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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Cary, NC is 0.3% more expensive than Brussels without rent, and 13.4% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Cary, NC is 13.2% cheaper than Brussels without rent, and 17.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Cary, NC
Brussels
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.75 $17.75
$28.86 โ‚ฌ24.92
-38.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$93.8 โ‚ฌ80.9
6.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.66 $10.66
$14.91 โ‚ฌ12.87
-28.50%
Cappuccino
$4.97 $4.97
$4.84 โ‚ฌ4.18
2.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$3.06 โ‚ฌ2.65
-34.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$3.03 โ‚ฌ2.62
-37.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.06 $5.06
$7.07 โ‚ฌ6.11
-28.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.65 $6.65
$5.7 โ‚ฌ4.92
16.67%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Cary, NC
Brussels
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.54 โ‚ฌ1.33
-27.27%
White Bread (500g)
$5.68 $5.68
$2.93 โ‚ฌ2.53
93.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.35 $6.35
$2.93 โ‚ฌ2.53
116.72%
Eggs
$4.64 $4.64
$4.81 โ‚ฌ4.15
-3.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.29 $20.29
$16.31 โ‚ฌ14.09
24.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.33 $12.33
$13.92 โ‚ฌ12.02
-11.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.32 $17.32
$19.01 โ‚ฌ16.41
-8.89%
Apples (1kg)
$5.56 $5.56
$2.94 โ‚ฌ2.54
89.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.48 โ‚ฌ2.14
-29.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.24 $4.24
$2.72 โ‚ฌ2.35
55.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.72 $6.72
$3.26 โ‚ฌ2.82
106.13%
Potato (1kg)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.68 โ‚ฌ2.31
-5.22%
Onion (1kg)
$3.44 $3.44
$2.52 โ‚ฌ2.18
36.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.8 $2.8
$1.66 โ‚ฌ1.43
68.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.12 โ‚ฌ0.96
72.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.82 $9.82
$12.2 โ‚ฌ10.54
-19.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.95 $11.95
$9.49 โ‚ฌ8.19
25.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.59 โ‚ฌ2.23
-7.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.88 $4.88
$3.22 โ‚ฌ2.78
51.55%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Cary, NC
Brussels
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.83 $1.83
$2.91 โ‚ฌ2.51
-37.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.3 $60.3
$60.8 โ‚ฌ52.5
-0.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.41 $3.41
$7.43 โ‚ฌ6.41
-54.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$2.44 โ‚ฌ2.11
-34.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.98 $28.98
$34.53 โ‚ฌ29.81
-16.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.86 โ‚ฌ1.6
-53.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$34.5K โ‚ฌ29.8K
-14.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K $28.3K
$36.1K โ‚ฌ31.2K
-21.74%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cary, NC
Brussels
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 $172
$255 โ‚ฌ220
-32.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.95 $49.95
$21.51 โ‚ฌ18.57
132.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.7 $62.7
$55.5 โ‚ฌ47.88
13.04%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Cary, NC
Brussels
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.9 $76.9
$41.31 โ‚ฌ35.67
86.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$31.78 โ‚ฌ27.44
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.64 $13.64
$14.86 โ‚ฌ12.83
-8.21%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Cary, NC
Brussels
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,472 $1,472
$1,134 โ‚ฌ979
29.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.5K $23.5K
$22.7K โ‚ฌ19.6K
3.29%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Cary, NC
Brussels
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.59 $47.59
$107 โ‚ฌ92.1
-55.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.91 $31.91
$49.55 โ‚ฌ42.78
-35.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 $127
$115 โ‚ฌ99
10.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136 $136
$152 โ‚ฌ132
-10.58%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Cary, NC
Brussels
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,761 $1,761
$1,332 โ‚ฌ1,150
32.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,615 $1,615
$1,076 โ‚ฌ929
50.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,600 $2,600
$2,320 โ‚ฌ2,003
12.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,689 $2,689
$1,804 โ‚ฌ1,558
49.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 $2,871
$4,847 โ‚ฌ4,185
-40.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,659 $2,659
$3,782 โ‚ฌ3,265
-29.68%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Cary, NC
Brussels
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,908 $5,908
$3,582 โ‚ฌ3,093
64.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.31
3.65
72.88%

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

Last update for Cary, NC: October 27, 2025

Last update for Brussels: October 29, 2025

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