The living cost in Belgium for international students is around €1,236 a month. Belgium is the 11th most expensive countries to live in Europe. So it's only fair that you're curious about the living expenses in Belgium for international students before you commit to a city.

In the end, living in any Belgian city is as expensive as you make it. But to help you prepare a realistic student budget, we'll share money-saving tips and estimates of your monthly expenses such as groceries, transportation, leisure, accommodation, health insurance, and SIM card subscription.

Key takeaways:

• The living cost in Belgium for international students is €1,236 a month.
• Brussels is Belgium's most international student city, with an average living cost of about €1,243 a month.
• Brussels is 33% cheaper than Leuven on rent, and Ghent is the most expensive student city in Belgium, mostly because rent is so high.
• EEA students pay around €835 to €980 a year in tuition, while non-EEA students can pay anywhere from that same rate up to €8,000 a year.
• Expect to spend €250 to €350 a month on groceries and another €200 to €300 on socializing. Luckily, public transport can cost less than €20 a month with student discounts.

Is Belgium expensive for international students?

While Belgium is one of the most expensive countries to live in, studying here is affordable. For example, a non-EEA student pays €835 – €8,000 per academic year in Belgium versus €6,000 - €20,000 per year in the Netherlands. Plus, public transportation and insurance for students are cheap in Belgium and you'll be able to benefit from various student discounts.

You can also get a part-time job next to your studies to get some extra income and boost your resume for your future employment in Belgium. As a 20-year-old student in Belgium, you can make a minimum of €9.87 per hour. But keep in mind that, if you're on a student visa, you can only work for a maximum of 20 hours per week during the school semester.

As an international student, you'll be spending on average of €1,236 per month in Belgium. This estimate includes your housing costs, study materials, food, transportation, health insurance and leisure.

Type of expense	Average monthly cost
Educational materials	€40 – €60
Accommodation	€635 – €1,200
Health insurance	€8 – €10
Local SIM contract	€15 – €30
Public transport	€20
Groceries	€250 - €350
Leisure	€200 – €300

How much does it cost to live in Brussels as a student?

Brussels is the most popular city in Belgium for international students with living expenses around €1,960. It's home to major institutions like the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and ULB.

According to the HousingAnywhere Rent Index, the median rent for a room in Brussels is €600 a month, down 7.7% year over year and cheaper than national average. Of course, prices vary a lot depending on the neighborhood.

Pro tip: Sometimes you can snatch tickets for cultural events in Brussels with a good discount if you select 'last minute tickets' on visit.brussels.

Because Brussels is Belgium's only bilingual city, it's also the one place you'll find both Dutch and French universities.

How much does it cost to live in Leuven as a student?

Leuven is one of Belgium's classic student towns, built around KU Leuven and a historic centre anchored by the Oude Markt, the longest bar in Europe. If you choose Leuven as your next base, prepare to budget around €1,681. Daily costs in Leuven are 14% less expensive than Brussels. However, a room in Leuven typically goes for around €796 a month, 33% more expensive than Brussels.

Tuition fees in Belgian universities

Tuition fee is one of the largest chunks of your yearly expenses. It is paid in advance for the whole academic year. The amount you'd pay differs, depending on where in Belgium your university is located.

In Flanders, the costs for your program are calculated by the number of ECTS (credits) it includes. The standard number is 60 ECTS per year.

This is what you can expect to pay at a Dutch-speaking Belgian university:

• Belgian and EEA students: €980/year
• non-EEA students: €980 – €8,000 (depending on your program) In Wallonian universities, EEA students pay a set fee while tuition fees for non-EEA students depend on their nationality.

Here's what you'd pay at a French-speaking university in Belgium:

• Belgian and EEA students: €835/year
• non-EEA students: €4,175/year or €835, if you're from one of the least developed countries

If you're a Dutch student moving to Belgium, the Netherlands' EU membership means you pay the same EEA rate as Belgian nationals, not the non-EEA rate. That works out to roughly €979.60 a year at a Flemish university or €835 a year at a Wallonian one, the same numbers your Belgian and other EU classmates pay.

Scholarships in Belgium

The best way to reduce the financial burden of studying is to get a scholarship. Look at the university's website to see if you're eligible for any financial aid.

