Namur vs Leuven
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Namur leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Leuven where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Leuven's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Namur | Leuven |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 69 | 70 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 50 | 50 |
| Climate | 92 | 93 |
| Safety | 69 | 69 |
| Summer °C | 17.5 | 17.7 |
| Winter °C | 2.4 | 2.8 |
| Top disaster risk | flooding | flooding |
Namur vs Leuven: the short answer
Leuven comes out ahead on overall livability (70/100), only marginally above Namur (69/100). The two cities diverge most on climate. On affordability Leuven is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Namur 50 vs Leuven 50, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Leuven runs warmer in summer (about 17.7°C peak vs 17.5°C in Namur), while winter lows sit near 2.4°C in Namur and 2.8°C in Leuven. On natural-disaster exposure Leuven is the safer choice (safety 69/100); the dominant modelled hazard is flooding for Namur and flooding for Leuven.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Leuven — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Leuven — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Leuven — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Leuven — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is Namur or Leuven better to live in?
Leuven scores higher overall — 70 vs 69 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Namur or Leuven?
Leuven has the lower cost of living (cost index 50 vs 50; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Namur or Leuven?
Leuven — summer highs reach about 17.7°C versus 17.5°C in Namur.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Namur or Leuven?
Leuven (disaster-safety 69/100). Main hazard: flooding in Namur, flooding in Leuven.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Namur?
flooding is the dominant modelled hazard for Namur on our risk index.
How is the Namur vs Leuven comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.