Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Waregem and Brussels

For one person, living is cheaper in Waregem: $2,071 a month against $2,584 in Brussels, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Waregem, Belgium
Brussels, Belgium
Waregem
🇧🇪 Belgium
$2,071
/mo nomad
Brussels
🇧🇪 Belgium
$2,584
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,071 in Waregem versus $2,584 in Brussels.

  • Waregem $2,071
  • Brussels $2,584

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,169 in Waregem versus $3,923 in Brussels.

  • Waregem $3,169
  • Brussels $3,923

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,267 in Waregem versus $5,262 in Brussels.

  • Waregem $4,267
  • Brussels $5,262

Living in Waregem costs roughly 20% less than in Brussels, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Waregem 52% above, Brussels 90% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Waregem
Brussels
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.51 €20.22
$22.51 €20.22
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$139 €125
$91.2 €81.9
52.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.46 €12.09
$15.19 €13.65
-11.39%
Cappuccino
$5.18 €4.65
$4.55 €4.08
13.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86 €3.47
$3.63 €3.26
6.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 €3.43
$3.02 €2.71
26.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.09 €5.47
$5.69 €5.11
7.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.36 €4.82
$5.55 €4.98
-3.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Waregem
Brussels
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 €1.18
$1.35 €1.21
-2.96%
White Bread (500g)
$2.56 €2.30
$2.76 €2.48
-7.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 €2.00
$2.84 €2.55
-21.48%
Eggs
$3.90 €3.50
$5.19 €4.66
-24.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.80 €14.19
$17.84 €16.03
-11.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.78 €10.58
$13.04 €11.71
-9.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.48 €17.50
$21.85 €19.63
-10.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.84 €2.55
$3.13 €2.81
-9.27%
Banana (1kg)
$2.21 €1.98
$2.42 €2.18
-8.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.61 €2.35
$2.81 €2.53
-7.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.80 €2.52
$4.03 €3.62
-30.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 €1.93
$2.46 €2.21
-12.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 €1.49
$2.18 €1.96
-23.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.33 €1.19
$1.86 €1.67
-28.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 €0.86
$1.22 €1.10
-21.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.45 €12.08
$13.60 €12.22
-1.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 €7.09
$9.57 €8.59
-17.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 €1.75
$2.70 €2.43
-27.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 €1.98
$3.00 €2.70
-26.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Waregem
Brussels
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.25 €2.92
$2.76 €2.48
17.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.6 €45.44
$61.6 €55.4
-17.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.94 €4.44
$2.95 €2.65
67.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.84 €2.55
$2.24 €2.01
26.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.96 €26.91
$40.78 €36.63
-26.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.03 €1.82
$2.06 €1.85
-1.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.3K €36.2K
$34.8K €31.3K
15.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8K €35.8K
$35.7K €32.0K
11.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Waregem
Brussels
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$212 €191
$280 €252
-24.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.46 €33.65
$21.20 €19.04
76.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.6 €64.3
$52.0 €46.72
37.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Waregem
Brussels
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.82 €30.38
$32.34 €29.05
4.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.73 €15.03
$27.74 €24.92
-39.69%
Cinema Ticket
$16.06 €14.42
$15.88 €14.27
1.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Waregem
Brussels
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$820 €737
$1,596 €1,434
-48.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.7K €16.8K
$36.2K €32.5K
-48.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Waregem
Brussels
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.4 €83.0
$101 €90.9
-8.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.14 €41.44
$46.78 €42.03
-1.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €91.5
$114 €102
-10.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$166 €149
$143 €129
15.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Waregem
Brussels
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 €759
$1,393 €1,251
-39.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$728 €654
$1,160 €1,042
-37.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,085 €975
$2,518 €2,262
-56.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$979 €880
$2,076 €1,865
-52.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,018 €3,609
$4,877 €4,381
-17.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,646 €2,377
$3,718 €3,340
-28.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Waregem
Brussels
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$3,392 €3,047
-
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 Waregem: 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
Waregem
$728
Brussels
$1.2K 59.4% $432
Eating Out
Waregem
$354
Brussels
$346 2.3% $8.1
Groceries & Markets
Waregem
$336
Brussels
$391 16.4% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Waregem
$321
Brussels
$353 10% $32
Clothing & Footwear
Waregem
$183
Brussels
$182 0.4% $0.7
Getting Around
Waregem
$83
Brussels
$87 4.9% $4.1
Sport & Entertainment
Waregem
$66
Brussels
$64 2.8% $1.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $845 in Waregem and $1,393 in Brussels. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $139 in Waregem vs $91 in Brussels. Groceries flip the comparison at $336 vs $391, with Waregem cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇧🇪 Waregem
🇧🇪 Brussels
🕒 Local time
22:06 10:06 PM
22:06 10:06 PM
Same time as Waregem
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
39,488
188,137 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Waregem Brussels 65 km
From you
  • Waregem
  • 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
Waregem vs Brussels: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Waregem or Brussels?
Waregem wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Brussels. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Waregem the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Waregem and in Brussels?
You’d need roughly $3,107 in Waregem 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 Waregem compared to Brussels?
Rent for a central apartment: $845 in Waregem versus $1,393 in Brussels. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Waregem or in Brussels?
Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Brussels. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Waregem and in Brussels?
Dining out is cheaper in Brussels – a meal for two runs $91 versus $139 in Waregem. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Waregem or in Brussels?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Waregem 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: Waregem 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 Waregem compared to Brussels?
Safety-wise, Waregem and Brussels are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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