Cost of Living in Brussels

Making Cents

How much does it cost to live in Brussels?

Cost of living expenses swing wildly in Brussels, and like most anywhere, really depends on the individual. Here our local Expert Kimberley Lovato 'makes cents' of it all. Kim is a freelance writer and author who lives with her family in Brussels.  Visit her website at www.kimberleylovato.com

Housing and accommodation

Housing is the biggest cost of living expense for Expats, though with the economy in crisis, landlords are becoming much more willing to negotiate lease prices these days, whether you are in an existing lease or  just moving to the area. Make sure you ask how long a property has been vacant. You may have some leverage to reduce the rent if the figure is more than 6 months.

The cost of apartments and houses varies dramatically and depends on the standard of living and the space, and the proximity to the centre of Brussels and the European quarter. Certain neighborhoods are more expensive than others… Ixelles, Uccle and Woluwe St. Pierre among the higher cost quarters of the city. But the good news - there is a plethora of choice when it comes to finding a place to live in Brussels and there is truly something for every budget.

A quick check of Belgium’s most used real estate site, immoweb.be, found a studio apartment in the center of town costing 300 euros per month, an unfurnished house in Ixelles for 3,000 euros per month, and pages of 2-bedroom apartments in Woluwe St. Pierre ranging from 600 to 1,000 euros a month. Really, when I say the choice is vast, I am not kidding. Further out of the city, in Waterloo, Tervuren and Overijse, expats can expect to find more family friendly homes with large gardens with garages and sometimes pools (but why) for anywhere from 2,700 euros to 5,000 or more. Again, the cost of living ultimately depends on the size, location and style of the home.

Utilities

Monthly cost of living charges for heating, electricity, gas, and phone also swing wildly, depending on the system and usage. Electricity is expensive, and rates recently went up 20 percent. A large house (200m2) can be 300 euros a month or more for electricity usage, where a 2-bedroom apartment might be 60-100.

Heating is necessary in the winter. Some older houses require you to fill tanks in the basement with a type of oil. There are services that come and do this, and your landlord will likely give you the name, but it’s up to the tenant to pay for it.    

Fuel charges for automobiles are pretty stable. At the moment, the price for Super95  (unleaded gasoline) is roughly 1,33 euros per litre. For diesel, 1,01 per litre.  For heating oil  (for above mentioned heating system) the price is 0,59 per litre. Check www.energy.eu/prices for up to date figures.

Communications

You can get a phone line for as little as 18 euros per month and there are various plans that will add on TV, Internet and mobile phone service too. Plans for international calling exist but I must say that it’s still not as cheap as in the U.S.  though things seem to be getting more competitive. Calling costs from a cell phone is very expensive, within Belgium and within Europe. Calling international on the cell phone is rediculous. There are not 5,000 free minute plans in Belgium. Yet. Your best bet is to talk to a Belgacom representative or go to belgacom.be and pick a plan that’s right for you. Tip: Make sure you ask about your contract terms. Sometimes the contract renews EVERY time you tack on a new feature. So, plan ahead, ask questions ahead, then sign up for what you need all at once.

Dining Out

Some of the best bargains in Brussels are edible and the good restaurants are too numerous to list. The snack stands around town sell the famous Frites (chips to you Brits, fries to Americans) in heaping quantities for roughly 3 euros, depending on the location.  Sauce is a must, and of course is  extra, about 0,50.  Waffles (gaufres) are best bought from the trucks that set up in tourist locations and in the main squares and sell for roughly 1 euro.

One of my favorite outings in Brussels is to the ubiquitous “snack” shops found in every neighborhood.  These family run places dish up falafels, gyros, frites, and other specialties served in a pita or wrap with veggies and garlic sauce for about 3,50 euros. 
 
