Cost of living · Europe · Eurostat HICP 2023
🇧🇪 Cost of living in Belgium
Belgium runs pricier than most of the EU-27 across rent, groceries and transport - see where the gap is widest and how far local income actually stretches.
- Cost index (EU-27=100)
- 112
- Rent index
- 106
- Median net income
- €26,800
- Cost-adjusted income
- €23,929
Belgium sits at 112 on the 0-200 scale shown above.
Key takeaways
- Overall cost of living is 12% above the EU-27 average (index 112, EU-27 = 100).
- Most expensive category: transport at index 115.
- Cheapest category: utilities at index 102.
- A typical income of €26,800 is worth about €23,929 in EU-average purchasing power.
Cost by category in Belgium
Belgium - price level by category (EU-27 = 100)
In Belgium, transport is the most expensive category and utilities the least.
What the Belgium cost-of-living data shows
Belgium's overall consumer price level is 12% above the EU-27 average. (How this index is built →)
Getting around is the standout expense in Belgium: transport tops the category chart at index 115, ahead of utilities at index 102.
That price gap trims real purchasing power here: because prices run above the EU average, the headline income of €26,800 is worth closer to €23,929 once translated into EU-27-average terms.
Countries with a similar cost of living
Frequently asked questions
Is Belgium expensive to live in?▼
Belgium's overall cost of living is 12% above the EU-27 average (index 112). Transport is the priciest category and utilities the cheapest.
What does it cost to rent in Belgium?▼
Belgium's rent and housing price index is 106, above the EU norm.
How does income compare to costs in Belgium?▼
That price gap trims real purchasing power here: because prices run above the EU average, the headline income of €26,800 is worth closer to €23,929 once translated into EU-27-average terms.
Source: Eurostat, Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) and comparative price levels Eurostat, Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) and comparative price levels Price-level indices, EU-27 = 100, 2023. Income: Eurostat/OECD median equivalised net income.
Important: these figures are official Eurostat averages for general information and comparison, they are not personal financial advice. Your own cost of living depends on your city, housing and lifestyle, so treat this as a starting point and check current local prices before making any relocation or budget decision.
Read our methodology - how these indices are sourced and computed.