Belgium vs Italy

Belgium
Europe
Capital Brussels · 11M people · Euro
Italy
Europe
Capital Rome · 60M people · Euro
Cost of living
Italy
$704/mo
Safety
Belgium
0.9/5
Getting around
Belgium
0.2/5
Culture
Italy
0.2/5
Passport reach
Belgium
not scored
Airports
Italy
190M passengers/yr
Climate
Depends on you
not scored
Overall
Italy edges it, 3–2.
Across 5 scored factors, each counted once — we don't weight them for you. Healthcare, visas and tax aren't included.

Cost of living

monthly median · solo budget

Italy is cheaper
$2,622/mo
Minimalist $1,960 · Comfort $3,909
ranks #86 of 95 worldwide
$1,918/mo
Minimalist $1,459 · Comfort $2,797
ranks #71 of 95 worldwide

Cost in the three biggest cities

Brussels$2,824$2,213Rome
Antwerpen$2,708$2,607Milan
Gent$2,625$1,638Naples

Italy is cheaper: $1,918/mo against Belgium's $2,622/mo.

Belgium is pricier than 36 of 41 European countries; Italy is pricier than 25 of 41 European countries.

Safety

safety index

Belgium is safer

Belgium

3.2/5
Mixed picture

Italy

2.3/5
Use caution
BE flagBelgiumItalyIT flagGap
Street safety3.5/53.0/5+0.5
Property safety2.6/52.0/5+0.6
Road safety3.5/52.2/5+1.3
Earthquake safety4.8/52.5/5+2.3
Wildfire safety4.0/52.6/5+1.4
Flood safety2.2/52.5/5+0.3

Belgium is safer: 3.2/5 against Italy's 2.3/5.

Belgium is safer than 21 of 41 European countries; Italy is less safe than 32 of 41 European countries.

Getting around

transit & transport systems

Belgium scores higher

Belgium

3.1/5
City-dependent

Italy

2.9/5
City-dependent
BE flagBelgiumItalyIT flagGap
Walkability3.4/54.1/5+0.7
Transit3.3/53.3/5Even
Cycling3.2/51.8/5+1.4
Airport access3.2/53.3/5+0.1

Belgium scores higher on mobility: 3.1/5 against Italy's 2.9/5.

Belgium is easier to get around than 24 of 41 European countries; Italy is harder to get around than 20 of 41 European countries.

Culture

cultural depth

Italy scores higher

Belgium

3.7/5
Strong scene

Italy

3.9/5
Strong scene

World Heritage sites

Italy

Photos via Wikimedia Commons · data UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Italy scores higher on culture: 3.9/5 against Belgium's 3.7/5.

Belgium is richer in culture than 22 of 41 European countries; Italy is richer in culture than 30 of 41 European countries.

Passport reach

what the passport opens

Belgium reaches more
BE flagBelgiumItalyIT flagGap
Visa-free destinations106101+5
GDP reach92%92%Even
Heritage sites reachable11381133+5

Belgium's passport reaches 106 destinations visa-free to Italy's 101 — Belgium opens more doors without a visa.

Passport strength shifts over years of naturalisation, not months of planning, so it's a long-horizon footnote — not scored in the tally.

Airports

international connectivity

Italy is better connected

Flight connectivity in the biggest cities

BE flagBelgiumItalyIT flagGap
Major airports225+23
Annual passengers35M225M+190M

Italy is better connected: 225M passengers/yr against Belgium's 35M passengers/yr.

Belgium is busier than 45 of 87 countries worldwide; Italy is busier than 79 of 87 countries worldwide. Belgium sees ~3 air passengers per resident a year; Italy sees ~4 air passengers per resident a year — a derived figure, not itself ranked.

Climate

where most people live · °C

Depends on you
Belgium-13°C to 30°C
Italy-5°C to 36°C

Extremes — coldest Bolzano -17°C

-25°-10°10°30°45°

Belgium runs -13°C to 30°C for most people; Italy runs -5°C to 36°C for most people.

Bolzano runs colder, at -17°C. Depends on you — which range fits your tolerance is the real question here, not a score.

Belgium vs Italy: frequently asked

▶Should I move to Belgium or Italy?
Italy edges it, 3–2. Across 5 scored factors, each counted once — we don't weight them for you. Healthcare, visas and tax aren't included.
▶Is Belgium or Italy cheaper?
Italy is cheaper: $1,918/mo against Belgium's $2,622/mo. Belgium is pricier than 36 of 41 European countries; Italy is pricier than 25 of 41 European countries.
▶Is Belgium or Italy safer?
Belgium is safer: 3.2/5 against Italy's 2.3/5. Belgium is safer than 21 of 41 European countries; Italy is less safe than 32 of 41 European countries.
▶Is it easier to get around in Belgium or Italy?
Belgium scores higher on mobility: 3.1/5 against Italy's 2.9/5. Belgium is easier to get around than 24 of 41 European countries; Italy is harder to get around than 20 of 41 European countries.
▶Does Belgium or Italy have a richer culture?
Italy scores higher on culture: 3.9/5 against Belgium's 3.7/5. Belgium is richer in culture than 22 of 41 European countries; Italy is richer in culture than 30 of 41 European countries.
▶Which has better flight connections, Belgium or Italy?
Italy is better connected: 225M passengers/yr against Belgium's 35M passengers/yr. Belgium is busier than 45 of 87 countries worldwide; Italy is busier than 79 of 87 countries worldwide. Belgium sees ~3 air passengers per resident a year; Italy sees ~4 air passengers per resident a year — a derived figure, not itself ranked.
▶Which passport is stronger, Belgium or Italy?
Belgium's passport reaches 106 destinations visa-free to Italy's 101 — Belgium opens more doors without a visa. Passport strength shifts over years of naturalisation, not months of planning, so it's a long-horizon footnote — not scored in the tally.
▶What is the climate like in Belgium versus Italy?
Belgium runs -13°C to 30°C for most people; Italy runs -5°C to 36°C for most people. Bolzano runs colder, at -17°C. Depends on you — which range fits your tolerance is the real question here, not a score.