Belgium is 5.7% cheaper — but purchasing power is 3.9% weaker. Lower prices help, but you'll likely take home less overall.
Compared to Netherlands. Green = cheaper or better in Belgium. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
Every Category, Side by Side
Averaged across 14 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
| Category | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 🇧🇪 Belgium | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 76 | 71.7 | -5.7% |
| Rent | 39.5 | 27.9 | -29.4% |
| Groceries | 73.3 | 74.6 | +1.8% |
| Restaurants | 82.1 | 81.5 | -0.7% |
| Purchasing Power | 134.7 | 129.5 | -3.9% |
What You Actually Keep After Taxes
Same gross salary, different tax systems. Annual take-home pay in Amsterdam vs Brussels.
| Gross | 🇳🇱 Net in Netherlands | 🇧🇪 Net in Belgium | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| €40,000 | €31,830 | €24,734 | -€7,096 |
| €60,000 | €42,210 | €33,404 | -€8,806 |
| €80,000 | €52,029 | €41,352 | -€10,677 |
| €100,000 | €60,827 | €49,436 | -€11,391 |
Single person, no children. Tax rates for Amsterdam and Brussels (2026). Try the full calculator
Tax Calculators
Enter your exact numbers and see your real take-home pay in both countries.
Calculate Your Take-Home PayTop Cities in Each Country
National averages hide a lot. These are the cities most people actually move to.
| City | CoL | Rent | PP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | 82.3 | 54.3 | 136.2 |
| Rotterdam | 78.8 | 42.5 | 133.8 |
| The Hague | 76.3 | 38.9 | 139.8 |
| Utrecht | 76.6 | 42.6 | 141.5 |
| Haarlem | 79.4 | 42.4 | 134.2 |
| City | CoL | Rent | PP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brussels | 74.3 | 33.9 | 115.8 |
| Antwerp | 72.9 | 23.6 | 119.6 |
| Gent | 73.5 | 26.4 | 138.8 |
| Leuven | 66.2 | 27.5 | 143.7 |
City-to-City Comparisons
See exact take-home pay for specific cities between Netherlands and Belgium.
FAQ
Related Country Comparisons
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