Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sint-Truiden and Brussels

For one person, living is cheaper in Sint-Truiden: $2,134 a month against $2,584 in Brussels, rent and utilities included – about $5,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Sint-Truiden, Belgium
Brussels, Belgium
Sint-Truiden
🇧🇪 Belgium
$2,134
/mo nomad
Brussels
🇧🇪 Belgium
$2,584
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sint-Truiden and in Brussels

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,134 in Sint-Truiden versus $2,584 in Brussels.

  • Sint-Truiden $2,134
  • Brussels $2,584

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,121 in Sint-Truiden versus $3,923 in Brussels.

  • Sint-Truiden $3,121
  • Brussels $3,923

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,107 in Sint-Truiden versus $5,262 in Brussels.

  • Sint-Truiden $4,107
  • Brussels $5,262

Living in Sint-Truiden costs roughly 17% less than in Brussels, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sint-Truiden 57% above, Brussels 90% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sint-Truiden
Brussels
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.48 €20.14
$22.51 €20.17
-0.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.6 €76.7
$91.2 €81.7
-6.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.23 €11.85
$15.19 €13.61
-12.90%
Cappuccino
$4.27 €3.83
$4.55 €4.07
-6.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.71
$3.63 €3.26
-16.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 €2.61
$3.02 €2.71
-3.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.45 €4.88
$5.69 €5.10
-4.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.40 €3.94
$5.55 €4.97
-20.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sint-Truiden
Brussels
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.97
$1.35 €1.21
-20.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 €1.56
$2.76 €2.47
-36.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.15 €1.92
$2.84 €2.54
-24.30%
Eggs
$4.26 €3.82
$5.19 €4.65
-17.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.77 €14.13
$17.84 €15.99
-11.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.80 €10.57
$13.04 €11.68
-9.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.42 €19.19
$21.85 €19.58
-1.97%
Apples (1kg)
$3.03 €2.72
$3.13 €2.80
-3.19%
Banana (1kg)
$2.52 €2.26
$2.42 €2.17
4.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.54 €2.28
$2.81 €2.52
-9.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.98 €3.57
$4.03 €3.61
-1.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.18 €1.95
$2.46 €2.20
-11.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.73 €1.55
$2.18 €1.95
-20.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.52 €1.36
$1.86 €1.66
-18.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 €0.92
$1.22 €1.10
-15.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.11 €11.75
$13.60 €12.19
-3.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.17 €7.32
$9.57 €8.57
-14.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 €1.78
$2.70 €2.42
-26.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 €1.79
$3.00 €2.69
-33.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Sint-Truiden
Brussels
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.07 €2.75
$2.76 €2.48
11.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$61.9 €55.4
$61.6 €55.2
0.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.25 €5.60
$2.95 €2.65
111.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.90 €2.60
$2.24 €2.00
29.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.41 €24.56
$40.78 €36.55
-32.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.29 €2.05
$2.06 €1.85
11.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K €31.7K
$34.8K €31.2K
1.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9K €32.1K
$35.7K €32.0K
0.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sint-Truiden
Brussels
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$213 €191
$280 €251
-23.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.06 €18.87
$21.20 €19.00
-0.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.7 €60.7
$52.0 €46.60
30.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sint-Truiden
Brussels
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.09 €32.34
$32.34 €28.98
11.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.83 €15.98
$27.74 €24.86
-35.72%
Cinema Ticket
$14.36 €12.87
$15.88 €14.23
-9.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sint-Truiden
Brussels
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$728 €653
$1,596 €1,430
-54.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.7K €15.0K
$36.2K €32.5K
-53.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sint-Truiden
Brussels
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100.0 €89.6
$101 €90.7
-1.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.18 €43.17
$46.78 €41.92
2.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 €92.1
$114 €102
-9.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 €129
$143 €128
0.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sint-Truiden
Brussels
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$923 €827
$1,393 €1,248
-33.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$820 €735
$1,160 €1,039
-29.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,417 €1,270
$2,518 €2,257
-43.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,135 €1,017
$2,076 €1,860
-45.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,358 €3,905
$4,877 €4,371
-10.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,214 €2,880
$3,718 €3,332
-13.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sint-Truiden
Brussels
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$3,392 €3,040
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.53
3.71
-4.85%

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

Last update for Sint-Truiden: October 25, 2026

Last update for Brussels: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sint-Truiden
$820
Brussels
$1.2K 41.4% $340
Groceries & Markets
Sint-Truiden
$344
Brussels
$391 13.9% $48
Eating Out
Sint-Truiden
$331
Brussels
$346 4.8% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sint-Truiden
$302
Brussels
$353 17% $51
Clothing & Footwear
Sint-Truiden
$178
Brussels
$182 2.6% $4.7
Getting Around
Sint-Truiden
$95
Brussels
$87 8.5% $8.1
Sport & Entertainment
Sint-Truiden
$65
Brussels
$64 1.1% $0.7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $923 in Sint-Truiden and $1,393 in Brussels. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $86 in Sint-Truiden vs $91 in Brussels for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $344 vs $391 per month, with Sint-Truiden cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇪 Sint-Truiden
🇧🇪 Brussels
🕒 Local time
09:19 9:19 AM
09:19 9:19 AM
Same time as Sint-Truiden
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
40,357
188,137 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sint-Truiden Brussels 59 km
From you
  • Sint-Truiden
  • Brussels

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-Truiden vs Brussels: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sint-Truiden or Brussels?
Sint-Truiden wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Brussels. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Sint-Truiden the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Sint-Truiden and in Brussels?
You’d need roughly $3,201 in Sint-Truiden and $3,876 in Brussels to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Sint-Truiden compared to Brussels?
Rent for a central apartment: $923 in Sint-Truiden versus $1,393 in Brussels. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Sint-Truiden and in Brussels?
Childcare runs $728 in Sint-Truiden versus $1,596 in Brussels. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Sint-Truiden and in Brussels?
Dining out is cheaper in Sint-Truiden – a meal for two runs $86 versus $91 in Brussels. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Sint-Truiden or in Brussels?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Sint-Truiden is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Sint-Truiden or Brussels?
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 Sint-Truiden compared to Brussels?
Safety-wise, Sint-Truiden and Brussels are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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