Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Geraardsbergen and Brussels

For one person, living is cheaper in Geraardsbergen: $2,077 a month against $2,584 in Brussels, rent and utilities included – about $6,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Geraardsbergen, Belgium
Brussels, Belgium
Geraardsbergen
🇧🇪 Belgium
$2,077
/mo nomad
Brussels
🇧🇪 Belgium
$2,584
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Geraardsbergen and in Brussels

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Geraardsbergen and in Brussels actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,077 in Geraardsbergen versus $2,584 in Brussels.

  • Geraardsbergen $2,077
  • Brussels $2,584

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,072 in Geraardsbergen versus $3,923 in Brussels.

  • Geraardsbergen $3,072
  • Brussels $3,923

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,068 in Geraardsbergen versus $5,262 in Brussels.

  • Geraardsbergen $4,068
  • Brussels $5,262

Living in Geraardsbergen costs roughly 20% less than in Brussels, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Geraardsbergen 53% above, Brussels 90% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Geraardsbergen
Brussels
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.67 €21.27
$22.51 €20.23
5.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.1 €64.8
$91.2 €81.9
-20.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.33 €7.48
$15.19 €13.65
-45.16%
Cappuccino
$4.20 €3.77
$4.55 €4.08
-7.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €2.02
$3.63 €3.27
-38.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €2.04
$3.02 €2.71
-24.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.08 €2.77
$5.69 €5.11
-45.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 €3.05
$5.55 €4.98
-38.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Geraardsbergen
Brussels
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 €1.21
$1.35 €1.21
-0.74%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 €2.44
$2.76 €2.48
-1.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.29 €2.06
$2.84 €2.55
-19.37%
Eggs
$4.01 €3.60
$5.19 €4.66
-22.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.49 €14.82
$17.84 €16.03
-7.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.87 €10.66
$13.04 €11.72
-8.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.03 €20.69
$21.85 €19.63
5.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.91 €2.62
$3.13 €2.81
-7.03%
Banana (1kg)
$2.39 €2.15
$2.42 €2.18
-1.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 €2.43
$2.81 €2.53
-3.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.42 €3.07
$4.03 €3.62
-15.14%
Potato (1kg)
$2.56 €2.30
$2.46 €2.21
4.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 €1.68
$2.18 €1.96
-14.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.54 €1.38
$1.86 €1.67
-17.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 €1.02
$1.22 €1.10
-6.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.00 €11.68
$13.60 €12.22
-4.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.64 €7.77
$9.57 €8.59
-9.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 €1.62
$2.70 €2.43
-33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 €1.86
$3.00 €2.70
-31.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Geraardsbergen
Brussels
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.15 €2.83
$2.76 €2.48
14.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.5 €48.10
$61.6 €55.4
-13.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.48 €4.93
$2.95 €2.65
85.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.75 €2.48
$2.24 €2.01
22.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$45.29 €40.70
$40.78 €36.64
11.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.14 €1.92
$2.06 €1.85
3.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K €31.3K
$34.8K €31.3K
-0.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K €27.2K
$35.7K €32.1K
-15.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Geraardsbergen
Brussels
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$136 €123
$280 €252
-51.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.92 €17.00
$21.20 €19.05
-10.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.57 €34.65
$52.0 €46.73
-25.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Geraardsbergen
Brussels
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.37 €34.48
$32.34 €29.06
18.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.25 €16.40
$27.74 €24.93
-34.21%
Cinema Ticket
$15.68 €14.09
$15.88 €14.27
-1.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Geraardsbergen
Brussels
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$788 €708
$1,596 €1,434
-50.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.6K €30.2K
$36.2K €32.5K
-7.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Geraardsbergen
Brussels
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113 €102
$101 €90.9
12.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.9 €47.49
$46.78 €42.04
12.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.9
$114 €102
-7.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$180 €162
$143 €129
25.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Geraardsbergen
Brussels
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$939 €844
$1,393 €1,252
-32.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$858 €771
$1,160 €1,042
-26.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,410 €1,267
$2,518 €2,263
-44.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,219 €1,095
$2,076 €1,865
-41.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,944
$4,877 €4,382
-10.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,076 €2,764
$3,718 €3,341
-17.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Geraardsbergen
Brussels
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,440 €2,192
$3,392 €3,048
-28.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.4
3.71
-8.36%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Geraardsbergen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Brussels: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Geraardsbergen
$858
Brussels
$1.2K 35.2% $302
Groceries & Markets
Geraardsbergen
$362
Brussels
$391 8.1% $29
Eating Out
Geraardsbergen
$305
Brussels
$346 13.6% $41
Clothing & Footwear
Geraardsbergen
$203
Brussels
$182 10.3% $21
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Geraardsbergen
$194
Brussels
$353 82.2% $159
Getting Around
Geraardsbergen
$85
Brussels
$87 1.7% $1.4
Sport & Entertainment
Geraardsbergen
$70
Brussels
$64 8.1% $5.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $939 in Geraardsbergen and $1,393 in Brussels. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brussels pays 39% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $72 in Geraardsbergen vs $91 in Brussels for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $362 vs $391 per month, with Geraardsbergen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇪 Geraardsbergen
🇧🇪 Brussels
🕒 Local time
18:58 6:58 PM
18:58 6:58 PM
Same time as Geraardsbergen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
33,204
188,137 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Geraardsbergen Brussels 34 km
From you
  • Geraardsbergen
  • Brussels

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
Geraardsbergen vs Brussels: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Geraardsbergen or Brussels?
Geraardsbergen wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Brussels. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Geraardsbergen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Geraardsbergen or in Brussels?
On paper, salaries run 28% lower in Geraardsbergen. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Geraardsbergen compared to Brussels?
Rent for a central apartment: $939 in Geraardsbergen versus $1,393 in Brussels. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Geraardsbergen or in Brussels?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Brussels. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Geraardsbergen and in Brussels?
Dining out is cheaper in Geraardsbergen – a meal for two runs $72 versus $91 in Brussels. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Geraardsbergen or in Brussels?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Geraardsbergen is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Geraardsbergen or Brussels?
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.
How safe is Geraardsbergen compared to Brussels?
Safety-wise, Geraardsbergen and Brussels are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Geraardsbergen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Brussels. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Geraardsbergen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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