Cost of Living Comparison Between Antwerp and Gent Cost of Living Comparison Between Antwerp and Gent

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,253 in Antwerp versus $2,291 in Gent.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,400 in Antwerp versus $3,458 in Gent.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,547 in Antwerp versus $4,624 in Gent.

Living in Antwerp costs roughly 2% less than in Gent, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Antwerp 68% above, Gent 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antwerp
Gent
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.57 €20.13
$23.09 €19.72
2.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 €104
$114 €97.6
7.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.95 €11.06
$13.92 €11.89
-6.97%
Cappuccino
$4.26 €3.64
$4.18 €3.57
1.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 €2.95
$3.43 €2.93
0.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 €2.60
$3.37 €2.88
-9.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.44 €4.64
$5.87 €5.02
-7.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62 €3.94
$5.77 €4.92
-19.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antwerp
Gent
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 €1.16
$1.26 €1.07
7.94%
White Bread (500g)
$2.80 €2.39
$2.65 €2.26
5.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.62 €2.24
$2.35 €2.01
11.49%
Eggs
$4.01 €3.42
$4.16 €3.55
-3.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.02 €15.39
$17.21 €14.70
4.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.61 €9.92
$11.77 €10.05
-1.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.74 €18.57
$18.50 €15.80
17.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 €2.48
$3.14 €2.68
-7.64%
Banana (1kg)
$2.38 €2.03
$2.43 €2.08
-2.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 €2.03
$2.63 €2.25
-9.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.33 €2.85
$3.04 €2.59
9.54%
Potato (1kg)
$2.99 €2.55
$1.93 €1.64
54.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.45 €2.09
$2.15 €1.84
13.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.43 €1.22
$1.37 €1.17
4.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 €0.75
$0.89 €0.76
-1.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.93 €11.04
$12.75 €10.89
1.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.56 €8.16
$9.58 €8.18
-0.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 €1.44
$1.94 €1.66
-12.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 €1.67
$2.90 €2.47
-32.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Antwerp
Gent
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.93 €2.50
$2.88 €2.46
1.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.52 €38.02
$58.0 €49.53
-23.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.67 €4.84
$10.88 €9.29
-47.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.42 €2.07
$2.76 €2.36
-12.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$46.64 €39.83
$54.3 €46.33
-14.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.93 €1.65
$1.94 €1.65
-0.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1K €30.9K
$32.9K €28.1K
9.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K €28.1K
$37.9K €32.4K
-13.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antwerp
Gent
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$207 €177
$233 €199
-11.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.34 €21.64
$23.48 €20.05
7.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.0 €44.39
$50.1 €42.80
3.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antwerp
Gent
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.77 €38.23
$35.04 €29.93
27.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.20 €21.52
$13.69 €11.69
84.08%
Cinema Ticket
$14.88 €12.71
$16.16 €13.80
-7.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antwerp
Gent
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$653 €558
$585 €500
11.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K €11.4K
$19.3K €16.5K
-31.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antwerp
Gent
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109 €92.9
$113 €96.7
-3.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.48 €41.40
$53.2 €45.45
-8.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 €101
$104 €89.0
13.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$233 €199
$161 €137
44.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antwerp
Gent
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,046 €893
$1,041 €889
0.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$857 €732
$924 €789
-7.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,587 €1,356
$1,772 €1,514
-10.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,292 €1,103
$1,395 €1,192
-7.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,632 €3,955
$5,459 €4,662
-15.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,214 €2,744
$3,195 €2,729
0.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antwerp
Gent
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,141 €2,682
$3,338 €2,850
-5.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.27
3.74
-12.57%

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

Last update for Antwerp: April 25, 2026

Last update for Gent: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,046 in Antwerp and $1,041 in Gent. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gent pays 6% 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: $122 in Antwerp vs $114 in Gent for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $362 vs $348 per month, with Gent cheaper across the board.

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 Gent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Antwerp and Gent?
Antwerp and Gent differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($2,253 vs $2,291 including rent). Antwerp is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Gent earns 6% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Antwerp and Gent?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,046 in Antwerp versus $1,041 in Gent. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Antwerp and Gent?
A monthly transit pass in Antwerp runs roughly 30% less than in Gent. 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 Gent?
Childcare runs $653 in Antwerp versus $585 in Gent. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,253 in Antwerp versus $2,291 in Gent, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Antwerp but tight or insufficient in Gent. The gap between the two cities makes Antwerp the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Antwerp and Gent?
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 Gent safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Antwerp and Gent 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 Gent?
Expats usually find Antwerp gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Gent. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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