City in Flemish Brabant, Belgium
Cost of living in Leuven
How much a month costs in Leuven
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $2,480–3,600 (€2,200–3,200).
Prices in Leuven
Typical 2026 ranges in EUR, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | EUR | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | €950–1,500 | $1,070–1,690 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | €750–1,200 | $844–1,350 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | €30–55 | $34–62 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | €90–170 | $101–191 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | €10–15 | $11.3–16.9 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | €22–38 | $25–43 |
| Cappuccino | €3–4.2 | $3.4–4.7 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | €3–5.5 | $3.4–6.2 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | €2.5–3 | $2.8–3.4 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | €11–18 | $12–20 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | €25–45 | $28–51 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | €15–30 | $17–34 |
Value for money: 32/100
A value score of 32/100 means Leuven gives more quality of life per dollar than 31% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 85/100. It's the 1st most affordable of 5 places we cover in Belgium.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Belgium
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
Cheaper alternatives to Leuven
Similar safety, lower cost, in Europe.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Sibiu | Romania | $1,160–1,690 |
| Santiago de Compostela | Spain | $1,580–2,250 |
| Toledo | Spain | $1,690–2,360 |
| Córdoba | Spain | $1,690–2,360 |
| Coimbra | Portugal | $1,800–2,590 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Leuven?
About $1,460–2,030 on a lean budget, $2,480–3,600 for a comfortable month and $4,730–7,310 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Leuven?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs €950–1,500 ($1,070–1,690) a month in the center and €750–1,200 ($844–1,350) outside it.
How much does food cost in Leuven?
A local meal is €10–15 ($11.3–16.9); a mid-range restaurant is €22–38 ($25–43) per person.
Is Belgium expensive?
Prices in Belgium are about 81% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Leuven
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Sources
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.