Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tournai and Brussels

For one person, living is cheaper in Tournai: $2,226 a month against $2,602 in Brussels, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tournai, Belgium
Brussels, Belgium
Tournai
🇧🇪 Belgium
$2,226
/mo nomad
Brussels
🇧🇪 Belgium
$2,602
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tournai 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 Tournai and in Brussels actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,226 in Tournai versus $2,602 in Brussels.

  • Tournai $2,226
  • Brussels $2,602

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,303 in Tournai versus $3,932 in Brussels.

  • Tournai $3,303
  • Brussels $3,932

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,379 in Tournai versus $5,262 in Brussels.

  • Tournai $4,379
  • Brussels $5,262

Living in Tournai costs roughly 14% less than in Brussels, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tournai 65% above, Brussels 92% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tournai
Brussels
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.46 €21.84
$22.69 €20.27
7.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.6 €84.5
$89.6 €80.0
5.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.49 €12.05
$15.03 €13.43
-10.25%
Cappuccino
$4.40 €3.93
$4.60 €4.11
-4.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57 €3.19
$3.71 €3.31
-3.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 €3.13
$3.13 €2.80
12.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.50 €4.92
$6.05 €5.41
-9.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.22 €5.55
$5.46 €4.88
13.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tournai
Brussels
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 €1.20
$1.34 €1.19
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.77 €2.48
$2.78 €2.48
-0.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 €2.01
$2.70 €2.41
-16.67%
Eggs
$4.02 €3.59
$5.30 €4.73
-24.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.46 €14.70
$17.33 €15.48
-5.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.09 €10.80
$13.28 €11.86
-8.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.12 €20.65
$22.09 €19.73
4.66%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 €2.69
$3.01 €2.69
0.33%
Banana (1kg)
$2.51 €2.24
$2.47 €2.20
1.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 €2.28
$2.78 €2.49
-8.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.42 €3.05
$4.25 €3.80
-19.53%
Potato (1kg)
$2.65 €2.37
$2.48 €2.21
6.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 €1.61
$2.23 €2.00
-19.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.56 €1.40
$1.84 €1.64
-15.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 €0.99
$1.29 €1.15
-13.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.98 €11.60
$13.17 €11.77
-1.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.60 €7.68
$10.02 €8.95
-14.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 €1.69
$2.63 €2.35
-28.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 €1.78
$2.98 €2.66
-32.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Tournai
Brussels
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.89 €2.58
$2.72 €2.43
6.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$51.8 €46.23
$62.7 €56.0
-17.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.71 €5.10
$2.90 €2.59
96.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.73 €2.44
$2.61 €2.33
4.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.88 €39.19
$40.46 €36.14
8.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 €1.86
$2.17 €1.94
-3.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K €32.2K
$36.0K €32.2K
-0.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.4K €32.5K
$35.7K €31.9K
1.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tournai
Brussels
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$210 €187
$296 €265
-29.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.97 €19.62
$20.97 €18.73
4.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.21 €42.17
$52.2 €46.64
-9.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tournai
Brussels
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.34 €32.46
$32.81 €29.30
10.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.90 €18.67
$27.86 €24.89
-24.98%
Cinema Ticket
$15.12 €13.50
$16.07 €14.35
-5.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tournai
Brussels
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 €712
$1,623 €1,450
-50.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.8K €30.2K
$30.9K €27.6K
9.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tournai
Brussels
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$118 €105
$106 €94.5
11.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7 €47.04
$46.71 €41.72
12.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 €95.6
$115 €102
-6.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$178 €159
$146 €131
21.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tournai
Brussels
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$851 €760
$1,359 €1,214
-37.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$871 €778
$1,148 €1,025
-24.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,270 €1,135
$2,561 €2,287
-50.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,238 €1,106
$2,039 €1,821
-39.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,379 €3,911
$5,047 €4,508
-13.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,052 €2,726
$3,701 €3,305
-17.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tournai
Brussels
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$3,373 €3,013
-
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 Tournai: October 31, 2026

Last update for Brussels: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tournai
$871
Brussels
$1.1K 31.7% $277
Groceries & Markets
Tournai
$365
Brussels
$394 8% $29
Eating Out
Tournai
$357
Brussels
$350 1.9% $6.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tournai
$279
Brussels
$369 32.4% $90
Clothing & Footwear
Tournai
$205
Brussels
$186 9.2% $19
Getting Around
Tournai
$83
Brussels
$90 8.3% $6.9
Sport & Entertainment
Tournai
$67
Brussels
$65 2.4% $1.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $851 in Tournai and $1,359 in Brussels. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $95 in Tournai vs $90 in Brussels. Groceries flip the comparison at $365 vs $394, with Tournai cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇧🇪 Tournai
🇧🇪 Brussels
🕒 Local time
12:47 12:47 PM
12:47 12:47 PM
Same time as Tournai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
69,842
188,137 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 0.893 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tournai Brussels 73 km
From you
  • Tournai
  • 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
Tournai vs Brussels: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tournai or Brussels?
Tournai wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Brussels. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Tournai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tournai and in Brussels?
You’d need roughly $3,340 in Tournai and $3,903 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 Tournai compared to Brussels?
Rent for a central apartment: $851 in Tournai versus $1,359 in Brussels. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Tournai or in Brussels?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Brussels. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Tournai and in Brussels?
Dining out is cheaper in Brussels – a meal for two runs $90 versus $95 in Tournai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Tournai or in Brussels?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Tournai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Tournai 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 Tournai compared to Brussels?
Safety-wise, Tournai and Brussels are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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