😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,557 in Brussels versus $1,918 in Roeselare.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,830 in Brussels versus $2,902 in Roeselare.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,103 in Brussels versus $3,886 in Roeselare.
😐Living in Brussels is roughly 33% more expensive than Roeselare, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Brussels90% above, Roeselare43% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brussels
Roeselare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.55€24.60
$18.99€16.36
50.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.8€79.1
$81.3€70.0
12.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.02€12.94
$11.98€10.32
25.38%
Cappuccino
$4.63€3.99
$4.13€3.55
12.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05€2.63
$2.15€1.85
41.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04€2.62
$1.41€1.22
115.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.90€5.95
$5.60€4.83
23.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.94€5.12
$4.02€3.46
47.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brussels
Roeselare
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49€1.28
$0.72€0.62
106.94%
White Bread(500g)
$2.98€2.57
$2.87€2.47
3.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.77€2.38
$2.75€2.37
0.73%
Eggs
$4.82€4.15
$1.58€1.36
205.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.35€14.09
$18.01€15.52
-9.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.70€11.80
$8.06€6.95
69.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.11€16.47
$22.39€19.29
-14.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.94€2.54
$2.60€2.24
13.08%
Banana(1kg)
$2.48€2.14
$1.31€1.13
89.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.77€2.39
$1.68€1.45
64.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.17€2.73
$2.57€2.21
23.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.67€2.30
$1.53€1.32
74.51%
Onion(1kg)
$2.44€2.10
$2.33€2.00
4.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.66€1.43
$1.46€1.26
13.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17€1.01
$0.46€0.40
154.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.27€10.57
$12.64€10.89
-2.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.60€8.27
$7.31€6.29
31.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.59€2.23
$1.76€1.52
47.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33€2.87
$1.93€1.67
72.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Brussels
Roeselare
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.87€2.47
$2.95€2.55
-2.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$60.1€51.8
$57.4€49.43
4.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.70€6.63
$5.84€5.03
31.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.38€2.05
$2.05€1.76
16.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.36€29.60
$46.44€40.01
-26.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88€1.62
$1.83€1.58
2.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K€30.0K
$36.4K€31.3K
-4.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3K€31.3K
$33.3K€28.7K
8.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brussels
Roeselare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$258€223
$175€151
47.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.45€18.48
$25.10€21.63
-14.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.1€49.17
$51.9€44.70
9.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brussels
Roeselare
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.88€34.36
$63.3€54.5
-36.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.82€27.42
$26.24€22.61
21.27%
Cinema Ticket
$15.16€13.06
$13.48€11.62
12.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brussels
Roeselare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,105€952
$654€564
68.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.0K€19.0K
$13.4K€11.5K
64.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brussels
Roeselare
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107€92.2
$109€94.0
-1.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.11€42.31
$48.78€42.03
0.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117€101
$114€98.5
2.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153€132
$233€201
-34.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brussels
Roeselare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,283€1,106
$823€709
56.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,061€914
$691€595
53.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,333€2,010
$1,223€1,053
90.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,771€1,526
$992€855
78.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,017€4,323
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,931€3,387
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brussels
Roeselare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,345€2,882
$2,860€2,464
16.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.65
2.5
46.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brussels: June 8, 2026
Last update for Roeselare: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,283 in Brussels and $823 in Roeselare. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brussels pays 17% 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: $92.0 in Brussels vs $81.0 in Roeselare for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $303 per month, with Roeselare 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 Roeselare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Brussels or Roeselare?
Roeselare wins on cost – living expenses run 33% lower than in Brussels. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Roeselare the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Brussels or Roeselare?
Brussels pays 17% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Brussels vs Roeselare?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,283 in Brussels versus $823 in Roeselare. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Brussels or Roeselare?
Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Brussels. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Brussels vs Roeselare?
Dining out is cheaper in Roeselare – a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $92.0 in Brussels. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Brussels or Roeselare?
At $1,918 in Roeselare versus $2,557 in Brussels, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Roeselare but tight or insufficient in Brussels. The gap between the two cities makes Roeselare the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Brussels or Roeselare?
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.
How safe is Brussels compared to Roeselare?
Safety-wise, Brussels and Roeselare are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Roeselare gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Brussels. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.