Cost of Living Comparison Between Brussels and Cary, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Brussels and Cary, NC

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Brussels is 0.3% cheaper than Cary, NC without rent, and 11.8% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Brussels is 15.3% more expensive than Cary, NC without rent, and 15.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Brussels
Cary, NC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.86 โ‚ฌ24.92
$17.75 $17.75
62.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.8 โ‚ฌ80.9
$100 $100
-6.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.91 โ‚ฌ12.87
$10.66 $10.66
39.87%
Cappuccino
$4.84 โ‚ฌ4.18
$4.97 $4.97
-2.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 โ‚ฌ2.65
$2.01 $2.01
52.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 โ‚ฌ2.62
$1.89 $1.89
60.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.07 โ‚ฌ6.11
$5.06 $5.06
39.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.7 โ‚ฌ4.92
$6.65 $6.65
-14.29%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Brussels
Cary, NC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 โ‚ฌ1.33
$1.12 $1.12
37.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.93 โ‚ฌ2.53
$5.68 $5.68
-48.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.93 โ‚ฌ2.53
$6.35 $6.35
-53.86%
Eggs
$4.81 โ‚ฌ4.15
$4.64 $4.64
3.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.31 โ‚ฌ14.09
$20.29 $20.29
-19.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.92 โ‚ฌ12.02
$12.33 $12.33
12.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.01 โ‚ฌ16.41
$17.32 $17.32
9.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 โ‚ฌ2.54
$5.56 $5.56
-47.12%
Banana (1kg)
$2.48 โ‚ฌ2.14
$1.76 $1.76
40.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.72 โ‚ฌ2.35
$4.24 $4.24
-35.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.26 โ‚ฌ2.82
$6.72 $6.72
-51.49%
Potato (1kg)
$2.68 โ‚ฌ2.31
$2.54 $2.54
5.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.52 โ‚ฌ2.18
$3.44 $3.44
-26.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.66 โ‚ฌ1.43
$2.8 $2.8
-40.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 โ‚ฌ0.96
$1.93 $1.93
-41.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.2 โ‚ฌ10.54
$9.82 $9.82
24.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.49 โ‚ฌ8.19
$11.95 $11.95
-20.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 โ‚ฌ2.23
$2.39 $2.39
8.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 โ‚ฌ2.78
$4.88 $4.88
-34.02%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Brussels
Cary, NC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.91 โ‚ฌ2.51
$1.83 $1.83
59.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.8 โ‚ฌ52.5
$60.3 $60.3
0.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.43 โ‚ฌ6.41
$3.41 $3.41
117.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.44 โ‚ฌ2.11
$1.59 $1.59
53.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.53 โ‚ฌ29.81
$28.98 $28.98
19.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.86 โ‚ฌ1.6
$0.86 $0.86
116.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K โ‚ฌ29.8K
$29.5K $29.5K
16.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.1K โ‚ฌ31.2K
$28.3K $28.3K
27.79%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brussels
Cary, NC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$255 โ‚ฌ220
$172 $172
47.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.51 โ‚ฌ18.57
$49.95 $49.95
-56.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.5 โ‚ฌ47.88
$62.7 $62.7
-11.53%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Brussels
Cary, NC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.31 โ‚ฌ35.67
$76.9 $76.9
-46.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.78 โ‚ฌ27.44
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.86 โ‚ฌ12.83
$13.64 $13.64
8.94%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Brussels
Cary, NC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,134 โ‚ฌ979
$1,472 $1,472
-22.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.7K โ‚ฌ19.6K
$23.5K $23.5K
-3.18%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Brussels
Cary, NC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107 โ‚ฌ92.1
$47.59 $47.59
124.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.55 โ‚ฌ42.78
$31.91 $31.91
55.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 โ‚ฌ99
$127 $127
-9.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152 โ‚ฌ132
$136 $136
11.83%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Brussels
Cary, NC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,332 โ‚ฌ1,150
$1,761 $1,761
-24.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,076 โ‚ฌ929
$1,615 $1,615
-33.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,320 โ‚ฌ2,003
$2,600 $2,600
-10.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,804 โ‚ฌ1,558
$2,689 $2,689
-32.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,847 โ‚ฌ4,185
$2,871 $2,871
68.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,782 โ‚ฌ3,265
$2,659 $2,659
42.20%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Brussels
Cary, NC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,582 โ‚ฌ3,093
$5,908 $5,908
-39.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.65
6.31
-42.16%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Brussels: October 29, 2025

Last update for Cary, NC: October 27, 2025

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