Is Belgium Expensive? Belgium Travel Costs & Budget

If you’re wondering whether Belgium is expensive to visit, the short answer is:

It can be, but it doesn’t have to be.

Belgium isn’t the cheapest country in Europe, especially when it comes to accommodation and eating out. But compared with some other popular Western European destinations, I don’t think Belgium is ridiculously expensive either.

And as a Belgian myself, I have a pretty good idea of what things actually cost here.

A hostel bed can cost around €20–30 per night, a normal hotel room for two people is often around €120, and a Belgian beer at a café will usually cost you around €3–4.

So if you’re planning a trip to Belgium, here’s a realistic breakdown of how much things cost in Belgium, including accommodation, food, drinks, transport, fuel and some everyday expenses.

If you’re still planning your trip, my Belgium Complete Travel Guide covers the best cities to visit, things to do, food, festivals and practical travel tips.

Prices are approximate and can vary depending on the city, season and type of business. Brussels, Bruges and Antwerp are generally more expensive than smaller Belgian cities.

So, Is Belgium Expensive?

I’d say Belgium is moderately expensive for European travel.

You can definitely travel Belgium on a budget, especially if you:

Stay in hostels
Use trains and buses
Eat at frituurs and bakeries
Avoid restaurants in the most touristy areas
Buy some food from supermarkets
Limit expensive cocktails and nightlife
Travel outside the busiest summer months

But if you stay in hotels, eat in restaurants for every meal and go out drinking every night, your budget can disappear surprisingly quickly.

The good news?

You don’t need to do that to have a great trip around Belgium.

A lot of the best Belgian experiences are actually fairly affordable.

Walking around historic cities is free.

Most city centres are easy to explore on foot.

A cone of Belgian fries doesn’t cost a fortune.

And public transport makes it relatively easy to travel between Belgian cities without renting a car.

If you’re trying to fit several destinations into one trip, check out my 5-Day Belgium Itinerary for an example of how to combine Belgian cities without spending your entire budget on transport.

Cycling through the water at Bokrijk near Genk

Planning your Belgium trip?

I created a Google Map with 540+ saved places from my years living and travelling around Belgium, including towns, things to do, cafés, nightlife, restaurants, shopping and hidden gems.

Explore the Belgium Map → €5

How Much Does Accommodation Cost in Belgium?

Accommodation will probably be one of your biggest expenses when visiting Belgium.

Prices vary a lot depending on where you stay and when you visit.

Brussels, Bruges and Antwerp can be noticeably more expensive than smaller cities.

Not sure which Belgian city fits your budget best? My guide to Belgium’s Cities Compared breaks down the differences between the most popular cities.

Hostels in Belgium

If you’re travelling on a budget, hostels are one of the easiest ways to keep your accommodation costs down.

A shared dorm bed usually costs around:

€20–30 per night

This can be higher during busy weekends, festivals and the summer months.

If you’re travelling solo, I think hostels make a lot of sense in Belgium, especially if you’re planning to visit several cities.

You can save money while also meeting other travellers.

Hotels in Belgium

For a normal hotel room for two people, I’d roughly budget:

Around €120 per night

Of course, this can vary massively.

You might find cheaper hotels outside the main tourist areas, while nicer hotels in central Brussels or Bruges can easily cost €150–200+ per night.

If you’re travelling as a couple, though, a €120 hotel room works out to around €60 per person, which isn’t necessarily terrible for Western Europe.

How to Save Money on Accommodation

If you want to keep accommodation costs down:

Stay slightly outside the historic centre
Compare prices between different cities
Book earlier for summer weekends
Consider hostels if you’re travelling solo
Don’t automatically stay in Brussels
Look at smaller Belgian cities too

And honestly, Belgium is small enough that you can sometimes stay in one city and visit another by train.

How Much Does Food Cost in Belgium?

Food prices in Belgium depend heavily on where and what you eat.

You can have a relatively cheap lunch from a bakery or frituur, or easily spend €40+ per person in a nicer restaurant.

