😐A single person spends $2,246 per month in Gent vs $2,184 in Hamont-Achel, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,431 per month in Gent vs $3,196 in Hamont-Achel, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,617 per month in Gent vs $4,208 in Hamont-Achel, rent included.
😐Gent costs about 3% more than Hamont-Achel, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Gent and Hamont-Achel sit above the global median – Gent by 69%, Hamont-Achel by 64%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gent
Hamont-Achel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.47€20.33
$17.50€15.16
34.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$115€99.3
$93.7€81.1
22.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.03€12.15
$12.30€10.66
14.07%
Cappuccino
$4.27€3.70
$3.41€2.95
25.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54€3.07
$3.25€2.82
8.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35€2.90
$2.35€2.03
42.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.64€4.89
$4.52€3.91
24.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90€5.11
$3.69€3.20
59.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gent
Hamont-Achel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.08
$1.29€1.11
-3.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.77€2.40
$2.82€2.44
-1.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.33€2.02
$2.40€2.08
-2.92%
Eggs
$4.14€3.58
$3.90€3.37
6.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.71€15.34
$25.61€22.18
-30.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.98€10.37
$11.19€9.69
7.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.66€16.16
$21.37€18.50
-12.68%
Apples(1kg)
$3.16€2.73
$3.27€2.83
-3.36%
Banana(1kg)
$2.43€2.11
$2.41€2.09
0.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.65€2.30
$2.96€2.56
-10.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.05€2.65
$3.17€2.75
-3.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82€1.58
$2.96€2.56
-38.51%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05€1.77
$2.14€1.86
-4.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32€1.14
$1.81€1.57
-27.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96€0.83
$0.88€0.76
9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.85€11.13
$9.72€8.42
32.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.87€7.68
$9.42€8.16
-5.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92€1.66
$2.08€1.80
-7.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93€2.54
$3.15€2.73
-6.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Gent
Hamont-Achel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$2.93€2.54
-0.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.3€50.5
$56.4€48.86
3.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$11.09€9.60
$4.83€4.19
129.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.76€2.39
$2.34€2.02
17.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$52.7€45.62
$40.68€35.23
29.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.93€1.67
$1.85€1.61
4.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K€29.0K
$34.4K€29.8K
-2.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€33.3K
$29.1K€25.2K
32.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gent
Hamont-Achel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$233€201
$349€302
-33.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.81€19.75
$27.92€24.18
-18.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.6€43.78
$60.5€52.4
-16.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gent
Hamont-Achel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.27€29.67
$38.75€33.55
-11.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.47€11.67
$17.02€14.74
-20.86%
Cinema Ticket
$16.34€14.15
$15.34€13.29
6.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gent
Hamont-Achel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$582€504
$625€541
-6.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.3K€16.7K
$13.5K€11.7K
43.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gent
Hamont-Achel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113€97.7
$86.2€74.6
30.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7€45.63
$46.88€40.60
12.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€90.7
$112€96.9
-6.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$163€141
$172€149
-5.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gent
Hamont-Achel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,043€903
$911€789
14.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$905€783
$748€648
20.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,805€1,563
$1,341€1,161
34.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,415€1,226
$1,082€937
30.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,677€4,916
$4,045€3,503
40.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,115€2,698
$3,352€2,903
-7.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gent
Hamont-Achel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,555€3,079
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.74
3.65
2.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gent: July 26, 2026
Last update for Hamont-Achel: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,043 in Gent versus $911 in Hamont-Achel. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $115 in Gent versus $94.0 in Hamont-Achel. Groceries tell a different story – $351 in Gent vs $388 in Hamont-Achel – so Gent wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Hamont-Achel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hamont-Achel cheaper than Gent?
Yes – Gent is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,370 per month in Gent and $3,276 in Hamont-Achel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hamont-Achel, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Gent and in Hamont-Achel?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,246 in Gent and $2,184 in Hamont-Achel. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 3% less in Hamont-Achel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Gent or in Hamont-Achel?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Hamont-Achel, where all-in costs run around $2,184, than in Gent at $2,246. In Hamont-Achel it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gent it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Gent or Hamont-Achel more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Hamont-Achel – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Gent or Hamont-Achel?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Hamont-Achel. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gent makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.