😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Antwerp versus $2,105 in Hasselt.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,403 in Antwerp versus $3,106 in Hasselt.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,562 in Antwerp versus $4,108 in Hasselt.
😐Living in Antwerp is roughly 7% more expensive than Hasselt, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Antwerp67% above, Hasselt57% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antwerp
Hasselt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.30€19.87
$22.77€19.42
2.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122€104
$93.9€80.1
29.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.80€10.92
$12.59€10.74
1.67%
Cappuccino
$4.16€3.55
$3.84€3.28
8.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46€2.95
$3.36€2.87
2.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16€2.70
$3.18€2.71
-0.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.64€4.81
$5.10€4.35
10.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.00
$4.61€3.93
1.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antwerp
Hasselt
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37€1.17
$1.33€1.13
3.01%
White Bread(500g)
$2.89€2.46
$2.76€2.35
4.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.73€2.33
$2.74€2.34
-0.36%
Eggs
$4.05€3.46
$3.60€3.07
12.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.56€14.98
$17.95€15.31
-2.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.66€9.95
$9.96€8.50
17.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.17€18.91
$22.43€19.13
-1.16%
Apples(1kg)
$3.00€2.56
$2.33€1.99
28.76%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.09
$2.35€2.00
4.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.37€2.02
$2.28€1.94
3.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.41€2.91
$2.35€2.00
45.11%
Potato(1kg)
$2.86€2.44
$2.28€1.94
25.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.45€2.09
$1.64€1.40
49.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.41€1.20
$0.90€0.77
56.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.89€0.76
-3.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.78€10.90
$12.50€10.66
2.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.67€8.25
$9.16€7.82
5.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.46
$1.78€1.52
-3.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00€1.70
$1.95€1.66
2.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Antwerp
Hasselt
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.49
$2.81€2.40
3.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.76€39.03
$33.33€28.43
37.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.88€5.01
$5.83€4.97
0.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.45€2.09
$2.44€2.08
0.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$46.93€40.03
$37.32€31.83
25.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.83€1.56
$1.85€1.58
-1.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K€30.5K
$36.2K€30.9K
-1.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K€28.4K
$32.8K€28.0K
1.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antwerp
Hasselt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$205€175
$204€174
0.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.89€21.23
$21.10€18.00
17.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.6€43.14
$51.1€43.61
-1.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antwerp
Hasselt
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.28€37.77
$28.49€24.30
55.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.13€21.43
$9.33€7.95
169.35%
Cinema Ticket
$15.01€12.80
$14.97€12.77
0.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antwerp
Hasselt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$636€543
$638€544
-0.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.6K€11.6K
$13.5K€11.5K
1.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antwerp
Hasselt
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110€93.6
$111€94.6
-1.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.89€42.55
$48.17€41.09
3.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117€99.9
$114€97.4
2.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$233€199
$134€114
73.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antwerp
Hasselt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,032€880
$983€839
4.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$853€728
$848€723
0.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,591€1,357
$1,502€1,281
5.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,282€1,094
$1,232€1,051
4.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,682€3,994
$4,876€4,159
-3.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,184€2,716
$2,526€2,155
26.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antwerp
Hasselt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,127€2,667
$3,202€2,732
-2.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.27
3.27
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Antwerp: April 22, 2026
Last update for Hasselt: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,032 in Antwerp and $983 in Hasselt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hasselt pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $122 in Antwerp vs $94 in Hasselt for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $365 vs $339 per month, with Hasselt 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 Hasselt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Antwerp and Hasselt?
Antwerp and Hasselt differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($2,243 vs $2,105 including rent). Hasselt is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Hasselt earns 2% 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 Hasselt?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,032 in Antwerp versus $983 in Hasselt. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Antwerp and Hasselt?
A monthly transit pass in Hasselt runs roughly 37% 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 Hasselt?
Childcare runs $636 in Antwerp versus $638 in Hasselt. 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 $2,105 in Hasselt versus $2,243 in Antwerp, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Hasselt but tight or insufficient in Antwerp. The gap between the two cities makes Hasselt the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Antwerp and Hasselt?
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 Hasselt safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Antwerp and Hasselt 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 Hasselt?
Expats usually find Hasselt gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Antwerp. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.