Restaurant Meals

For a normal Belgian dish in a regular restaurant, I’d budget around:

€20–30 per person

Around €25 is a pretty normal amount for a decent Belgian dish.

If you’re eating somewhere more upscale or in a very touristy location, expect to pay more.

Belgian Fries

A trip to Belgium doesn’t have to mean expensive restaurant meals.

One of the easiest ways to eat cheaply is to visit a frituur.

You can get fries with a sauce and add one or two snacks without spending nearly as much as you would at a restaurant.

And honestly?

Some of my favourite Belgian meals come from a frituur.

If you want to know what else you should eat while you’re here, check out my Belgian Food Guide: What to Eat in Belgium.

Bakeries and Sandwich Shops

Another good budget option is a Belgian bakery or sandwich shop.

A smos, pastry, sandwich or other quick lunch can be much cheaper than sitting down in a restaurant.

This is especially useful if you’re travelling around Belgium and don’t want to spend €25 on lunch every single day.

Supermarkets

If you’re travelling on a strict budget, supermarkets can save you quite a bit of money.

You can easily pick up:

Bread
Cheese
Fruit
Yogurt
Sandwiches
Drinks
Snacks
Breakfast items

for much less than you’d spend eating every meal out.

How Much Does Beer Cost in Belgium?

This is Belgium, so obviously we need to talk about beer.

A normal pintje at a café or bar is usually around:

€3–4

I’d use €3.40 as a realistic average for a normal beer, although prices vary between cities and bars.

A special or stronger Belgian beer can obviously cost more.

And if you’re visiting Belgium specifically because of its beer culture, don’t assume every beer costs the same.

A standard lager will generally be cheaper than a speciality beer from a small brewery.

If you want to learn more about Belgian beer culture and which beers you should try, check out my Belgian Beer Culture Guide.

How Much Do Drinks Cost in Belgium?

If you’re planning to go out in Belgium, alcohol can become one of your bigger expenses.

Aperol Spritz

An Aperol Spritz will usually cost around:

€8–9

Especially in a nice bar or on a terrace, you can expect to pay around this amount.

Cocktails

Cocktails are considerably more expensive.

I’d generally budget:

€10–15 per cocktail

With around €12 being a pretty normal price.

In trendy cocktail bars or nightlife areas, cocktails can easily cost more.

Going Out in Belgium

If you’re planning a night out, remember that the cost adds up quickly.

For example:

3 beers → around €10
1 Aperol → around €8–9
2 cocktails → around €24
Late-night food → another €5–10+

Suddenly you’ve spent €30–50 without doing anything particularly crazy.

So if you’re travelling on a budget, Belgian nightlife is definitely something to keep an eye on.

How Much Does Public Transport Cost in Belgium?

One of the good things about travelling around Belgium is that you don’t necessarily need a car.

Belgium has a pretty extensive train network, and buses and trams are useful for getting around cities and regions.

Buses and Trams

For example, a standard De Lijn ticket currently costs €3 and gives you 60 minutes of travel on De Lijn buses and trams.

That means you can transfer between buses and trams within that hour without needing to buy another ticket.

A day ticket currently costs €9 for travellers aged 12 and over.

So if you’re spending a full day using buses and trams, a day ticket can make sense.

Trains in Belgium

Trains are probably the easiest way to travel between major Belgian cities.

You can easily travel between places like:

Brussels → Ghent → Bruges → Antwerp → Leuven

without needing a car.

Train prices depend on the distance and your age.

Under 26?

If you’re under 26, you automatically get 40% off the standard SNCB fare. With the current Train+ system, young travellers can also get additional discounts and capped fares.

Train+ for young people under 26 currently costs €4 for one month or €32 for one year.

Over 26?

If you’re between 26 and 64, you travel at the standard fare unless you use a discount product.

However, weekends are already cheaper: adults aged 26–64 receive 30% off on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

There’s also Train+, which currently costs €6 for one month or €48 for a year and gives adults 40% off during off-peak hours, plus additional weekend discounts.

