Cost of Living Comparison Between Herentals and Brussels Cost of Living Comparison Between Herentals and Brussels

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,343 in Herentals versus $2,647 in Brussels.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,386 in Herentals versus $3,973 in Brussels.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Herentals versus $5,299 in Brussels.

Living in Herentals costs roughly 11% less than in Brussels, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Herentals 70% above, Brussels 92% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Herentals
Brussels
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.85 €16.25
$23.12 €19.94
-18.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.5 €80.6
$91.4 €78.8
2.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.50 €10.78
$14.72 €12.69
-15.08%
Cappuccino
$3.73 €3.22
$4.65 €4.01
-19.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 €3.21
$3.72 €3.21
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 €2.36
$3.44 €2.97
-20.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.92 €5.10
$5.87 €5.07
0.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69 €4.04
$5.71 €4.93
-17.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Herentals
Brussels
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 €1.10
$1.49 €1.29
-14.09%
White Bread (500g)
$2.81 €2.42
$2.95 €2.55
-4.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.90 €3.36
$2.88 €2.49
35.42%
Eggs
$3.90 €3.36
$5.25 €4.53
-25.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.94 €21.50
$18.02 €15.54
38.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.09 €10.43
$13.43 €11.58
-9.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.64 €13.49
$22.67 €19.54
-31.01%
Apples (1kg)
$3.25 €2.81
$3.41 €2.94
-4.69%
Banana (1kg)
$2.48 €2.13
$2.58 €2.23
-3.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.99 €3.44
$2.98 €2.57
33.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.13 €2.70
$4.14 €3.57
-24.40%
Potato (1kg)
$2.69 €2.32
$2.69 €2.32
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.15 €1.85
$2.36 €2.03
-8.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.80 €1.55
$1.88 €1.62
-4.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 €0.99
$1.25 €1.08
-8.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.34 €8.92
$14.21 €12.25
-27.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.10 €6.12
$10.25 €8.84
-30.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 €2.27
$2.82 €2.43
-6.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 €2.76
$3.13 €2.70
2.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Herentals
Brussels
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.28 €2.82
$2.99 €2.58
9.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.3 €48.53
$63.8 €55.0
-11.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 €4.62
$3.08 €2.66
74.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.67 €2.30
$2.45 €2.11
8.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.11 €14.76
$41.93 €36.16
-59.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 €1.56
$2.16 €1.86
-16.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2K €31.2K
$36.2K €31.2K
0.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K €29.8K
$34.9K €30.1K
-0.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Herentals
Brussels
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$351 €302
$291 €251
20.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.22 €22.61
$22.00 €18.97
19.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.2 €52.8
$56.2 €48.46
8.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Herentals
Brussels
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.81 €32.61
$35.86 €30.92
5.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.93 €18.05
$29.05 €25.05
-27.95%
Cinema Ticket
$14.86 €12.82
$16.59 €14.30
-10.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Herentals
Brussels
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$871 €751
$1,710 €1,474
-49.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.4K €19.3K
$37.9K €32.7K
-40.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Herentals
Brussels
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.6 €72.1
$106 €91.8
-21.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.4 €44.34
$47.27 €40.76
8.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €91.0
$112 €96.6
-5.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170 €146
$150 €129
13.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Herentals
Brussels
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 €821
$1,403 €1,210
-32.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$855 €737
$1,240 €1,069
-31.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,456 €1,256
$2,521 €2,174
-42.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,178 €1,015
$2,126 €1,834
-44.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,241 €3,657
$5,246 €4,523
-19.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,033 €2,615
$3,946 €3,403
-23.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Herentals
Brussels
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$3,418 €2,948
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.65
3.68
-0.82%

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

Last update for Herentals: September 7, 2026

Last update for Brussels: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $952 in Herentals and $1,403 in Brussels. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $94.0 in Herentals vs $91.0 in Brussels. Groceries flip the comparison at $384 vs $408, with Herentals cheaper for home cooking.

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
Herentals vs Brussels: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Herentals or Brussels?
Herentals wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Brussels. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Herentals the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Herentals and in Brussels?
You'd need roughly $3,515 in Herentals and $3,970 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 Herentals compared to Brussels?
Rent for a central apartment: $952 in Herentals versus $1,403 in Brussels. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Herentals or in Brussels?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Brussels. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Herentals and in Brussels?
Dining out is cheaper in Herentals – a meal for two runs $94.0 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 Herentals or in Brussels?
At $2,343 in Herentals versus $2,647 in Brussels, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Herentals but tight or insufficient in Brussels. The gap between the two cities makes Herentals the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Herentals 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 Herentals compared to Brussels?
Safety-wise, Herentals 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 Herentals gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Brussels. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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