Cost of Living in Belgium for UK Travellers: Visa, Travel, and Food Expenses Explained

May 8, 2025

Belgium is a city that attracts all types of travelers, from solo to teams and families. But when you plan to travel, then every plan comes with a price tag, because living in a different city than home costs for every little thing. The Cost of Living in Belgium depends on all factors that a person requires in his/her daily life. 

So if you are planning your next trip to Belgium in the upcoming holidays, then before making the bucket list, read this blog to know how much it costs you or the total expenses in Belgium. 

What is the cost of living in Belgian cities? 

The overall cost of living in Belgium depends heavily on where you live. Brussels is one of the expensive cities in Belgium, but it offers a vibrant international community and job market. On the other hand, cities like Namur or Ghent can be considerably easier on the wallet.

Here’s a comparison of three major cities in Belgium in 2025:

City	Rent (1-Bedroom in City Centre)	Monthly Transport Pass	Overall Monthly Costs (Single)
Brussels	€1,200	€55	€2,100
Antwerp	€950	€67	€1,850
Ghent	€850	€65	€1,780

What is the Food Cost in Belgium According to Cities? 

When you travel to any country, you can’t carry food items there, you have to buy all the refreshments you want to eat. And the cost of the food in Belgium depends on the days you spend in that city, the diet you consume, or the number of people (solo, two-person, or a family). Below is a table that will help to set your budget before the trip. 

Belgium Food is also a budget part according to your stay options. Here is a list of three popular cities with the regular foodstuffs for your easy comparison.  

City	Food	Cost (Per Person)
Ghent	Breakfast	€5 – €35
	Coffee	€2 – €4
	Meals	€10 – €80
Antwerp	Breakfast	€10 – €30
	Coffee	€2.50 – €3
	Meals	€18 – €120
Brussels	Breakfast	€4 – €20
	Coffee	€3 – €5
	Meals	€15 – € 30

Along with food, Belgium is Famous for its beers. As per data, the average Belgian consumes 8.4 Liters of alcohol per year, and this costs almost 30 euros per month for an alcoholic person. 

• Craft beer – Costs between €4.30 – €7.40
• Wine Glass – Costs Between €4.30 – €5.50
• A liquor Bottle( Vodka, Whiskey) –  Starting price  €15 
• A Beer Bottle from Supermarket – €1.75 – €4.50 

A morning breakfast of a solo person or a meal from a local restaurant or a street vendor is considered Low-cost food in Belgium.

Suggested Read: 10 Beautiful Belgium Beaches for Sun and Fun

What is the Public Transportation Cost to visit the cities of Belgium? 

As you know, Belgium city is well connected with the Train and Bus transport, and all the visiting places are within one or two hours’ distance, so you can easily buy a ticket and travel where you want. And these are the best Public transport in Belgium. 

Cost of Car Insurance – €60-€120 

Cost of Diesel – €1.7890 per liter 

Cost of Gasoline –  €1.72 Per Liter

Road Tax – It depends on the weight or size of your vehicle. 

City	Transportation	Age	Cost (Monthly Cost)
Ghent	Bus/Train	6- 24	€58
		Older than 25	€71
	Taxi		€189
Antwerp	Bus/Train	6- 24	€60
		Older than 25	€70
	Taxi		€82.80
Brussels	Bus/ Train	For All	€55 to €92
	Taxi		€198

Renting an Apartment in Belgium: Costs in Different Cities? 

The rental cost in Belgium depends on your location, where you stay. In a study, the prices of renting a place in the city areas (Antwerp, Brussels, and Ghent) are much higher than the cost in the rural areas, with a quality difference. So, when booking an apartment in Belgium, consider the places and the offered amenities.   

