Cost of Living Comparison Between Mechelen and Paterson, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Mechelen and Paterson, NJ

😐 Solo nomad: Mechelen is 9.6% more expensive than Paterson, NJ without rent, and 22% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Mechelen is 5% more expensive than Paterson, NJ without rent, and 31.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.26 €20.08

$16.74 $16.74

38.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$114 €98.7

$102 $102

12.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.79 €11.04

$11.82 $11.82

8.21%

Cappuccino

$4.06 €3.51

$6.02 $6.02

-32.56%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 €2.87

$2.3 $2.3

44.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 €2.71

$1.56 $1.56

101.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.72 €4.94

$7.06 $7.06

-18.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.58 €3.96

$6.98 $6.98

-34.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 €1.13

$1.32 $1.32

-0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 €2.31

$4.35 $4.35

-38.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.35 €2.03

$5.67 $5.67

-58.55%

Eggs

$3.98 €3.44

$6.44 $6.44

-38.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.5 €15.11

$15.26 $15.26

14.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.94 €10.31

$10.32 $10.32

15.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.02 €16.42

$19.75 $19.75

-3.70%

Apples (1kg)

$3 €2.59

$7.62 $7.62

-60.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 €2.04

$2.44 $2.44

-2.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 €1.96

$4.29 $4.29

-46.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.02 €2.61

$4.12 $4.12

-26.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 €1.65

$3.01 $3.01

-36.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 €1.86

$2.62 $2.62

-17.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 €1.15

$2.74 $2.74

-51.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 €0.7

$2.56 $2.56

-68.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.69 €10.95

$17.48 $17.48

-27.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.22 €7.96

$17.75 $17.75

-48.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 €1.58

$1.85 $1.85

-1.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 €2.04

$4.51 $4.51

-47.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.16 €2.73

$1.98 $1.98

59.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.9 €48.29

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.9 €5.1

$4.95 $4.95

19.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 €2.13

$2.18 $2.18

12.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$45.87 €39.6

$42.67 $42.67

7.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.84 €1.59

$0.93 $0.93

97.85%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.7K €29.1K

$24K $24K

40.81%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.1K €28.6K

$25.9K $25.9K

27.49%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$207 €179

$183 $183

13.26%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$24.98 €21.57

$53.6 $53.6

-53.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.5 €43.63

$62.1 $62.1

-18.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.39 €27.1

$42.53 $42.53

-26.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.71 €11.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.09 €13.03

$20.31 $20.31

-25.70%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$582 €502

$1,726 $1,726

-66.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K €11.6K

$15.8K $15.8K

-15.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$111 €95.4

$67.4 $67.4

64.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.1 €44.11

$48.04 $48.04

6.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 €91.6

$107 $107

-0.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$160 €139

$173 $173

-7.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$893 €771

$2,721 $2,721

-67.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$746 €644

$1,346 $1,346

-44.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,373 €1,185

$2,678 $2,678

-48.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,119 €966

$3,111 $3,111

-64.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,463 €2,990

$2,398 $2,398

44.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,925 €2,526

$2,092 $2,092

39.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,397 €2,070

$3,264 $3,264

-26.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.27

6.44

-49.22%

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

Last update for Mechelen: October 28, 2025

Last update for Paterson, NJ: October 27, 2025

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