😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,517 in Brussels versus $2,166 in Sint-Truiden.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,814 in Brussels versus $3,161 in Sint-Truiden.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,112 in Brussels versus $4,156 in Sint-Truiden.
😐Living in Brussels is roughly 16% more expensive than Sint-Truiden, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Brussels88% above, Sint-Truiden62% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Brussels
Sint-Truiden
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.73€24.59
$23.47€20.09
22.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.9€77.8
$93.0€79.6
-2.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.81€12.67
$13.02€11.15
13.75%
Cappuccino
$4.75€4.06
$3.85€3.30
23.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16€2.71
$3.85€3.30
-17.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.58
$2.97€2.54
1.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.11€6.08
$5.08€4.35
39.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72€4.90
$6.36€5.44
-10.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brussels
Sint-Truiden
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47€1.26
$1.14€0.97
28.95%
White Bread(500g)
$3.01€2.58
$1.82€1.55
65.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.80€2.40
$2.98€2.55
-6.04%
Eggs
$4.82€4.12
$3.72€3.18
29.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.73€14.32
$13.85€11.86
20.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.67€11.70
$14.07€12.05
-2.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.85€16.14
$21.25€18.19
-11.29%
Apples(1kg)
$3.05€2.61
$3.11€2.67
-1.93%
Banana(1kg)
$2.46€2.10
$2.61€2.24
-5.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.68€2.29
$2.59€2.22
3.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.29€2.81
$4.03€3.45
-18.36%
Potato(1kg)
$2.65€2.27
$2.36€2.02
12.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.43€2.08
$1.61€1.38
50.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.66€1.42
$0.92€0.79
80.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12€0.96
$0.84€0.72
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.60€10.79
$10.21€8.74
23.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.12€7.81
$8.29€7.09
10.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.59€2.21
$1.79€1.53
44.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28€2.81
$2.26€1.93
45.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Brussels
Sint-Truiden
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.96€2.53
$2.90€2.49
2.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$59.3€50.8
$56.4€48.29
5.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.42€6.35
$5.66€4.85
31.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.42€2.07
$2.52€2.16
-3.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.98€29.94
$37.18€31.83
-5.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86€1.59
$1.84€1.58
1.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K€29.5K
$34.7K€29.7K
-0.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.6K€30.4K
$39.1K€33.5K
-9.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brussels
Sint-Truiden
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$264€226
$279€239
-5.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.23€18.17
$21.04€18.01
0.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.5€48.37
$86.6€74.2
-34.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brussels
Sint-Truiden
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.91€35.02
$40.16€34.37
1.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.02€26.56
$16.75€14.34
85.19%
Cinema Ticket
$14.78€12.65
$14.02€12.00
5.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brussels
Sint-Truiden
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,110€950
$510€437
117.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.1K€18.9K
$13.3K€11.4K
66.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brussels
Sint-Truiden
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.3
$71.9€61.6
45.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.85€42.67
$39.44€33.76
26.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114€97.5
$106€91.0
7.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152€130
$134€115
13.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brussels
Sint-Truiden
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,329€1,137
$841€720
57.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,080€924
$761€651
41.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,304€1,972
$1,177€1,008
95.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,755€1,503
$1,005€860
74.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,099€4,365
$3,572€3,057
42.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,823€3,272
$2,498€2,138
53.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brussels
Sint-Truiden
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,553€3,041
$2,122€1,816
67.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.65
2
82.50%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Brussels: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Sint-Truiden: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,329 in Brussels and $841 in Sint-Truiden. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brussels pays 67% 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: $91.0 in Brussels vs $93.0 in Sint-Truiden. Groceries flip the comparison at $378 vs $348, with Sint-Truiden cheaper for home cooking.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Brussels vs Sint-Truiden: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Brussels or Sint-Truiden?
Sint-Truiden wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Brussels. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sint-Truiden the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Brussels or Sint-Truiden?
Brussels pays 67% 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 Sint-Truiden?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,329 in Brussels versus $841 in Sint-Truiden. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Brussels or Sint-Truiden?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% 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 Sint-Truiden?
Dining out is cheaper in Sint-Truiden – a meal for two runs $93.0 versus $91.0 in Brussels. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Brussels or Sint-Truiden?
At $2,166 in Sint-Truiden versus $2,517 in Brussels, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sint-Truiden but tight or insufficient in Brussels. The gap between the two cities makes Sint-Truiden the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Brussels or Sint-Truiden?
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 Sint-Truiden?
Safety-wise, Brussels and Sint-Truiden 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 Sint-Truiden gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Brussels. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Brussels vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado