Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sint-Niklaas and Gent

For one person, living is cheaper in Sint-Niklaas: $2,078 a month against $2,229 in Gent, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
Gent, Belgium
Sint-Niklaas
🇧🇪 Belgium
$2,078
/mo nomad
Gent
🇧🇪 Belgium
$2,229
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sint-Niklaas and in Gent

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sint-Niklaas and in Gent actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,078 per month in Sint-Niklaas vs $2,229 in Gent, rent included.

  • Sint-Niklaas $2,078
  • Gent $2,229

A couple spends around $2,986 per month in Sint-Niklaas vs $3,454 in Gent, rent included.

  • Sint-Niklaas $2,986
  • Gent $3,454

A family of three spends $3,895 per month in Sint-Niklaas vs $4,679 in Gent, rent included.

  • Sint-Niklaas $3,895
  • Gent $4,679

Sint-Niklaas is about 7% cheaper than Gent, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Sint-Niklaas and Gent sit above the global median – Sint-Niklaas by 53%, Gent by 64%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sint-Niklaas
Gent
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.49 €20.14
$22.69 €20.32
-0.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.2 €70.9
$113 €101
-30.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.31 €11.92
$15.92 €14.26
-16.39%
Cappuccino
$4.33 €3.88
$4.22 €3.78
2.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 €2.61
$3.37 €3.02
-13.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 €2.52
$2.85 €2.55
-1.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.64 €5.05
$5.73 €5.13
-1.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 €3.98
$5.74 €5.14
-22.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sint-Niklaas
Gent
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 €1.23
$1.21 €1.09
13.22%
White Bread (500g)
$2.62 €2.35
$2.76 €2.48
-5.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.01 €1.80
$2.15 €1.92
-6.51%
Eggs
$3.93 €3.52
$4.03 €3.61
-2.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.72 €10.50
$18.70 €16.75
-37.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.74 €10.52
$12.60 €11.28
-6.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.35 €17.33
$19.54 €17.50
-0.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.79 €2.50
$2.68 €2.40
4.10%
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 €1.91
$2.36 €2.11
-9.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 €1.93
$2.59 €2.32
-16.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 €2.06
$2.94 €2.63
-21.77%
Potato (1kg)
$2.21 €1.98
$2.11 €1.89
4.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 €1.53
$1.93 €1.73
-11.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 €1.33
$1.35 €1.21
10.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 €0.85
$1.08 €0.97
-12.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.19 €11.81
$13.20 €11.82
-0.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.35 €6.58
$9.02 €8.08
-18.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 €1.69
$1.99 €1.78
-5.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 €1.65
$2.36 €2.11
-22.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Sint-Niklaas
Gent
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.77 €2.48
$3.37 €3.02
-17.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$59.5 €53.3
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.66 €5.07
$11.07 €9.92
-48.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.42 €2.17
$2.89 €2.59
-16.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.61 €22.94
$51.4 €46.01
-50.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.98 €1.78
$2.05 €1.84
-3.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K €32.3K
$35.5K €31.8K
1.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.8K €32.9K
$36.6K €32.8K
0.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sint-Niklaas
Gent
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$214 €192
$221 €198
-2.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.95 €19.66
$20.94 €18.75
4.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.42 €43.37
$45.87 €41.08
5.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sint-Niklaas
Gent
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.53 €31.82
$32.76 €29.34
8.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.19 €11.81
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.46 €12.95
$15.84 €14.18
-8.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sint-Niklaas
Gent
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$738 €661
$564 €505
31.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K €14.4K
$20.9K €18.8K
-23.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sint-Niklaas
Gent
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113 €101
$106 €94.7
7.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.7 €48.08
$46.81 €41.92
14.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €93.5
$108 €96.9
-3.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$169 €151
$149 €133
13.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sint-Niklaas
Gent
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$937 €839
$1,191 €1,066
-21.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$852 €763
$893 €800
-4.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,385 €1,241
$1,809 €1,620
-23.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,137 €1,018
$1,517 €1,359
-25.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,282 €2,940
$4,994 €4,472
-34.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,809 €2,516
$3,015 €2,700
-6.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sint-Niklaas
Gent
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,709 €4,218
$3,688 €3,303
27.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.52
3.2
10.00%

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

Last update for Sint-Niklaas: October 26, 2026

Last update for Gent: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sint-Niklaas
$852
Gent
$893 4.8% $41
Eating Out
Sint-Niklaas
$332
Gent
$345 4% $13
Groceries & Markets
Sint-Niklaas
$318
Gent
$356 12.1% $38
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sint-Niklaas
$285
Gent
$288 1% $3
Clothing & Footwear
Sint-Niklaas
$198
Gent
$184 7% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Sint-Niklaas
$64
Gent
$64 0% $0
Getting Around
Sint-Niklaas
$29 *
Gent
$98 241% $70

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $937 in Sint-Niklaas versus $1,191 in Gent. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 28% higher in Sint-Niklaas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79 in Sint-Niklaas versus $113 in Gent. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $318 vs $356 – making Sint-Niklaas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇪 Sint-Niklaas
🇧🇪 Gent
🕒 Local time
17:12 5:12 PM
17:12 5:12 PM
Same time as Sint-Niklaas
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
69,010
237,000
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sint-Niklaas Gent 31 km
From you
  • Sint-Niklaas
  • Gent

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Sint-Niklaas vs Gent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sint-Niklaas cheaper than Gent?
Yes – Gent is pricier by about 7%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,116 per month in Sint-Niklaas and $3,344 in Gent. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sint-Niklaas, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $937 there versus $1,191 in Gent.
What are total monthly expenses in Sint-Niklaas and in Gent?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,078 in Sint-Niklaas and $2,229 in Gent. That makes Sint-Niklaas about 7% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $738 per month in Sint-Niklaas and $564 in Gent. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $3,000 enough for either Sint-Niklaas or Gent?
$3,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $2,078 in Sint-Niklaas and $2,229 in Gent, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is it better to live in Sint-Niklaas or in Gent?
It depends on your priorities. Gent has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,078 in Sint-Niklaas to $2,229 in Gent. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Sint-Niklaas or Gent?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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