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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,649 in Brussels versus $2,808 in Cary, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,979 in Brussels versus $4,200 in Cary, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,309 in Brussels versus $5,592 in Cary, NC.

Living in Brussels costs roughly 6% less than in Cary, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Brussels 93% above, Cary, NC 104% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.25 €19.99

$19.46 $19.46

19.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$94.4 €81.1

$99.2 $99.2

-4.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.88 €12.79

$10.54 $10.54

41.18%

Cappuccino

$4.47 €3.85

$5.18 $5.18

-13.71%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 €3.10

$2.09 $2.09

72.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 €2.90

$1.93 $1.93

74.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.95 €5.12

$4.48 $4.48

32.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.83 €5.01

$6.35 $6.35

-8.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 €1.26

$1.04 $1.04

41.35%

White Bread (500g)

$2.92 €2.51

$5.72 $5.72

-48.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.05 €2.62

$5.97 $5.97

-48.91%

Eggs

$5.48 €4.71

$4.10 $4.10

33.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.85 €15.35

$17.96 $17.96

-0.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.43 €11.55

$16.59 $16.59

-19.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.46 €20.17

$17.29 $17.29

35.69%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 €2.91

$6.00 $6.00

-43.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.71 €2.33

$1.86 $1.86

45.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 €2.61

$3.74 $3.74

-18.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.31 €3.71

$6.70 $6.70

-35.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.75 €2.36

$3.23 $3.23

-14.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 €2.09

$4.37 $4.37

-44.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 €1.67

$2.88 $2.88

-32.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 €1.06

$2.39 $2.39

-48.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.12 €12.14

$9.91 $9.91

42.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.48 €9.01

$9.73 $9.73

7.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 €2.44

$2.39 $2.39

18.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 €2.78

$4.02 $4.02

-19.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 €2.42

$2.57 $2.57

9.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.0 €55.0

$80.0 $80.0

-19.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.98 €2.56

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 €1.81

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.45 €36.49

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.16 €1.85

$0.82 $0.82

163.41%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.4K €31.3K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.4K €29.6K

$28.5K $28.5K

20.89%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$285 €245

$184 $184

54.51%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.13 €19.03

$47.48 $47.48

-53.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.5 €47.67

$67.9 $67.9

-18.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.05 €30.99

$76.2 $76.2

-52.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.90 €25.71

$22.31 $22.31

34.02%

Cinema Ticket

$16.36 €14.06

$15.08 $15.08

8.49%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,732 €1,489

$1,458 $1,458

18.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.7K €34.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$108 €93.3

$64.8 $64.8

67.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.07 €37.89

$32.94 $32.94

33.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 €95.4

$121 $121

-8.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$151 €130

$137 $137

10.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,458 €1,253

$1,940 $1,940

-24.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 €1,034

$1,383 $1,383

-13.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,533 €2,178

$2,697 $2,697

-6.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,084 €1,792

$2,175 $2,175

-4.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,250 €4,513

$2,863 $2,863

83.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,181 €3,594

$2,686 $2,686

55.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,402 €2,925

$6,058 $6,058

-43.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.66

6.13

-40.29%

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

Last update for Brussels: August 30, 2026

Last update for Cary, NC: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,458 in Brussels and $1,940 in Cary, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cary, NC pays 78% 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: $94.0 in Brussels vs $99.0 in Cary, NC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $413 vs $484 per month, with Brussels 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

Brussels vs Cary, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brussels wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Cary, NC. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Brussels the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 78% lower in Cary, NC. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,458 in Brussels versus $1,940 in Cary, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Cary, NC. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Brussels – a meal for two runs $94.0 versus $99.0 in Cary, NC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Brussels is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, Brussels and Cary, NC are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Brussels gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Cary, NC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.