Is Antwerp expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Antwerp is mid-priced for Western Europe: cheaper than Amsterdam, Paris or London, and a little cheaper than Brussels or Bruges for hotels. Expect about €95 a day per person on a budget, about €178 mid-range and about €320 for comfort. Rooms, restaurant meals and museum tickets are the main costs; beer and fries are cheap pleasures.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €45 | €80 | €150 |
| Food & drink | €30 | €55 | €95 |
| Sights & tickets | €15 | €35 | €50 |
| Local transport | €5 | €8 | €25 |
| Per person, per day | €95 | €178 | €320 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Antwerp day-cost table.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Coffee in a café | about €3–4 |
| Belgian fries in a paper cone | about €4–5 |
| Bolleke of De Koninck beer | about €3–4 |
| Trappist or abbey beer | about €4–7 |
| Brasserie main course | €20–28 |
| De Lijn tram or bus ticket (60 min) | about €3 |
| Cathedral of Our Lady | about €12 |
| KMSKA fine-arts museum | about €20 |
| Old-town double room | €130–200 |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Accommodation is the biggest cost: hotels around Antwerpen-Centraal start at about €80–120 for a double, the old town and Het Zuid cost about €120–200 and design hotels €220–380. Eating out comes next, with brasserie mains at €20–28, though lunch menus of €18–25 are good value. Museums add up if you see several: the cathedral, Plantin-Moretus, MAS and KMSKA each cost about €10–20. Getting around is cheap — the centre is walkable and a Velo bike day pass is about €5–7.
When it is cheaper
January to March and November are usually the cheapest months for hotels, apart from big trade-fair or event dates. Weekends can be cheaper than weekdays in business-oriented hotels near the station.
How to spend less
- Plan the cathedral and churches for Monday, when most museums are closed.
- Take the weekday lunch menu at a restaurant in Het Zuid or Kloosterstraat instead of a big dinner.
- Ride the free MAS escalators to the rooftop for a city view without buying an exhibition ticket.
- Use a Velo shared bike day pass (about €5–7) instead of trams for the docks and Het Zuid.
- Check the current Antwerp city card and compare it with the museums you actually plan to see.
- Stay near Antwerpen-Centraal for lower prices and direct trains to Brussels and the airport.
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Common questions
Is Antwerp cheaper than Brussels?
It is similar, and hotels are often a little cheaper. Food and drink prices are about the same.
How much does a beer cost in Antwerp?
A bolleke of De Koninck costs about €3–4; Trappist and abbey beers about €4–7.
How much money do I need per day in Antwerp?
About €95 per person on a budget, about €178 mid-range and about €320 for comfort, based on two people sharing.