Popular student scholarships in Belgium include:

• Master Mind scholarships for international master's students in Flanders.
• Belgian American Educational Foundation Fellowships for US citizens moving to Belgium to pursue their graduate studies or research.
• VLIR-UOS scholarships for students from developing countries who wish to study in Flanders.
• ARES scholarships for advanced bachelor's or master's degree students from developing countries who wish to study in Wallonia or Brussels.

Student accommodation costs in Belgium

Housing will make up the biggest portion of your monthly living expenses, depending on the city, the popularity of the neighbourhood, and the type of accommodation you choose.

Here’s what rent looks like in Belgium's top student cities:

City	Known for	Room	Studio	Apartment
Leuven	Classic student town, KU Leuven, Oude Markt	€796	€995	€1,300
Brussels	Bilingual capital, VUB and ULB, big-city buzz	€600	€855	€1,250
Ghent	Canal-side city, Ghent University, cycling	€1,200	€1,206	€1,550
Antwerp	Fashion and port city, University of Antwerp	€775	€1,070	€1,050
Liège	Wallonia's main student hub, affordable	€325	€550	€787

Whether you're exploring student-friendly accommodation in Brussels, Liège, Ghent or Antwerp, pay attention to what's included in the monthly price. You might have the utilities included or you have to set up utilities yourself. Take the time to find the best offer by using a comparison website like energyprice.be.

Here're the average monthly housing costs in Belgium:

Monthly expenses	Average monthly cost
Room in a shared apartment (kot)	€635
Studio	€875
Utilities	€90 – €180

Besides rent and utilities, you'll have to pay a deposit worth 1–3 months' rent on top of the first month's rent. You'll get that money back after you move out.

Most students in Belgium prefer to share an apartment with other students to save money on rent and utilities. Though this can be a great way to make friends and reduce household chores, sharing a living space isn't for everyone. So if you're more of a lone wolf and don't mind paying more, you can look for a studio instead.

How to find a student housing safely

Moving abroad for uni usually means signing a lease and paying a deposit before you’ve even seen the place in person. That’s exactly how people end up getting scammed if they aren't careful.

To keep things safe, book your accommodation through a secure platform like HousingAnywhere, which uses verified landlord profiles and AI scam detection to screen listings. After you book, your first month's rent is held securely until you actually move in and make sure everything looks right through HousingAnywhere Tenant Protection. If anything is off, you have a 48-hour window to flag it before the money is released. It's one less thing to worry about while you're juggling tuition deadlines, visa paperwork, and packing your bags.

Health insurance costs for Belgian students

EEA students who don't have an EHIC valid for the whole duration of their stay must register with the Belgian health insurance fund. Depending on the fund, you'll pay a quarterly membership contribution of €21 – €25.

Non-EEA students must register with Belgian health insurance in the 'student' category once they arrive in Belgium and pay a legal contribution fee of €55 - €66 per quarter. Once you've got your residence permit, you can change your registration to the 'resident' category. Unless you earn an income in Belgium, no legal contribution fee is due. But you must register with the Belgian health insurance fund and pay a quarterly membership contribution of €21 – €25.

Public transportation costs for students in Belgium

Public transportation in Belgium is relatively affordable, unless you use it frequently. For example, if you bought a 1-hour ticket of €2.10 – €2.60 every day, you'd spend around €63 by the end of the month. So we recommend you get a bike instead.

Some cities offer discounts on public transportation subscriptions for students. If you’re aged between 18 – 24, you can get a season ticket for unlimited travel with tram, bus and metro in Brussels for only €12 a year.

If you’re under 26 and you commute to your university from a different city, you can also get a good deal with the Student Multi (Campus) train ticket.

Groceries and food costs for students in Belgium

Belgium's notorious for steep grocery prices. So that's where you should really try to be resourceful. In general, you can expect to spend €250 - €350 per month on your groceries in Belgium.

While your dietary and cooking choices have an impact, choosing a cheaper supermarket to buy groceries from can make all the difference. Try to shop at Lidl, Aldi and Colruyt and pay attention to weekly discounts. Also, farmers' markets offer relatively cheap local veggies and fruits. And you'll likely get a good deal at the end of the day, before closing.

Most Belgian universities offer affordable food in the cafeteria. You can often get a decent hot meal for only €3 - €7! And, if you live with roommates, eating together and sharing your grocery bill will help to significantly reduce your day-to-day expenses.

