Buying Now Cheaper Than Renting in Several Brussels Suburbs, Data Shows

For the first time in at least five years, buying a home is now more affordable than renting in several Brussels suburbs, with monthly mortgage payments slipping below typical rent levels in districts such as Evere and Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, according to new figures supplied to The Daily Brussels by property data firm Immoweb Analytics.

The change lands as rents in the Brussels region have outpaced average wage gains, stoking concerns among policymakers at the Region de Bruxelles-Capitale. With mortgage rates moderating from their 2025 peak and housing supply ticking upward in the post-pandemic construction wave, buyers in specific districts are suddenly finding themselves with monthly outgoings lower than renters for comparable properties. The impact is particularly pronounced for working families navigating persistently high living costs and increased economic uncertainty tied to ongoing European energy disruptions and conflict-related inflation pressure.

Real Prices, Real Places

Take Evere. A survey of listings last week on Rue Auguste De Boeck showed two-bedroom flats advertised for rent at €1,350 per month, while similar properties could be purchased for around €325,000. With rates from Brussels-based lender Crelan now averaging 2.7% on a 20-year fixed mortgage with a 10% deposit, buyers’ monthly repayments are coming in at approximately €1,220, factoring current property taxes and standard charges. In Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, typical monthly rents for a 90-square-metre townhouse recently surged to €1,500, while comparable houses are advertised for sale around €360,000—yielding repayments close to €1,350. The non-profit housing consultancy Steunpunt Wonen confirms these figures: in its June bulletin, the group highlighted a 'notable gap' opening in favour of buyers for houses and large flats in Brussels Nord-Ouest and Est communes.

The mayor’s office in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert told The Daily Brussels it is monitoring price movements on both sides of the market as new developments on Avenue de Broqueville and alongside Parc Malou appear to be nudging buyer affordability up even as rent inflation matures. While the pattern isn’t yet citywide—inner city neighbourhoods like Saint-Gilles and Ixelles still favour renters—the suburbs around the E40 ring are shifting rapidly.

The Data Behind the Shift

The regional property observatory, Observatoire des Loyers, reports that average rental levels across Brussels have jumped 8.4% since June 2024, hitting record highs in June 2026. Meanwhile, average sale prices in Evere and Berchem are up by just under 4%, buoyed by a glut of new builds released during the 2025-2026 construction season. Analysts at Immoweb attribute this trend partly to a rush of new supply in rezoned industrial pockets along Boulevard Léopold III and the edges of Tour & Taxis, where developers like Immobel and Atenor have delivered hundreds of new units. With the Belgian National Bank holding its benchmark rate steady since March, residential mortgage offers remain competitive, and major banks such as Belfius and BNP Paribas Fortis continue to advertise package deals for Brussels-based buyers under 35.

Local agencies point out that recent government incentives, such as the regional "Chèque Habitat" for first-time buyers and extended tax deductions for eco-renovated homes, have further tipped the equation toward buyers in Laeken, Evere, and Ganshoren in particular. The same does not yet hold for renters of high-end flats in central Brussels, but experts suggest the trend could spread if interest rates stabilize or rents climb further.

Advice for Would-Be Buyers and Renters

For anyone weighing their next move, property consultant Clara Lefebvre recommends scrutinizing the local market and factoring in additional costs such as registration duties (droits d’enregistrement) and communal taxes. She points to upcoming developments near the Bordet station, set to deliver more affordable apartments in late 2026, as worth watching for price-sensitive buyers. Meanwhile, the Brussels Housing Portal (portail.brussels/logement) is updating its affordability guides this month with the latest metrics. With the gap between rent and buy costs expected to persist until at least mid-2027, residents in several outlying Brussels communes now find that ownership might finally be within closer—and cheaper—reach than renting, at least for those able to muster a down payment.