😐A single person spends $2,291 per month in Gent vs $2,081 in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,458 per month in Gent vs $3,143 in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,624 per month in Gent vs $4,204 in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, rent included.
😐Gent costs about 10% more than Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Gent and Sint-Pieters-Leeuw sit above the global median – Gent by 71%, Sint-Pieters-Leeuw by 55%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gent
Sint-Pieters-Leeuw
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.09€19.76
$22.91€19.61
0.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$114€97.8
$94.1€80.6
21.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.92€11.92
$13.73€11.75
1.38%
Cappuccino
$4.18€3.58
$4.15€3.55
0.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43€2.94
$3.07€2.62
11.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37€2.88
$2.98€2.55
13.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.87€5.03
$5.91€5.06
-0.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77€4.94
$5.89€5.04
-2.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gent
Sint-Pieters-Leeuw
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26€1.08
$1.31€1.12
-3.82%
White Bread(500g)
$2.65€2.27
$2.67€2.29
-0.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.35€2.01
$2.30€1.97
2.17%
Eggs
$4.16€3.56
$4.10€3.51
1.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.21€14.73
$16.38€14.02
5.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.77€10.08
$11.97€10.24
-1.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.50€15.83
$18.43€15.78
0.38%
Apples(1kg)
$3.14€2.69
$3.00€2.57
4.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.43€2.08
$2.37€2.03
2.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.63€2.25
$2.71€2.32
-2.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.04€2.60
$3.15€2.70
-3.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.93€1.65
$1.88€1.61
2.66%
Onion(1kg)
$2.15€1.84
$2.15€1.84
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37€1.17
$1.31€1.12
4.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.76
$0.97€0.83
-8.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.75€10.91
$12.31€10.53
3.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.58€8.20
$9.44€8.08
1.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94€1.66
$2.02€1.73
-3.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$3.06€2.62
-5.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Gent
Sint-Pieters-Leeuw
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88€2.46
$2.85€2.44
1.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.0€49.65
$56.5€48.34
2.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.88€9.31
$7.30€6.24
49.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.76€2.36
$2.44€2.09
13.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$54.3€46.44
$34.87€29.85
55.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94€1.66
$1.91€1.63
1.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9K€28.2K
$33.1K€28.4K
-0.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.9K€32.5K
$36.3K€31.1K
4.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gent
Sint-Pieters-Leeuw
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$233€199
$232€199
0.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.48€20.10
$21.33€18.26
10.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.1€42.90
$50.7€43.36
-1.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gent
Sint-Pieters-Leeuw
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.04€30.00
$38.23€32.72
-8.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.69€11.72
$16.94€14.50
-19.19%
Cinema Ticket
$16.16€13.83
$14.89€12.75
8.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gent
Sint-Pieters-Leeuw
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$585€501
$569€487
2.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.3K€16.5K
$13.6K€11.7K
41.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gent
Sint-Pieters-Leeuw
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113€96.9
$107€91.7
5.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.2€45.56
$49.84€42.66
6.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.2
$108€92.4
-3.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161€138
$152€130
5.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gent
Sint-Pieters-Leeuw
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,041€891
$906€776
14.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$924€791
$744€637
24.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,772€1,517
$1,329€1,137
33.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,395€1,194
$1,079€924
29.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,459€4,673
$3,615€3,095
51.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,195€2,735
$2,524€2,160
26.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gent
Sint-Pieters-Leeuw
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,338€2,857
$2,351€2,012
41.98%
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for Sint-Pieters-Leeuw: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,041 in Gent versus $906 in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 42% higher in Gent, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $114 in Gent versus $94.0 in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $348 vs $347 – making Sint-Pieters-Leeuw the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Sint-Pieters-Leeuw: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sint-Pieters-Leeuw cheaper than Gent?
Yes – Gent is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $3,436 per month in Gent and $3,122 in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw. 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 Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, 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 vs Sint-Pieters-Leeuw?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,291 in Gent and $2,081 in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw. 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 Sint-Pieters-Leeuw. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Gent or Sint-Pieters-Leeuw?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, where all-in costs run around $2,081, than in Gent at $2,291. In Sint-Pieters-Leeuw it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gent it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Gent or Sint-Pieters-Leeuw more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sint-Pieters-Leeuw – 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 Sint-Pieters-Leeuw?
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 Sint-Pieters-Leeuw. 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.