Belgium offers both lower prices and stronger purchasing power than Netherlands. Your salary stretches further on nearly every expense.
Compared to Netherlands. Green = cheaper or better in Belgium. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
Averaged across 14 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
| Category | ๐ณ๐ฑ Netherlands | ๐ง๐ช Belgium | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 57.9 | 46.7 | -19.3% |
| Rent | 38.1 | 26.6 | -30.2% |
| Groceries | 67.5 | 68.7 | +1.8% |
| Restaurants | 83.8 | 85.3 | +1.8% |
| Purchasing Power | 135.1 | 135.2 | +0.1% |
Same gross salary, different tax systems. Annual take-home pay in Amsterdam vs Brussels.
| Gross | ๐ณ๐ฑ Net in Netherlands | ๐ง๐ช Net in Belgium | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| โฌ40,000 | โฌ31,830 | โฌ28,091 | -โฌ3,739 |
| โฌ60,000 | โฌ42,210 | โฌ36,621 | -โฌ5,589 |
| โฌ80,000 | โฌ52,029 | โฌ44,833 | -โฌ7,196 |
| โฌ100,000 | โฌ60,827 | โฌ52,918 | -โฌ7,909 |
Single person, no children. Tax rates for Amsterdam and Brussels (2026). Try the full calculator
See detailed income tax brackets and net salary calculations for Netherlands and Belgium.
Enter your exact numbers and see your real take-home pay in both countries.
Calculate Your Take-Home PayNational averages hide a lot. These are the cities most people actually move to.
| City | CoL | Rent | PP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | 70.8 | 53.3 | 131.5 |
| Rotterdam | 61.8 | 41.3 | 136 |
| The Hague | 59.2 | 37 | 140.6 |
| Utrecht | 61.8 | 41 | 141.9 |
| Haarlem | 61.1 | 41.1 | 135.6 |
| City | CoL | Rent | PP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brussels | 50.1 | 32.4 | 120.2 |
| Antwerp | 44.8 | 22.6 | 123.8 |
| Leuven | 46.1 | 26.2 | 155 |
| Gent | 45.6 | 25.2 | 141.7 |
See exact take-home pay for specific cities between Netherlands and Belgium.