Cost of living in Belgium in 2022

Good topic, especially now that the living cost are rising due to the covid/war crisis!

Situation: Two person householding, no kids. One parttime income 3/4 (partner not yet working, still waiting for F card while doing integration/dutch courses). Type of property: rented apartment, two bedrooms, about 75 m2. Location: village, rural community, on the Dutch-Belgium border. Crossborder worker.

Monthly rent
625 euro + service cost 12,50 = 637,5 euro

Monthly charges
-Electricity (induction cooking) and gas central heating: 197,25 euro (used to be 62,70 under last year contract)
-Water: 14 euro per month (40,56 euro 3 monthly)
-Proximus (Internet only, no tv): 32,50 euro
-Mobile phone 2x: +/- 20 euro + 15 euro = 35 euro
-Skype credit for international calls: 20 euro
-No car, public transport to work: 230 euro/month
-Partner public transport to courses: +/- 51,2 euro
-Insurance: 240,52 /12= 20,04 per month
-Community tax: 390,41/12= 32,53 per month
-Study costs: 50 euro/month
-Bijdrage vlaamse zorgkas: 54x2=108/12= 9 euro/month

Groceries (food, groceries, householding items, toiletries, clothing and personal upkeep, hairdresser etc
- 500 euro

Health care (health insurance, consultations, etc.)?
- Belgian Health care: CM membership 99,96 euro + hospitaalplan 116,64 x2 persons= 333,24/12= 27,77 euro per month
- Dutch health care (obligatory for crossborder workers): 1050,24/12= 87,52 euro
- partner CAK treaty contribution Dutch Health care: 93,46 euro per month

Other cost
- Supporting family abroad: 100 euro
- Leisure activities etc: 100 euro

Savings
- 250 euro/month for unexpected expenses.

Hello photographycecile,

Thank you for your contribution on this thread.

The information provided will be very useful to some new expats.

Cheers,

Cheryl

Expat.com team