Cost of Living Comparison Between Belgium and Australia Cost of Living Comparison Between Belgium and Australia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,161 per month in Belgium vs $2,509 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,201 per month in Belgium vs $3,641 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,241 per month in Belgium vs $4,772 in Australia, rent included.

The cost of living in Belgium is roughly 14% lower than in Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Belgium and Australia are pricier than the global median – Belgium by 58%, Australia by 83%.

The regional cost range is wider in Australia ($1,174$3,292) than in Belgium ($1,840$2,700), so city choice matters more there.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belgium
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.16 €20.18
$18.16 A$25.52
27.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.1 €82.0
$85.9 A$121
9.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.85 €12.07
$10.87 A$15.27
27.41%
Cappuccino
$4.42 €3.85
$4.11 A$5.78
7.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 €3.09
$3.04 A$4.28
16.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 €2.73
$2.47 A$3.47
26.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.66 €4.93
$7.87 A$11.05
-28.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.28 €4.60
$7.98 A$11.21
-33.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belgium
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 €1.17
$1.73 A$2.43
-22.54%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 €2.33
$2.78 A$3.90
-3.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.45 €2.13
$2.38 A$3.34
2.94%
Eggs
$4.20 €3.66
$5.08 A$7.14
-17.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.09 €14.02
$9.98 A$14.02
61.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.56 €10.94
$9.24 A$12.98
35.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.68 €18.02
$15.49 A$21.76
33.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 €2.47
$3.73 A$5.24
-24.13%
Banana (1kg)
$2.40 €2.09
$3.02 A$4.25
-20.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.84 €2.47
$3.23 A$4.54
-12.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.39 €2.96
$4.88 A$6.86
-30.53%
Potato (1kg)
$2.44 €2.13
$2.87 A$4.04
-14.98%
Onion (1kg)
$1.88 €1.64
$2.36 A$3.32
-20.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.60 €1.39
$2.49 A$3.50
-35.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 €0.99
$1.68 A$2.35
-32.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.04 €12.23
$38.51 A$54.1
-63.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.18 €8.00
$14.25 A$20.02
-35.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 €1.71
$5.07 A$7.12
-61.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 €2.07
$5.19 A$7.29
-54.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Belgium
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.26 €2.84
$2.78 A$3.91
17.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.7 €52.9
$94.8 A$133
-35.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.71 €4.98
$3.52 A$4.95
62.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.79 €2.43
$1.60 A$2.24
74.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.40 €37.81
$40.42 A$56.8
7.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.92 €1.67
$1.27 A$1.79
51.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K €32.4K
$28.3K A$39.8K
31.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3K €29.9K
$28.6K A$40.2K
19.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belgium
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$243 €212
$202 A$284
20.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.46 €20.44
$29.08 A$40.86
-19.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.8 €48.64
$59.6 A$83.7
-6.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belgium
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.10 €32.32
$59.3 A$83.3
-37.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.40 €18.64
$20.13 A$28.28
6.31%
Cinema Ticket
$15.83 €13.79
$15.75 A$22.12
0.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belgium
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,021 €889
$2,197 A$3,087
-53.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.4K €25.6K
$18.2K A$25.6K
61.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belgium
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106 €92.0
$79.3 A$111
33.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.81 €42.52
$57.2 A$80.4
-14.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 €96.0
$114 A$160
-3.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152 €133
$125 A$175
22.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belgium
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,009 €879
$1,581 A$2,221
-36.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$889 €775
$1,291 A$1,813
-31.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,586 €1,382
$2,530 A$3,555
-37.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,296 €1,129
$1,982 A$2,784
-34.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,578 €3,989
$8,571 A$12.0K
-46.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,305 €2,879
$6,120 A$8,598
-45.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belgium
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,120 €2,718
$3,979 A$5,591
-21.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.64
5.93
-38.62%

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

Last update for Belgium: September 13, 2026

Last update for Australia: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $968 in Belgium vs $1,387 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,418 in Brussels and $1,829 in Canberra.

Average salary: $3,005 in Belgium vs $3,903 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 43% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 12% more in Belgium.

Public transport is 55% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 30% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.

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
Belgium vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Belgium?
Australia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 2% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Belgium, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Belgium consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Australia, contributing to the overall 2% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Australia or in Belgium?
$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Australia, but in Belgium it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or to Belgium?
Australia is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

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