For higher end fare, many of the finer restaurants around the city offer a great chance to try the food at a fraction of the cost of the dinner menu if you go for the prix fixe lunch menu.  Belga Queen’s changes every day and offers an entree and a main for 16 euros. L’idiot du Village in Les Marolles offers two courses for 15 euros.  At the ultra fancy Le Chalet de la Foret, lunch is an entrée, a main and dessert for 34 euros---steep but still well off the dinner menu price.  For daily outings, places like Mamma Roma are a great and offer cheap and good quality.  Order oven baked pizza by the slice or the lunch special, 2 slices plus a drink for 7 euros.

A cup of coffee can range from some cheap swill at a local bar for 1,50 to fancier (and tastier) cappuccinos at a swank café like Cook & Book, 3, 50.  Same goes for beer or glasses of wine. The house wine at a local bar won’t be more than 3-4 Euros. But head to the myriad of wine bars, hotel bars, fancier restaurants, and single glasses of wine can reach into the teens.  I’d say the average is between 7-10 per glass.

Like housing, dining out costs depend on where you go and there is a lot of variety in both type of food and price. One thing to note, food is top notch, and from the  less expensive snack shops to the high-end Michelin star restaurants, dining in Brussels is a pleasure that will not disappoint any taste or budget.

Public Transport

Lots of people drive (like maniacs) in Brussels, and depending on where you live, this might be a requirement. But if you plan to work and live in the city center or European quarter, public transport is affordable and well connected via the metro, bus, and tram lines, and less of a headache since you don’t have to deal with expensive and limited parking and parking fines.  A ride on the metro and tram is 1,30 euros. Bus, 1,70. Or you can buy a 10-ride card for all public transport for 12,30.  A taxi ride from the city center to the airport is about 40 euros.

Unfortunately, there is not very efficient metro/bus service direct to the airport so if you plan to take public transport to Zaventem Airport, give yourself plenty of time to get there from anywhere in the city.

Common Goods

Thought here are dozens of specialty and ethnic shops in Brussels, the main supermarkets chains are Delhaize and Carrefour, and both offer everything from meat and fish to laundry detergent and cat food. In general, I don’t find typical items more or less expensive than the U.S.  Colruyt is also a chain around Belgium and is known to sell things in ‘bulk’, and at very competitive prices Colruyt is characterized by its no-frills appearance. Items are displayed on metal shelves, the lighting is dimmed, and the company does not provide shopping bags to customers. I’ve heard many say that the meat is excellent and you can order ahead any special cuts and quantities.

FYI: None of the major chains provide bags anymore, so buy them once and re-use them each time. Or bring your own from home.

Here is a list from my recent shopping trip to Carrefour. Things like fruit in the winter can be very pricey but in season, they are right in there with the rest of the planet.  
   

Twelve rolls of generic brand toilet paper	4,35
Red seedless grapes	1,99 kilo
4-pak Yoplait yogurt	2,79
Milk, 1-litre	1,29
Tube of Colgate toothpaste	3,32
2k bag of Friskies cat food	4,85
Chiquita bananas	1,35 kilo
Dish soap, 500 ml bottle	1,29
Butter, 250 grams	1,69
Baguette	0,85
Pantene shampoo, 300 ml bottle	3,79
Avocado	1,59
Tuna, large can	2,45
Ariel laundry detergent	8,75
½ kilo lamb chops	16,50
Red leaf lettuce	1,39

Babysitters

If you decide to hire a babysitter, nanny, or cleaning person, you will also find the rates to be affordable.  On average, 7 euros per hour is the going rate, and many cleaning people will do the ironing and some will even cook simple meals.  But this is to be negotiated directly with the person and/or agency, if you go that route.  www.xpats.com lists classifieds ad where you can search for or post for domestic help. 

Tip:  In the six years I’ve lived here, not one of my baby sitters nor cleaning persons has had a drivers license. If you are looking for help picking up children from school, or driving them to activities, you need to specify this upfront and search accordingly.

Kimberley Lovato is a freelance writer and author who lives with her family in Brussels.  Visit her website at www.kimberleylovato.com