Is Renting Actually Cheaper Than Buying Right Now in Brussels?

For many in Brussels, the old rule of thumb that owning is always more cost-effective than renting no longer holds true. As interest rates continue to bite and home prices show little sign of cooling, new residents and long-time Brusseleirs alike are discovering that, in several of the city’s most sought-after neighbourhoods, renting is—at least for now—the more affordable option.

The question strikes at the heart of daily life in a city riven by a growing affordability gap. In the shadow of recent economic pressures—war in Ukraine, persistent inflation across the Eurozone, and the aftershocks of last month’s record heatwave—housing costs now loom larger than ever in Brussels’ political debate. National housing policy reforms have stalled, housing permit data is behind schedule, and each new listing on websites like Immoweb and Zimmo is scrutinised for signs the tide may finally be turning.

Ixelles, Jourdan, and the Numbers

Take Ixelles, where a tidy two-bedroom apartment on Rue Lesbroussart rents for €1,400 a month—about the going rate for the central commune. Compare that to buying: at median sale prices hovering around €510,000 for a similar-sized property, factoring in a 20% down payment and monthly repayments with the current average variable mortgage rate of 4.7%, buyers face monthly costs of at least €2,100, not including maintenance or property tax. Meanwhile, in Etterbeek, the city’s new rental permit initiative, Permis de Location Etterbeek, has registered a surge of applicants struggling to bridge high deposit requirements now expected by landlords.

Recent data from Statbel, Belgium’s national statistics office, reveals that across Brussels-Capital, the average rent rose to €1,175 per month by June 2026—a 6% increase from last year. Median property prices in Brussels have edged up 4.5% in the same period, with the cost of buying further amplified by a Bank of Belgium survey showing mortgage approvals trending downward since February. First-time buyers, squeezed by steeper loan conditions and inflation, are either delaying purchases or opting for long-term leases in neighbourhoods such as Saint-Gilles and Schaerbeek, where landlords still command premium rents but maintain lower upfront purchase prices than in Uccle or Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.

What Next for Brussels’ Renters and Buyers?

Looking ahead, real estate analysts from Federia and the notary platform Notaris.be suggest prices are unlikely to fall significantly in the coming year, owing to persistent under-supply and slow-moving planning approvals—especially around redevelopments like the Tour & Taxis site near the canal. For those currently weighing their options, the consensus is clear: renting remains the cheaper monthly option in much of the city, though tenants face a risk of further rent hikes unless Brussels Parliament pushes through new rent control legislation this autumn.

For practical purposes, prospective buyers should closely review their total cost of homeownership, which in Brussels includes taxes (registration duties currently 12.5%), insurance, and maintenance, as well as unpredictable energy costs that have seen another uptick since late June. Tenants, meanwhile, should be aware of increasing competition: estate agents report that properties on Chaussée de Louvain and Avenue de la Couronne are often snapped up within days. Until interest rates drop or housing supply rises, the smart money may be on renting—at least for the next twelve months.