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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,061 per month in Belgium vs $2,182 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,060 per month in Belgium vs $3,216 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,059 per month in Belgium vs $4,250 in Australia, rent included.

Belgium is roughly 6% cheaper than Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Belgium and Australia are pricier than the global median – Belgium by 54%, Australia by 63%.

Australia has a wider regional cost range ($1,579$2,759) than Belgium ($1,726$2,511), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Australia.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belgium
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.17 €19.93
$16.17 A$22.54
43.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.9 €79.9
$78.6 A$110
18.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.30 €10.58
$9.48 A$13.21
29.75%
Cappuccino
$4.21 €3.63
$3.56 A$4.96
18.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 €2.74
$2.60 A$3.62
22.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 €2.47
$2.21 A$3.08
29.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.45 €4.69
$6.47 A$9.02
-15.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57 €3.93
$7.19 A$10.02
-36.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belgium
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 €1.08
$1.56 A$2.18
-19.87%
White Bread (500g)
$2.60 €2.24
$2.53 A$3.53
2.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.48 €2.13
$2.02 A$2.82
22.77%
Eggs
$4.17 €3.59
$4.47 A$6.23
-6.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.03 €12.93
$8.86 A$12.35
69.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.22 €10.51
$8.38 A$11.68
45.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.21 €16.52
$13.71 A$19.10
40.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 €2.47
$3.23 A$4.50
-11.15%
Banana (1kg)
$2.32 €1.99
$2.84 A$3.96
-18.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.58 €2.22
$2.98 A$4.15
-13.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 €2.64
$4.38 A$6.10
-29.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.27 €1.95
$2.45 A$3.41
-7.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$2.11 A$2.94
-12.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.50 €1.29
$2.16 A$3.02
-30.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 €0.92
$1.58 A$2.21
-32.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.20 €10.49
$30.61 A$42.65
-60.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.99 €7.74
$14.23 A$19.83
-36.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 €1.69
$4.55 A$6.34
-56.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$4.91 A$6.84
-54.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Belgium
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.81 €2.42
$2.89 A$4.03
-2.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$57.6 €49.53
$97.5 A$136
-40.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.84 €5.88
$3.54 A$4.94
93.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.62 €2.25
$1.75 A$2.43
49.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.32 €37.26
$38.10 A$53.1
13.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.16 A$1.62
66.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K €28.8K
$28.8K A$40.1K
16.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K €28.5K
$23.2K A$32.3K
43.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belgium
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$222 €191
$179 A$249
24.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.02 €20.66
$26.75 A$37.27
-10.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.4 €49.34
$53.7 A$74.8
6.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belgium
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.45 €33.08
$48.44 A$67.5
-20.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.88 €18.82
$16.88 A$23.52
29.62%
Cinema Ticket
$15.02 €12.92
$13.61 A$18.97
10.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belgium
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$646 €556
$1,605 A$2,236
-59.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K €13.7K
$12.7K A$17.7K
24.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belgium
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106 €91.3
$71.4 A$99.5
48.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.44 €39.08
$50.0 A$69.7
-9.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 €95.2
$99.8 A$139
10.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143 €123
$109 A$152
31.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belgium
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$981 €844
$1,385 A$1,930
-29.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$851 €732
$1,076 A$1,500
-20.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,508 €1,297
$2,284 A$3,183
-34.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,292 €1,111
$1,757 A$2,448
-26.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,479 €3,853
$7,462 A$10.4K
-39.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,131 €2,693
$5,617 A$7,827
-44.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belgium
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,077 €2,647
$4,070 A$5,672
-24.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.64
6.35
-42.68%

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

Last update for Belgium: May 30, 2026

Last update for Australia: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $910 in Belgium vs $1,233 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,318 in Brussels and $1,548 in Canberra.

Average salary: $2,906 in Belgium vs $3,906 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 35% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 21% more in Belgium.

Public transport is 24% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 34% higher in Australia, giving Australia stronger purchasing power.

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?
Belgium 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 Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Belgium, contributing to the overall 2% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Australia or Belgium?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Belgium, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or Belgium?
Belgium 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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