So if you’re planning to take several trains during your trip, it’s definitely worth checking the current SNCB options before buying individual tickets.

One important tip: since July 2026, you can no longer simply buy a ticket on board most Belgian trains. Make sure you have a valid ticket before getting on.

For a full breakdown of trains, buses, trams and how to travel between Belgian cities, check out my guide to Getting Around Belgium: Trains, Buses & Public Transport.

How Much Does Petrol Cost in Belgium?

If you’re planning a Belgium road trip, you’ll also need to budget for fuel.

Petrol is currently around €1.80 per litre, although prices fluctuate regularly. Recent August 2026 figures put Belgian Euro 95 around €1.79 per litre.

So for a car that uses around 7 litres per 100 km, you would spend roughly:

€12.60 per 100 km

at €1.80 per litre.

Fuel prices change, though, so don’t use this as an exact long-term price.

Is Belgium Cheap for Fuel?

Compared with some neighbouring countries, Belgium can actually be a relatively good place to fill up.

For example, recent August 2026 reporting put Belgian Euro95 at around €1.87 per litre while Dutch petrol prices were considerably higher.

So if you’re doing a road trip through Belgium and nearby countries, it can be worth checking fuel prices before crossing the border.

How Much Do Attractions Cost in Belgium?

This is where Belgium can actually be quite budget-friendly.

A lot of the best things to do in Belgian cities are free.

You can walk through:

Bruges’ historic centre
Ghent’s Graslei and Korenlei
Leuven’s Oude Markt
Antwerp’s historic centre
Brussels’ streets and squares

without spending anything.

Museums and attractions will obviously cost extra.

I’d generally budget around:

€10–20 per paid attraction

although major attractions, special exhibitions and guided experiences can cost more.

If you’re visiting several museums or attractions in one city, check whether that city has a tourist pass that could save you money.

How Much Money Do You Need Per Day in Belgium?

This depends heavily on your travel style.

But here’s a rough idea.

Budget Traveller

Around €60–80 per day

This could include:

€25 hostel
€15–20 food
€5–10 transport
€10 drinks/snacks
Mostly free activities

You’d need to be fairly careful with your spending, but it’s possible.

Mid-Range Traveller

Around €120–170 per day per person

For example:

€60 hotel per person when sharing
€30–40 food
€10–15 transport
€10–20 drinks
€10–20 attractions

This is probably the most comfortable range for a typical city trip.

More Comfortable Travel

€200+ per day per person

If you’re staying in nicer hotels, eating at restaurants regularly, drinking cocktails, taking lots of paid tours and doing more expensive activities, you can easily go above €200 per day.

Example: 3 Days in Belgium on a Budget

Let’s say you’re travelling for three days and staying in hostels.

You could roughly spend:

Accommodation:
€25 × 3 = €75

Food:
€20 × 3 = €60

Transport:
Around €20–30

Drinks & snacks:
Around €20–30

Activities:
Around €20–30

Total: roughly €195–225

So around:

€65–75 per day

This is a realistic budget if you’re happy staying in hostels, eating cheaply and focusing on free or inexpensive activities.

How to Travel Belgium on a Budget

If you’re trying to keep your Belgium travel costs down, these are my biggest tips.

Stay in hostels

Especially if you’re travelling alone.

€20–30 for a dorm bed is much cheaper than paying for a hotel room by yourself.

Eat at frituurs and bakeries

You don’t need to eat in restaurants three times a day.

A Belgian frituur or bakery can give you a proper meal for much less.

Use public transport

Belgium’s trains make it surprisingly easy to travel between cities without a car.

And buses and trams are useful for getting around locally.

Walk

Belgian city centres are generally very walkable.

Some of my favourite things to do in Belgium cost absolutely nothing.

Avoid the most touristy restaurants

Especially directly around major attractions.

Walk a few streets away and you’ll often find more local and sometimes cheaper options.

