Your personal point of contact should always be your institution, as they can guide you and give you additional information about housing options as a student. Make sure to contact them as soon as you get admitted. If you are able to find a spot in a university student dormitory, then prices start only from 200 EUR per month. If you are interested in student private accommodation, it will cost you between 300-500 EUR per month.
Some average living costs in Belgium are:
| Meal | 15 € |
| Coffee | 3 € |
| Beer | 4 € |
| Cinema Ticket | 11 € |
| Monthly Rent | 200-1,000 € |
| Monthly Transport | 20€ with a student discount |
In student apartments you can have your fully furnished private room and share the rest of the facilities with other students. Make sure to always check the rental terms regarding what is included in the rent before you sign a student accommodation agreement. If you haven’t found a student apartment before the beginning of your studies, then you can stay in a hostel for a short period of time and start searching while you are located in the country.
Overall, as a student in Belgium you are expected to spend 800-1000 EUR per month. Finding a place to live on your own is more expensive, especially in a city like Brussels, ranging around 600-800 EUR per month. In smaller cities like Ghent or Leuven, the cost is smaller for student private accommodation.
For monthly transportation as a student in Belgium, you will only need to pay 20-25 EUR with the student discount. Books and study materials will cost you around 50 EUR per month, depending on the program you are studying and supermarket expenses around 300 EUR per month.
Take advantage of student discounts, use a bicycle or even walk to the university if you can and cook more instead of eating out on a daily basis. That will save you a lot of money in Belgium which you can save for a hobby or travelling!
