🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,089 in Mortsel versus $2,243 in Antwerp.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,206 in Mortsel versus $3,403 in Antwerp.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,323 in Mortsel versus $4,562 in Antwerp.
🙂Living in Mortsel costs roughly 7% less than in Antwerp, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mortsel56% above, Antwerp67% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mortsel
Antwerp
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.75€19.41
$23.30€19.87
-2.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$114€97.5
$122€104
-6.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.48€10.64
$12.80€10.92
-2.50%
Cappuccino
$4.05€3.45
$4.16€3.55
-2.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42€2.92
$3.46€2.95
-1.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16€2.70
$3.16€2.70
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.62€4.80
$5.64€4.81
-0.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55€3.88
$4.69€4.00
-2.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mortsel
Antwerp
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35€1.16
$1.37€1.17
-1.46%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75€2.34
$2.89€2.46
-4.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.39€2.04
$2.73€2.33
-12.45%
Eggs
$4.29€3.66
$4.05€3.46
5.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.10€14.58
$17.56€14.98
-2.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.62€9.91
$11.66€9.95
-0.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.93€18.71
$22.17€18.91
-1.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.92€2.49
$3.00€2.56
-2.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.33€1.99
$2.45€2.09
-4.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29€1.96
$2.37€2.02
-3.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.00€2.56
$3.41€2.91
-12.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.64
$2.86€2.44
-32.87%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14€1.82
$2.45€2.09
-12.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31€1.12
$1.41€1.20
-7.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87€0.75
$0.86€0.74
1.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.62€10.77
$12.78€10.90
-1.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.21€7.85
$9.67€8.25
-4.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94€1.65
$1.71€1.46
13.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.00
$2.00€1.70
17.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Mortsel
Antwerp
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.53€2.16
$2.92€2.49
-13.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.3€48.91
$45.76€39.03
25.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.76€4.92
$5.88€5.01
-2.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.50€2.13
$2.45€2.09
2.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$46.16€39.38
$46.93€40.03
-1.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.83€1.56
$1.83€1.56
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K€28.5K
$35.8K€30.5K
-6.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€27.9K
$33.3K€28.4K
-1.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mortsel
Antwerp
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$227€193
$205€175
10.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.68€19.34
$24.89€21.23
-8.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.4€43.01
$50.6€43.14
-0.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mortsel
Antwerp
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.30€32.67
$44.28€37.77
-13.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12€14.60
$25.13€21.43
-31.87%
Cinema Ticket
$14.97€12.77
$15.01€12.80
-0.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mortsel
Antwerp
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$568€484
$636€543
-10.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3K€11.4K
$13.6K€11.6K
-2.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mortsel
Antwerp
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112€95.6
$110€93.6
2.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.99€41.79
$49.89€42.55
-1.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€89.2
$117€99.9
-10.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$163€139
$233€199
-29.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mortsel
Antwerp
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$908€774
$1,032€880
-12.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$754€643
$853€728
-11.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,361€1,161
$1,591€1,357
-14.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,106€943
$1,282€1,094
-13.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,543€3,022
$4,682€3,994
-24.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,535€2,163
$3,184€2,716
-20.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mortsel
Antwerp
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,477€2,113
$3,127€2,667
-20.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
3.27
7.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mortsel: April 20, 2026
Last update for Antwerp: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $908 in Mortsel and $1,032 in Antwerp. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Antwerp pays 26% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $114 in Mortsel vs $122 in Antwerp for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $354 vs $365 per month, with Mortsel 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
Mortsel vs Antwerp: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mortsel and Antwerp?
Mortsel and Antwerp differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($2,089 vs $2,243 including rent). Mortsel is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Antwerp earns 26% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mortsel and Antwerp?
Rent for a central apartment: $908 in Mortsel versus $1,032 in Antwerp. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mortsel and Antwerp?
A monthly transit pass in Mortsel runs roughly 25% less than in Antwerp. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mortsel and Antwerp?
Childcare runs $568 in Mortsel versus $636 in Antwerp. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $2,089 in Mortsel versus $2,243 in Antwerp, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Mortsel but tight or insufficient in Antwerp. The gap between the two cities makes Mortsel the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mortsel and Antwerp?
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.
Is Mortsel or Antwerp safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mortsel and Antwerp are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mortsel or Antwerp?
Expats usually find Mortsel gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Antwerp. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.