😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,201 in Mortsel versus $2,193 in Antwerp.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,321 in Mortsel versus $3,408 in Antwerp.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,441 in Mortsel versus $4,623 in Antwerp.
🌍Monthly costs are close between Mortsel and Antwerp; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mortsel60% above, Antwerp59% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mortsel
Antwerp
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.95€19.78
$23.56€20.31
-2.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$111€95.8
$109€94.4
1.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.07€12.13
$14.11€12.16
-0.28%
Cappuccino
$4.50€3.87
$4.44€3.83
1.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53€3.04
$3.66€3.15
-3.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.61
$3.63€3.13
-16.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.85€5.04
$5.55€4.78
5.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.68€4.90
$6.24€5.38
-8.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mortsel
Antwerp
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36€1.17
$1.42€1.23
-4.23%
White Bread(500g)
$2.77€2.39
$2.78€2.39
-0.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23€1.92
$2.24€1.93
-0.45%
Eggs
$4.32€3.73
$3.84€3.31
12.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.90€15.43
$18.00€15.52
-0.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.60€10.86
$12.17€10.49
3.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.60€21.20
$23.94€20.64
2.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.80€2.42
$3.11€2.68
-9.97%
Banana(1kg)
$2.41€2.07
$2.45€2.11
-1.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.59€2.23
$2.81€2.42
-7.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.97€2.56
$3.40€2.93
-12.65%
Potato(1kg)
$2.20€1.89
$2.57€2.22
-14.40%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.75
$2.02€1.74
0.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.42€1.23
$1.60€1.38
-11.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11€0.95
$1.06€0.91
4.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.61€11.74
$13.45€11.59
1.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.97€7.73
$9.46€8.15
-5.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07€1.78
$1.77€1.52
16.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30€1.99
$2.13€1.84
7.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Mortsel
Antwerp
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.26€2.81
$3.59€3.09
-9.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.2€48.48
$58.1€50.1
-3.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.84€5.04
$5.65€4.87
3.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.71€2.34
$2.74€2.36
-1.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$37.59€32.40
$46.36€39.96
-18.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12€1.83
$2.11€1.82
0.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2K€31.2K
$36.4K€31.4K
-0.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K€29.7K
$35.0K€30.2K
-1.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mortsel
Antwerp
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$233€201
$215€185
8.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.93€18.90
$22.67€19.54
-3.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.96€43.07
$50.1€43.21
-0.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mortsel
Antwerp
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.90€31.81
$38.45€33.14
-4.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.84
$27.42€23.63
-24.51%
Cinema Ticket
$15.83€13.65
$15.90€13.70
-0.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mortsel
Antwerp
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$573€494
$1,652€1,424
-65.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$21.9K€18.8K
$35.2K€30.3K
-37.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mortsel
Antwerp
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$114€98.5
$117€101
-2.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.01€42.25
$53.6€46.22
-8.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107€92.3
$106€91.5
0.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148€127
$175€150
-15.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mortsel
Antwerp
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$954€823
$1,092€941
-12.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$849€732
$871€751
-2.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,448€1,249
$1,725€1,487
-16.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,175€1,013
$1,422€1,225
-17.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,176€3,600
$4,549€3,922
-8.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,073€2,649
$3,234€2,787
-4.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mortsel
Antwerp
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,395€2,064
$3,147€2,713
-23.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.46
3.46
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mortsel: September 6, 2026
Last update for Antwerp: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $954 in Mortsel and $1,092 in Antwerp. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Antwerp pays 31% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $111 in Mortsel vs $109 in Antwerp. Groceries flip the comparison at $374 vs $374, with Mortsel 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
Mortsel vs Antwerp: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 31% lower in Antwerp. 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 in Antwerp?
Rent for a central apartment: $954 in Mortsel versus $1,092 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 in Antwerp?
A monthly transit pass in Antwerp runs roughly 3% less than in Mortsel. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Mortsel pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,193 in Antwerp versus $2,201 in Mortsel, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Antwerp but tight or insufficient in Mortsel. The gap between the two cities makes Antwerp 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.
How do I decide between Mortsel and Antwerp?
It comes down to priorities – Antwerp wins on affordability, Mortsel on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.