City	Apartment	Per Night Rent	Average Monthly Rent	Weekly Rent
Ghent	Student Room	€32	€986	€20- €90
	Single Bedroom	€30- €40	€800 – €1200	€250- €1000
	Two Bedroom	€100- €150	€900 – €4500	€500 – €2000
Antwerp	Student Room	€25 – €35	€1,051	€175 – €500
	Single Bedroom	€28 – €34	€700 – €1020	€150 – €450
	Two Bedroom	€50- €70	€1600 – €2100	€600 – €1200
Brussels	Student Room	€42 – €47	€1,415	€25 – €90
	Single Bedroom	€30- €33	€745- €1000	€200 – €300
	Two Bedroom	€60- €66	€800 – €2000	€200 – €500

The utility, including gas, water, and electricity, costs you around €120-€200 per month in 2025, which is different and has increased by just over double from the last 2 years. 

The cost of shopping in Belgium on Average 

The price of the shoes and clothes in Belgium, estimated on average per person, depends on the brand or the place, because designer brands are more costly than the normal brands. A monthly average for a Brussels person is almost above €80. 

City	Clothes (Branded and Local)	Bags( Designer and Local)	Shoes (Brand and Local)
Antwerp	€30-€100 (Local)	€2550-€4500 (Branded)	€96 – €120 (Branded)
	€145-€345 (Branded)	€400 -€1000 (Local)	€25 – €35 (Local)
Burssels	€50-€1000 (Branded)	Starting from €4000	€91 – € 150 (Branded)
	€10-€70 (Local)	€1500-€5000 (Local)	€10 – €20 (Local)
Ghent	€150- €1000 (Branded)	€150 – €500 (Local)	€30-€100 (Local)
	€10-€100 (Local)	€790 – €500 (Branded)	€50-€175 (Branded)

What is the Cost of Doing Fun Activities in the Cities of Belgium?

Belgium offers you plenty of activities or things to do in Belgium for solo, with a partner, Friends, or with kids. Which costs a lot if they don’t prepare a budget timely manner  

City	Cinema Ticket	Rent a Bicycle	Gym (According to amenities)
Antwerp	€8 – €12	€10- €60 Per Day	€21- €120 P/M
Brussels	€8 – €23	€15- €40 Per Day	€17-100 Per Month
Ghent	€13.40- €24	City Bikes – €16 Per Day  E-du Bikes €29 to €45	€30-€170 Per Month

Travel Tip – Among the top cities of Belgium, Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent often top the list due to their Food, nightlife life and urban lifestyle. But if you’re more cost-conscious, the cheapest city in Belgium currently is Namur. It’s a great option for students, travelers, family trip planners, or remote workers enjoying Belgian culture with a sufficient budget.

And from all the nearby cities, Brussels is an expensive city in Belgium, from all sides (Hospitality, food, Hotels, Apartment, and shopping).

Travel tips to save money as a Traveler: 

If you are planning a family or a solo trip, or you are an adventurous person, a foodie, or a Shopaholic. Then, doing all the things can be out of the budget, so here are some tips that can be used on this trip.

1. Use Public transport: In this trip, try to use public transport or its pass ( Bus, Train, or Ferry) to lower your travel cost.
2. Aware of the weekly ads and meal plans: Some cafes or restaurants, even supermarkets in Belgium, run offers on food or drinks, use them wisely for your Budget. 
3. Cooks at Home – If you have long stay plans, this method can save you money. For this, you can use the supermarkets for shopping.
4. Keep both options(Cash or Online) – Some places in Belgium don’t accept cash, and some online payments, so avoid this hurdle by having both options.  
5. Save yourself from a rental scam:  Before giving any amount to the person who shows you the property or apartment, check from your level (the documents, the house, the place).  

Final Thought 

So, whether you stay in Belgium for a week or a month, it varies according to the current price of the food, Rent, Utilities, and Diesel that costs you. So, before booking the hotels or tickets for the holidays, read the budget plan according to your stay time. So, travelers, get ready to clear your bucket list or spend your Bank balance to get a new trip experience. 

One more thing to remember is that if you planned everything and it’s time to take a trip, then first book your Schengen Visa because, as a resident of the UK, you can’t fly without a Visa, so apply for a Visa and wait for a Belgium Visa expert to schedule your appointment.  

Also Check: Online Belgium Visa UK Appointment in London, England, Manchester UK – Apply Now

Frequently Asked Questions