Travel outside peak season

Accommodation prices can rise significantly during summer, festivals and busy weekends.

If your dates are flexible, travelling outside peak periods can save you money.

Is Belgium More Expensive Than Other European Countries?

This really depends on what you’re comparing it with.

Compared with Eastern Europe, Belgium is definitely expensive.

Compared with countries like France, Germany or the Netherlands, Belgium is more comparable.

Accommodation can still get expensive in major tourist destinations, but everyday things like public transport and casual food don’t necessarily have to break the bank.

And Belgium has one major advantage for travellers:

It’s small.

You don’t need to spend hundreds of euros travelling between destinations.

You can visit several cities in one trip without covering enormous distances.

That’s a big advantage when you’re trying to keep your overall travel budget down.

So… Is Belgium Expensive?

Yes, Belgium can be expensive, but I wouldn’t call it an unaffordable destination.

If you stay in hotels, eat in restaurants every day and go out drinking every night, you’ll definitely notice it in your bank account.

But if you stay in hostels, use public transport, eat at frituurs and bakeries and focus on free things to do, you can explore Belgium on a surprisingly reasonable budget.

For a typical traveller, I’d personally budget around:

€60–80 per day for budget travel

€120–170 per day for a comfortable mid-range trip.

And honestly?

I think Belgium offers pretty good value for what you get.

You can visit medieval cities, eat ridiculous amounts of fries and chocolate, drink Belgian beer, explore the coast and travel between multiple cities without needing a huge budget.

So don’t let the idea that Belgium is expensive put you off visiting.

You can absolutely make it work.

Still wondering whether Belgium is actually worth the money? Read my Is Belgium Worth Visiting? My Honest Opinion as a Belgian for my honest take on travelling around my home country.

Planning Your Trip to Belgium?

Planning a trip to Belgium can be surprisingly difficult, especially when you’re choosing between historic cities, lively student towns, coastal destinations and smaller hidden gems.

That’s why I’ve created my Belgium Travel Guide, where I share destination guides, things to do, local tips and my personal experiences from travelling around Belgium.

→ START HERE: Belgium Travel Guides
→ GET MY GOOGLE MAP: Belgium Google Map

FAQ: Is Belgium Expensive?

Is Belgium expensive to visit?

Belgium is moderately expensive compared with many European destinations, but it doesn’t have to be extremely expensive. Budget travellers can get by on around €60–80 per day, while a comfortable mid-range trip may cost around €120–170 per day.

How much does a hotel cost in Belgium?

A normal hotel room for two people often costs around €120 per night, although prices vary significantly by city, season and hotel quality.

How much does a hostel cost in Belgium?

A shared hostel dorm usually costs around €20–30 per night, although prices can be higher during busy periods.

How much does food cost in Belgium?

A normal meal at a Belgian restaurant will often cost around €20–30 per person. Eating at a frituur, bakery or sandwich shop is usually considerably cheaper.

How much does a beer cost in Belgium?

A normal Belgian beer or pintje at a café usually costs around €3–4, although speciality beers and touristy locations can be more expensive.

Is public transport expensive in Belgium?

Public transport is relatively affordable, especially compared with travelling by car. A De Lijn bus or tram ticket currently costs €3 and is valid for 60 minutes. Train prices depend on the distance and age of the traveller, with discounts available for younger travellers and through Train+.

Is Belgium more expensive than the Netherlands?

It depends on what you’re buying, but Belgium can be cheaper for some everyday expenses. Fuel, for example, has recently been significantly cheaper in Belgium than in the Netherlands.

Can you travel Belgium on a budget?

Absolutely. Staying in hostels, eating at frituurs and bakeries, using trains and buses and focusing on free attractions can keep your Belgium travel costs relatively low.

What is the cheapest way to travel around Belgium?

For most travellers, public transport is the easiest budget-friendly option. Belgium’s train network connects the major cities, while buses and trams are useful for shorter journeys. If you’re under 26, make sure to check the current SNCB youth discounts before booking.