Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Antwerp and Brugge

For one person, living costs are similar in Antwerp and in Brugge: $2,147 and $2,117 a month, rent and utilities included.

Antwerp
🇧🇪 Belgium
$2,147
/mo nomad
Brugge
🇧🇪 Belgium
$2,117
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Antwerp and in Brugge

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Antwerp and in Brugge actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,147 in Antwerp versus $2,117 in Brugge.

  • Antwerp $2,147
  • Brugge $2,117

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,321 in Antwerp versus $3,097 in Brugge.

  • Antwerp $3,321
  • Brugge $3,097

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,494 in Antwerp versus $4,077 in Brugge.

  • Antwerp $4,494
  • Brugge $4,077

Living in Antwerp is roughly 1% more expensive than in Brugge, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Antwerp 59% above, Brugge 57% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antwerp
Brugge
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.67 €20.17
$22.26 €19.80
1.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$104 €92.6
$79.3 €70.5
31.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.36 €11.88
$11.35 €10.09
17.71%
Cappuccino
$4.38 €3.90
$4.36 €3.88
0.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 €3.27
$2.89 €2.57
26.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 €3.21
$2.85 €2.53
26.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.40 €4.80
$5.35 €4.76
0.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.08 €5.41
$4.33 €3.85
40.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antwerp
Brugge
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 €1.18
$1.19 €1.06
11.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.77 €2.46
$1.93 €1.71
43.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.15 €1.91
$2.04 €1.82
5.39%
Eggs
$3.76 €3.35
$3.93 €3.50
-4.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.22 €15.32
$11.55 €10.27
49.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.15 €10.81
$11.83 €10.52
2.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.31 €20.73
$19.28 €17.15
20.90%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 €2.56
$2.63 €2.34
9.13%
Banana (1kg)
$2.32 €2.06
$2.10 €1.87
10.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.60 €2.31
$2.13 €1.89
22.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.39 €3.02
$2.23 €1.99
52.02%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 €2.10
$2.25 €2.00
4.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.86 €1.65
$0.89 €0.80
108.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.52 €1.36
$1.52 €1.35
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 €0.93
$0.87 €0.77
19.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.06 €11.62
$13.23 €11.77
-1.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.08 €8.07
$7.05 €6.27
28.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 €1.52
$1.09 €0.97
56.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 €1.84
$1.90 €1.69
8.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Antwerp
Brugge
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.37 €3.00
$3.12 €2.78
8.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.7 €47.72
$53.7 €47.77
-0.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 €4.98
$3.29 €2.93
70.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.65 €2.36
$2.50 €2.22
6.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$44.90 €39.94
$25.26 €22.47
77.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.85
$1.97 €1.75
5.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €31.1K
$35.0K €31.1K
-0.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0K €30.2K
$33.8K €30.0K
0.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antwerp
Brugge
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$204 €181
$214 €191
-4.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.85 €19.43
$18.38 €16.35
18.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.38 €41.25
$52.8 €46.94
-12.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antwerp
Brugge
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.05 €32.96
$43.18 €38.41
-14.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.10 €24.11
$13.49 €12.00
100.89%
Cinema Ticket
$15.34 €13.64
$14.39 €12.80
6.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antwerp
Brugge
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,612 €1,434
$592 €527
172.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.8K €30.0K
$4,925 €4,381
585.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antwerp
Brugge
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113 €100
$102 €91.1
10.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7 €46.83
$58.8 €52.3
-10.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €89.5
$88.5 €78.7
13.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$166 €148
$253 €225
-34.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antwerp
Brugge
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,025 €912
$919 €818
11.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$821 €731
$828 €737
-0.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 €1,427
$1,282 €1,140
25.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,357 €1,207
$1,176 €1,046
15.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,403 €3,917
$2,650 €2,357
66.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,082 €2,742
$2,463 €2,191
25.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antwerp
Brugge
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,073 €2,734
$2,551 €2,269
20.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.46
3.52
-1.70%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Antwerp: October 11, 2026

Last update for Brugge: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Antwerp
$821
Brugge
$828 0.8% $7
Groceries & Markets
Antwerp
$363
Brugge
$301 17.1% $62
Eating Out
Antwerp
$342
Brugge
$323 5.7% $19
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antwerp
$272
Brugge
$285 4.9% $13
Clothing & Footwear
Antwerp
$195
Brugge
$226 16.2% $31
Getting Around
Antwerp
$86
Brugge
$82 4.7% $4
Sport & Entertainment
Antwerp
$68
Brugge
$72 6.2% $4.2

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,025 in Antwerp and $919 in Brugge. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Antwerp pays 20% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $104 in Antwerp vs $79.0 in Brugge for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $363 vs $301 per month, with Brugge cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇪 Antwerp
🇧🇪 Brugge
🕒 Local time
15:54 3:54 PM
15:54 3:54 PM
Same time as Antwerp
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
525,935
117,639
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Antwerp Brugge 82 km
From you
  • Antwerp
  • Brugge

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Antwerp vs Brugge: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Antwerp and in Brugge?
Antwerp and Brugge differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($2,147 vs $2,117 including rent). Brugge is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Antwerp or Brugge?
Average pay runs 20% higher in Antwerp, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Antwerp and in Brugge?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,025 in Antwerp versus $919 in Brugge. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Antwerp and in Brugge?
A monthly transit pass in Brugge runs roughly 0% less than in Antwerp. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Antwerp and Brugge?
Childcare runs $1,612 in Antwerp versus $592 in Brugge. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $2,117 in Brugge versus $2,147 in Antwerp, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Brugge but tight or insufficient in Antwerp. The gap between the two cities makes Brugge the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Antwerp and Brugge?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Antwerp or Brugge safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Antwerp and Brugge are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Antwerp or Brugge?
Expats usually find Brugge gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Antwerp. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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