😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,314 in Gent versus $2,141 in Dendermonde.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,605 in Gent versus $3,087 in Dendermonde.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,896 in Gent versus $4,033 in Dendermonde.
🌍Living in Gent is roughly 8% more expensive than in Dendermonde, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gent68% above, Dendermonde55% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gent
Dendermonde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.13€19.94
$22.23€19.16
4.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$115€99.0
$80.0€69.0
43.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.03€13.82
$11.54€9.95
38.91%
Cappuccino
$4.55€3.92
$4.58€3.95
-0.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60€3.10
$3.25€2.80
10.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05€2.63
$3.07€2.64
-0.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.92€5.10
$5.47€4.71
8.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.85€5.04
$4.76€4.11
22.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gent
Dendermonde
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.32€1.14
-3.03%
White Bread(500g)
$2.90€2.50
$2.91€2.51
-0.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$2.26€1.95
1.33%
Eggs
$4.21€3.63
$3.97€3.42
6.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.94€16.32
$12.07€10.41
56.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.79€11.03
$13.24€11.41
-3.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.07€17.30
$19.64€16.93
2.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.94€2.54
$2.91€2.50
1.03%
Banana(1kg)
$2.48€2.14
$2.27€1.96
9.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.65€2.29
$2.25€1.94
17.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.95€2.54
$2.30€1.98
28.26%
Potato(1kg)
$2.25€1.94
$2.30€1.98
-2.17%
Onion(1kg)
$2.02€1.74
$1.72€1.48
17.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38€1.19
$1.60€1.38
-13.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13€0.97
$0.99€0.86
14.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.36€11.52
$14.16€12.20
-5.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.08€7.83
$7.68€6.62
18.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01€1.73
$2.14€1.85
-6.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.11
$1.88€1.62
30.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Gent
Dendermonde
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.58€3.08
$3.25€2.80
10.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.8€53.3
$57.5€49.57
7.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$11.48€9.89
$10.54€9.08
8.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.00€2.58
$2.63€2.27
14.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$53.3€45.91
$25.94€22.36
105.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.80
$2.00€1.72
4.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K€31.9K
$37.2K€32.0K
-0.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3K€30.5K
$34.4K€29.7K
2.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gent
Dendermonde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$231€199
$216€186
7.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.04€19.00
$18.90€16.29
16.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.33€42.52
$55.8€48.07
-11.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gent
Dendermonde
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.65€31.59
$37.33€32.18
-1.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.53€11.67
$20.43€17.61
-33.77%
Cinema Ticket
$16.31€14.06
$14.82€12.78
10.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gent
Dendermonde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$581€501
$730€629
-20.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.6K€19.4K
$17.2K€14.8K
31.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gent
Dendermonde
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110€94.8
$101€86.7
9.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.1€43.16
$26.76€23.07
87.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113€97.0
$90.5€78.0
24.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145€125
$151€130
-3.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gent
Dendermonde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,230€1,060
$962€830
27.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$929€801
$852€735
9.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,856€1,600
$1,460€1,258
27.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,583€1,365
$1,211€1,044
30.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,455€4,702
$4,134€3,563
31.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,214€2,770
$3,025€2,607
6.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gent
Dendermonde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,723€3,210
$3,444€2,969
8.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.2
3.52
-9.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gent: September 7, 2026
Last update for Dendermonde: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,230 in Gent and $962 in Dendermonde. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gent pays 8% 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: $115 in Gent vs $80.0 in Dendermonde for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $367 vs $336 per month, with Dendermonde 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
Gent vs Dendermonde: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Gent and in Dendermonde?
Gent and Dendermonde differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($2,314 vs $2,141 including rent). Dendermonde is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Gent or Dendermonde?
Average pay runs 8% higher in Gent, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Gent and in Dendermonde?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,230 in Gent versus $962 in Dendermonde. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Gent and in Dendermonde?
A monthly transit pass in Dendermonde runs roughly 8% less than in Gent. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Gent and Dendermonde?
Childcare runs $581 in Gent versus $730 in Dendermonde. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,141 in Dendermonde versus $2,314 in Gent, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Dendermonde but tight or insufficient in Gent. The gap between the two cities makes Dendermonde the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Gent and Dendermonde?
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.
Is Gent or Dendermonde safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Gent and Dendermonde are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Gent or Dendermonde?
Expats usually find Dendermonde gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Gent. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.