🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,908 in Roeselare versus $2,226 in Leuven.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,871 in Roeselare versus $3,347 in Leuven.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,833 in Roeselare versus $4,468 in Leuven.
🙂Living in Roeselare costs roughly 14% less than in Leuven, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Roeselare43% above, Leuven66% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Roeselare
Leuven
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.95€16.18
$17.28€14.76
9.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.4€69.5
$94.4€80.6
-13.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.66€9.96
$11.68€9.98
-0.17%
Cappuccino
$4.03€3.44
$4.30€3.67
-6.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17€1.85
$3.59€3.06
-39.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.22
$3.48€2.97
-58.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.42€4.63
$4.89€4.18
10.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99€3.40
$3.63€3.10
9.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Roeselare
Leuven
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.76€0.65
$1.37€1.17
-44.53%
White Bread(500g)
$2.78€2.37
$2.17€1.86
28.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.74€2.34
$2.94€2.51
-6.80%
Eggs
$1.57€1.34
$3.54€3.03
-55.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.72€15.13
$11.96€10.21
48.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.40€7.17
$13.02€11.12
-35.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.28€19.02
$17.52€14.96
27.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.57€2.19
$2.76€2.35
-6.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36€1.17
$2.30€1.96
-40.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.66€1.42
$2.04€1.74
-18.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.48€2.12
$2.63€2.25
-5.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47€1.26
$2.13€1.82
-30.99%
Onion(1kg)
$2.33€1.99
$1.70€1.45
37.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.42€1.21
$1.57€1.34
-9.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46€0.40
$1.21€1.03
-61.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.97€11.08
$12.86€10.99
0.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61€6.50
$7.73€6.60
-1.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.49
$2.35€2.00
-25.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03€1.73
$2.18€1.86
-6.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Roeselare
Leuven
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.94€2.51
$2.83€2.41
3.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.2€47.96
$37.24€31.81
50.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.71€4.88
$6.44€5.50
-11.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.02€1.73
$2.58€2.21
-21.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$46.03€39.31
$34.34€29.33
34.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90€1.62
$1.92€1.64
-1.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$30.1K€25.7K
17.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.3K
$27.9K€23.8K
18.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roeselare
Leuven
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$172€147
$182€156
-5.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.78€21.16
$21.74€18.56
13.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.8€44.25
$47.78€40.80
8.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Roeselare
Leuven
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.7€54.4
$46.28€39.52
37.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.91€22.13
$17.03€14.54
52.14%
Cinema Ticket
$13.46€11.49
$14.49€12.38
-7.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Roeselare
Leuven
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$638€545
$660€564
-3.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7K€11.7K
$13.6K€11.6K
0.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Roeselare
Leuven
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109€93.4
$103€87.6
6.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.94€42.64
$33.03€28.21
51.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117€99.9
$93.9€80.2
24.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$236€201
$134€114
75.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Roeselare
Leuven
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$816€697
$1,009€862
-19.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$690€589
$1,086€927
-36.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,223€1,045
$2,155€1,840
-43.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$998€852
$1,738€1,485
-42.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$5,641€4,818
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,766€3,216
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Roeselare
Leuven
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,971€2,537
$3,465€2,959
-14.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.5
3.83
-34.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Roeselare: April 28, 2026
Last update for Leuven: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $816 in Roeselare and $1,009 in Leuven. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Leuven pays 17% 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: $81.0 in Roeselare vs $94.0 in Leuven for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $303 vs $326 per month, with Roeselare 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
Roeselare vs Leuven: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Roeselare or Leuven?
Roeselare wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Leuven. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Roeselare the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Roeselare or Leuven?
On paper, Leuven earns 17% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Roeselare vs Leuven?
Rent for a central apartment: $816 in Roeselare versus $1,009 in Leuven. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Roeselare or Leuven?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Leuven. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Roeselare vs Leuven?
Dining out is cheaper in Roeselare – a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $94.0 in Leuven. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Roeselare or Leuven?
At $1,908 in Roeselare versus $2,226 in Leuven, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Roeselare but tight or insufficient in Leuven. The gap between the two cities makes Roeselare the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Roeselare or Leuven?
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 Roeselare compared to Leuven?
Safety-wise, Roeselare and Leuven 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 Roeselare gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Leuven. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.