Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamont-Achel and Brussels Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamont-Achel and Brussels

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,203 in Hamont-Achel versus $2,517 in Brussels.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,230 in Hamont-Achel versus $3,814 in Brussels.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,258 in Hamont-Achel versus $5,112 in Brussels.

Living in Hamont-Achel costs roughly 12% less than in Brussels, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hamont-Achel 65% above, Brussels 88% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamont-Achel
Brussels
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.20 €14.69
$28.73 €24.53
-40.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.0 €79.4
$90.9 €77.6
2.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.19 €10.41
$14.81 €12.64
-17.69%
Cappuccino
$3.39 €2.90
$4.75 €4.06
-28.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 €2.69
$3.16 €2.70
-0.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 €2.01
$3.02 €2.58
-22.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.61 €3.93
$7.11 €6.07
-35.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 €3.19
$5.72 €4.89
-34.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamont-Achel
Brussels
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 €1.10
$1.47 €1.26
-12.93%
White Bread (500g)
$2.82 €2.41
$3.01 €2.57
-6.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.37 €2.02
$2.80 €2.40
-15.36%
Eggs
$3.72 €3.18
$4.82 €4.11
-22.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$25.28 €21.59
$16.73 €14.29
51.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.18 €9.55
$13.67 €11.67
-18.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.05 €17.98
$18.85 €16.10
11.67%
Apples (1kg)
$3.22 €2.75
$3.05 €2.61
5.57%
Banana (1kg)
$2.45 €2.09
$2.46 €2.10
-0.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.01 €2.57
$2.68 €2.29
12.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.17 €2.71
$3.29 €2.81
-3.65%
Potato (1kg)
$2.92 €2.49
$2.65 €2.26
10.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 €1.91
$2.43 €2.07
-8.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.80 €1.54
$1.66 €1.42
8.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 €0.77
$1.12 €0.95
-19.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.69 €8.28
$12.60 €10.76
-23.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.54 €8.15
$9.12 €7.79
4.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 €1.81
$2.59 €2.21
-18.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 €2.65
$3.28 €2.80
-5.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamont-Achel
Brussels
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.81 €2.40
$2.96 €2.53
-5.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$57.6 €49.22
$59.3 €50.6
-2.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.93 €4.21
$7.42 €6.33
-33.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.44 €2.09
$2.42 €2.06
0.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.83 €34.87
$34.98 €29.87
16.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.94 €1.66
$1.86 €1.59
4.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K €29.4K
$34.4K €29.4K
-0.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7K €24.5K
$35.6K €30.4K
-19.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamont-Achel
Brussels
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$350 €299
$264 €225
32.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.17 €24.06
$21.23 €18.13
32.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.3 €52.3
$56.5 €48.26
8.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamont-Achel
Brussels
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.50 €32.88
$40.91 €34.94
-5.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.72 €14.28
$31.02 €26.49
-46.10%
Cinema Ticket
$15.85 €13.54
$14.78 €12.62
7.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamont-Achel
Brussels
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$624 €533
$1,110 €948
-43.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.6K €11.6K
$22.1K €18.8K
-38.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamont-Achel
Brussels
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.4 €73.0
$104 €89.1
-18.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.40 €41.34
$49.85 €42.57
-2.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 €94.4
$114 €97.3
-2.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 €147
$152 €130
12.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamont-Achel
Brussels
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$918 €784
$1,329 €1,135
-30.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$754 €644
$1,080 €922
-30.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,331 €1,136
$2,304 €1,967
-42.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,089 €930
$1,755 €1,499
-37.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,146 €2,687
$5,099 €4,355
-38.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,788 €2,381
$3,823 €3,265
-27.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamont-Achel
Brussels
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$3,553 €3,034
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.65
3.65
-

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

Last update for Hamont-Achel: April 28, 2026

Last update for Brussels: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $918 in Hamont-Achel and $1,329 in Brussels. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $93.0 in Hamont-Achel vs $91.0 in Brussels for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $386 vs $378 per month, with Brussels 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
Hamont-Achel vs Brussels: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hamont-Achel or Brussels?
Hamont-Achel wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Brussels. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hamont-Achel the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Hamont-Achel vs Brussels?
You'd need roughly $3,304 in Hamont-Achel and $3,775 in Brussels to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Hamont-Achel vs Brussels?
Rent for a central apartment: $918 in Hamont-Achel versus $1,329 in Brussels. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Hamont-Achel or Brussels?
Shoppers in Brussels pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Hamont-Achel vs Brussels?
Dining out is cheaper in Hamont-Achel – a meal for two runs $93.0 versus $91.0 in Brussels. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Hamont-Achel or Brussels?
At $2,203 in Hamont-Achel versus $2,517 in Brussels, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Hamont-Achel but tight or insufficient in Brussels. The gap between the two cities makes Hamont-Achel the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Hamont-Achel 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 Hamont-Achel compared to Brussels?
Safety-wise, Hamont-Achel 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 Hamont-Achel gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Brussels. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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