
44.2
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ZW
46.1%
BE
52.8%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

ZW
9.3%
BE
5.9%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

ZW
$3,021
BE
$60,750

Belgium generally does better on employment & economy, though Zimbabwe leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

ZW
63.1 yrs
BE
82.3 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ZW
62.4
BE
3.1

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

Sources: World Bank (2019–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (2016), Service Public Fédéral Finances (2016). How we calculate this

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Harare Rain: 33.1 in/yr (841 mm)
78° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Harare Brussels
Jan–Mar 79°/59°F (26°/15°C) 45°/34°F (7°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 75°/49°F (24°/10°C) 63°/47°F (17°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/48°F (25°/9°C) 70°/54°F (21°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 82°/59°F (28°/15°C) 50°/40°F (10°/4°C)
View all months
Month Harare Brussels
Jan 79°/60°F (26.2°/15.8°C) 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C)
Feb 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.7°C) 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C)
Mar 79°/58°F (26.2°/14.5°C) 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C)
Apr 78°/54°F (25.6°/12.5°C) 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C)
May 75°/49°F (23.8°/9.3°C) 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C)
Jun 71°/44°F (21.8°/6.8°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C)
Jul 71°/44°F (21.6°/6.5°C) 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C)
Aug 75°/47°F (24.1°/8.5°C) 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C)
Sep 83°/53°F (28.4°/11.7°C) 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C)
Oct 84°/58°F (28.8°/14.5°C) 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C)
Nov 82°/60°F (27.6°/15.5°C) 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C)
Dec 79°/60°F (26.3°/15.8°C) 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C)

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zimbabwe 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.

Zimbabwe passport

Zimbabwe passport holder visiting Belgium

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

Belgium passport holder visiting Zimbabwe

Visa on Arrival
Belgium passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Zimbabwe.

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 Zimbabwe?

On average Belgium is around 126% pricier than Zimbabwe, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Belgium?

Budget about €37,500 for 3 months in Belgium (based on a ZWL24,000,000 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 performs significantly better than Zimbabwe across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Belgium is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.8 in Zimbabwe.

How is healthcare in Belgium compared to Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe 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 1.4 in Zimbabwe. Belgium scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zimbabwe: 55).

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

The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 78°F in Harare. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Harare gets 33.1 in.

What language do they speak in Belgium?

The official languages in Belgium are Dutch, French and German. In Zimbabwe, the official languages are Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zimbabwean Sign Language.

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At a Glance

ZW BE
Population 16,950,795 11,941,781
Currency Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL) Euro (€)
Languages Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zimbabwean Sign Language Dutch, French, German
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +263 +32
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999 112