Leisure and nightlife for students in Belgium

As a student in a popular Belgian city, you're likely to spend around €200 – €300 per month on entertainment. Within that budget, you'd be able to occasionally have a few glasses of Belgian beer in a bar, eat out at inexpensive restaurants and go clubbing every other weekend.

Look out for student discounts and happy hours in your city and always have your student ID on you. Cinemas, like UGC and Cinema Galeries in Brussels, offer reduced tickets for students and those under 18 years old.

Some museums and galleries have free admission for everyone. For example, in Brussels, you can appreciate art for free at La Patinoire Royale and Maison des Arts. And if you go to museums frequently, consider getting the museumPASSmusées. For €59 per year, you can visit over 220 Belgian museums at any time.

Here's an overview of prices for leisure and entertainment activities in Belgium:

Type of expense	Average price
Coffee / soft drink / regular beer (25 cl) in a café	€2.50
Filter coffee (specialty coffee bar)	€3
Meal at inexpensive restaurant	€15
Imported Beer (0.33-litre bottle)	€5
Nightclub entrance	€10
Museum ticket (student fare)	€5
Cinema ticket	€11
Monthly gym membership	€33

Money-saving tips for international students in Belgium

As an international student, your cost of living in Belgium will be around €873 – €1,370. To make sure your budget is on the lower side of the estimate follow these cost-saving tips:

• live in a shared apartment in a less popular neighbourhood
• compare providers to find the best deal for energy and water
• check if you're eligible for a scholarship or study grant
• register with the Belgian health insurance fund in the 'resident' category
• get around your city by bike
• buy groceries at discount supermarkets and stay on top of weekly discounts
• eat at the university cafeteria
• make use of happy hours and student discounts, and always have your student ID on you

FAQ

Is Brussels expensive for students?

Yes, relative to the rest of Belgium, though rooms have actually gotten a little cheaper lately. Brussels rooms had a median rent of €600 a month on HousingAnywhere's Rent Index, down 7.7% year over year, and the capital also offers some of the country's best student transport and museum discounts to help offset the cost.

Where is the cheapest place to live in Belgium as a student?

Liège is the most affordable Belgium's main student cities, with rooms averaging around €325 a month, well below Brussels, Leuven, Ghent, or Antwerp. Smaller towns outside the main university cities can be cheaper still, though you'll want to weigh that against how far you'd be commuting to class.

How much money do you need per month as a student in Belgium?

For a full academic year, EU/EEA students should budget roughly €11,035 to €17,960. Non-EU/EEA students will need a bit more, ranging from €12,700 to over €24,800.

How much is monthly rent in Belgium?

A room in a shared kot typically costs around €635 a month, a studio will run you €875, and an apartment goes for about €1,200, though the exact price depends on where you live. Cities like Brussels, Ghent, and Antwerp are on the higher end of the scale, while Liège and smaller towns tend to be a lot cheaper.

Is Belgium less expensive than the Netherlands?

As a student, the Netherlands roughly 35% pricier overall. You'll spend an average of €1,677 a month in Dutch cities including rent (€853 without it), compared to just €1,239 in Belgium (€588 before rent). Everyday things like food, transport, and going out are 45% more expensive in the Netherlands.

Can I live in Belgium if I only speak English?

In Brussels, Leuven, and other cities with a large international student population, you can get by day to day in English, especially around universities and in student-heavy neighbourhoods. That said, Belgium's official languages are Dutch, French, and German, and official paperwork, some administrative offices, and daily life outside the bigger cities require at least basic Dutch or French.

How much can you earn as a student in Belgium?

On a student visa, you can work up to 20 hours a week during the school semester, and the minimum wage for a 20-year-old is €9.87 an hour. That works out to a gross ceiling of roughly €850 a month if you worked the full 20 hours every week.

How much tuition do Dutch students have to pay to study in Belgium?

As EU citizens, Dutch students pay the same EEA tuition rate as Belgian nationals, not the non-EEA rate. That's roughly €979.60 a year at a Flemish university or €835 a year at a Wallonian one.

What's the cheapest way to live as a student in Belgium?

Share a kot in a less central neighbourhood, cook with groceries from Lidl, Aldi, or Colruyt, get around by bike instead of public transport, and register with the Belgian health insurance fund in the 'resident' category once you have your residence permit.