Belgium is 7.0% cheaper — but purchasing power is 0.8% 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 13 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
| Category | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 🇧🇪 Belgium | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 76.2 | 70.9 | -7% |
| Rent | 39.9 | 27.8 | -30.3% |
| Groceries | 71.5 | 72.1 | +0.8% |
| Restaurants | 81.8 | 80.9 | -1.1% |
| Purchasing Power | 122.7 | 121.7 | -0.8% |
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 | 82.6 | 55 | 119.1 |
| Rotterdam | 79.2 | 42.3 | 119.6 |
| The Hague | 75.7 | 39.2 | 133.2 |
| Utrecht | 77.8 | 42.5 | 125.4 |
| Haarlem | 77.9 | 42.2 | 120.9 |
| City | CoL | Rent | PP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brussels | 72.9 | 33.4 | 108.3 |
| Antwerp | 72 | 23.5 | 111.7 |
| Gent | 72.6 | 26.2 | 132.4 |
| Leuven | 66.1 | 27.9 | 134.5 |
City-to-City Comparisons
See exact take-home pay for specific cities between Netherlands and Belgium.
FAQ
Related Country Comparisons
Enter your exact numbers and see your real take-home pay in both countries.