Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Canada and in Belgium actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,305 in Canada versus $2,224 in Belgium.
Canada $2,305
Belgium $2,224
Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,339 in Canada versus $3,262 in Belgium.
Canada $3,339
Belgium $3,262
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,374 in Canada versus $4,301 in Belgium.
Canada $4,374
Belgium $4,301
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Canada: monthly costs span $889 to $3,671, compared to $1,782–$2,552 in Belgium. City choice carries more weight in Canada.
🌍
Living in Canada is roughly 4% more expensive than in Belgium on average.
📊
Both countries sit above the global median: Canada 72% above, Belgium 66% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Canada
Belgium
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.69CA$25.22
$22.21€19.82
-20.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.6CA$101
$89.8€80.2
-21.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.71CA$15.27
$13.29€11.86
-19.41%
Cappuccino
$3.72CA$5.30
$4.13€3.69
-9.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07CA$2.95
$3.44€3.07
-39.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66CA$2.36
$2.87€2.56
-42.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.69CA$8.11
$5.70€5.08
-0.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.76CA$8.20
$5.36€4.78
7.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canada
Belgium
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.13CA$3.04
$1.26€1.13
69.05%
White Bread(500g)
$2.68CA$3.82
$2.51€2.24
6.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.60CA$5.13
$2.41€2.15
49.38%
Eggs
$3.51CA$5.00
$4.06€3.62
-13.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.72CA$15.29
$15.86€14.15
-32.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.91CA$16.98
$12.18€10.87
-2.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.29CA$21.80
$20.71€18.48
-26.17%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98CA$5.68
$2.72€2.43
46.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36CA$1.94
$2.35€2.10
-42.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.84CA$5.47
$2.64€2.36
45.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.06CA$5.78
$3.26€2.91
24.54%
Potato(1kg)
$2.56CA$3.65
$2.24€2.00
14.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.42CA$3.45
$1.81€1.62
33.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.57CA$3.66
$1.54€1.38
66.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69CA$2.41
$1.11€0.99
52.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.94CA$19.86
$13.01€11.61
7.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.26CA$18.90
$8.81€7.86
50.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86CA$4.07
$1.88€1.68
52.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26CA$4.64
$2.39€2.13
36.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
Belgium
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.41CA$3.44
$3.21€2.86
-24.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$71.8CA$102
$55.5€49.52
29.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.05CA$4.35
$5.51€4.92
-44.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.44CA$2.05
$2.73€2.44
-47.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.68CA$38.02
$45.73€40.81
-41.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17CA$1.67
$2.03€1.81
-42.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCA$39.5K
$35.7K€31.9K
-22.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4KCA$27.7K
$33.6K€29.9K
-42.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
Belgium
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$147CA$210
$237€211
-37.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.33CA$58.9
$22.53€20.11
83.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.9CA$82.5
$53.8€48.02
7.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canada
Belgium
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.41CA$57.6
$35.38€31.57
14.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.23CA$27.40
$20.79€18.56
-7.50%
Cinema Ticket
$11.07CA$15.78
$14.96€13.35
-26.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
Belgium
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$757CA$1,079
$1,034€923
-26.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.3KCA$20.3K
$29.3K€26.2K
-51.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canada
Belgium
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2CA$77.3
$106€94.2
-48.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79CA$56.7
$47.51€42.40
-16.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.6CA$125
$109€97.3
-19.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101CA$144
$145€129
-30.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
Belgium
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,278CA$1,822
$973€868
31.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,107CA$1,578
$850€759
30.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,035CA$2,901
$1,506€1,344
35.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,741CA$2,481
$1,263€1,127
37.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,611CA$6,572
$4,520€4,033
2.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,822CA$5,448
$3,184€2,841
20.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canada
Belgium
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,975CA$4,240
$3,036€2,709
-2.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.87
3.64
33.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Canada: October 5, 2026
Last update for Belgium: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Canada
$1.1K 48.6%
Belgium
$850 39% ↓ 23.2%$257
🛒Groceries & Markets
Canada
$368 16.2%
Belgium
$350 16.1% ↓ 4.8%$18
🍽Eating Out
Canada
$273 12%
Belgium
$332 15.2% ↑ 21.4%$58
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
$246 10.8%
Belgium
$313 14.4% ↑ 27%$67
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Canada
$127 5.6%
Belgium
$183 8.4% ↑ 44%$56
🚌Getting Around
Canada
$92 4%
Belgium
$87 4% ↓ 4.6%$4.2
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Canada
$63 2.8%
Belgium
$65 3% ↑ 4.4%$2.7
🏠Accommodation & Living
Canada
$1.7K 39.7%
Belgium
$1.3K 29.5% ↓ 27.4%$478
🛒Groceries & Markets
Canada
$840 19.2%
Belgium
$825 19.3% ↓ 1.9%$16
🍽Eating Out
Canada
$905 20.6%
Belgium
$1.1K 26.1% ↑ 23.7%$214
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
$288 6.6%
Belgium
$335 7.8% ↑ 16.6%$48
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Canada
$283 6.4%
Belgium
$407 9.5% ↑ 44%$124
🚌Getting Around
Canada
$188 4.3%
Belgium
$181 4.2% ↓ 3.6%$6.8
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Canada
$144 3.3%
Belgium
$151 3.5% ↑ 4.9%$7
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $1,193 in Canada, $942 in Belgium. Capital cities: $1,490 in Ottawa vs $1,318 in Brussels.
💰National salary averages: $2,896 in Canada, $2,946 in Belgium. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 27% higher in Canada.
⭐Dining out costs 46% more in Belgium.
⭐Public transport is 32% more expensive in Canada.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Canada vs Belgium: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cost of living in Belgium compare to the cost in Canada?
At $2,224 per month in Belgium and $2,305 in Canada, there's a 4% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Is rent more expensive in Belgium or in Canada?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,193 in Canada and $942 in Belgium. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Can you live in both Belgium and Canada on $2,000 per month?
In Belgium, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in Canada it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Which country is better for expats: Belgium or Canada?
It depends on what you're after: Belgium wins on affordability; Canada may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.