Cost of Living & Salary Comparison 2026
Overall, Brussels is approximately 31% cheaper than Chicago based on our cost of living index. Brussels has a COLI of 50.3 (ranked #56 of 113 cities), while Chicago has a COLI of 73.2 (ranked #20).
When it comes to housing, one-bedroom apartment rent in Brussels averages $1,100/month compared to $2,000/month in Chicago. That makes Brussels approximately 45% cheaper for rent alone.
Chicago has lower total deductions (25.6%) compared to Brussels (27.7%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Chicago. When evaluating a relocation, remember that total deductions directly impact your take-home pay and should be weighed alongside cost of living differences.
Full breakdown of mandatory payroll deductions for a mid-range salary as a local employee in each city.
Rates shown for local employees. Expat deductions may differ — use the main converter for personalized calculations.
If you earn €63,592 in Brussels, you would need approximately $109,145 in Chicago to maintain the same purchasing power. That is 31% more due to higher cost of living.
COLI-scaled lifestyle equivalents of New York mid-range salaries — not local market pay. For verified/OECD local-market figures see salary pages.
| Job Title | Brussels (EUR) | Chicago (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor (General) | €76,768 | $131,760 |
| Software Engineer | €36,252 | $62,220 |
| Product Manager | €42,649 | $73,200 |
| Lawyer | €42,649 | $73,200 |
| Data Scientist | €40,516 | $69,540 |
| Marketing Manager | €30,707 | $52,704 |
| Teacher | €20,471 | $35,136 |
| Nurse | €24,736 | $42,456 |
These are COLI lifestyle equivalents of the New York mid baseline, not typical local market pay. See methodology and profession×city salary pages for market figures with source badges.
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Sablon | 1.28x (+28%) |
| Uccle | 1.22x (+22%) |
| Avenue Louise | 1.20x (+20%) |
| Ixelles | 1.18x (+18%) |
| EU Quarter | 1.15x (+15%) |
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Gold Coast | 1.25x (+25%) |
| River North | 1.22x (+22%) |
| The Loop | 1.20x (+20%) |
| West Loop | 1.18x (+18%) |
| Lincoln Park | 1.15x (+15%) |
Use our converter with 2,400+ neighborhood adjustments for a precise salary comparison
Open Salary ConverterChicago is more expensive overall. Brussels has a COLI of 50.3 while Chicago has a COLI of 73.2, making Brussels approximately 31% cheaper.
To maintain the same standard of living as €63,592 in Brussels, you would need approximately $109,145 in Chicago.
Average one-bedroom rent in Brussels is $1,100/month compared to $2,000/month in Chicago. Brussels has lower rent by approximately 45%.
Chicago has lower total deductions (25.6%) compared to Brussels (27.7%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Chicago.
Cost of living indices (COLI) are benchmarked to New York City = 100 and derived from Numbeo and Expatistan crowd-sourced price surveys, cross-referenced with national statistics agencies. Rent data from Numbeo Property Prices.
Salary ranges are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OES), Glassdoor, and PayScale. Tax rates are approximate effective rates for mid-range earners based on OECD Taxing Wages and national tax authorities. Exchange rates from the European Central Bank. Neighborhood multipliers are estimated from local rental indices and property data.
Last updated: 2026-08-31. Data is refreshed periodically. All figures are estimates for informational purposes only.