How Much Does It Cost to Live In Gent?
Wherever in the world you decide to go, before making the biggest move in your life, make sure that you have assessed your lifestyle and determined if the moving is the right choice.
Once you go through all the pros and cons of moving to the city of Gent, it is also necessary that your finances would be enough to cover your family’s expenses.
If you are economical in your own country, no matter how high the expenses are, you will find places that are cheaper, thus put some money aside.
Belgium : Cost of Living by City
RESTAURANTS
Dining out is a frequent situation in Gent, as all the delicious specialties have to be tasted.
A dinner for two in an inexpensive restaurant can be around $35.
When eating out, you might not want to pay for alcohol to follow your dinner as the prices are high.
MARKETS
Food usually takes the most of monthly budget and it depends on the groceries you buy.
It is easy to find food at relatively cheaper prices at the local markets and in supermarkets which offer discounts.
Your weekly food expenses can range from $50 up to $100, based on the number of family members.
TRANSPORTATION
When it comes to transportation, you can either drive or use public transport here.
In case you want to drive in Gent, make sure that you can afford paying $6 for a gallon of gasoline, plus the expensive parking lots.
Public transport is effective and affordable even though the gasoline price is not.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
For those employed in Gent or in any other developed country who get more than the average salary may be able to say that utilities prices are not so high.
Related to Brussels, they are really low, but still you will need more than $200 to cover monthly bills.
SPORTS & LEISURE
Whether you will have enough money left to pay for some fitness club or go to the cinema depends on your own and your family’s lifestyle.
Tennis court rent is almost the same as in other European countries while fitness clubs are cheaper, $30 per month.
CLOTHING & SHOES
Keeping in mind that you have other costs, clothes are at the last place in your monthly budget.
Furthermore, they are quite expensive here, but still young people wear designers’ clothes.
You will need to separate $100 for a pair of running shoes or jeans.
RENT PER MONTH
As in many other foreign countries, housing is a big financial burden for settlers and that is why you should first think about the size of the apartment and its location before making the right decision.
The price should be appropriate for your monthly budget, and it is always advisable to rent a less expensive one out of the city center than paying so much for the one in the middle of the city’s hustle.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Gent
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $17.05 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $4.55 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $2.45 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $3.85 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.64 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.39 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $3.41 |
| Monthly Pass | $53.43 |
| Gasoline | $6.10 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $150.83 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.23 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $46.06 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $31.66 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $15.54 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $12.50 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $97.76 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $37.11 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $105.85 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $801.69 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $639.29 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $1227.02 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Gent?
The highest amount of your budget would be spent on accommodation and food, and, people who decide to eat mostly at restaurants must be aware that they are pretty expensive and can make a huge hole in their budget.
Commuting by public transport, using the metro, bus and tram lines, might be a good idea to save some money, rather than driving your car.
Utilities and sports take only about 6% of the monthly wage and again, as in almost every country, the least money is spent on clothes.
Average Costs Breakdown
Gent: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
There is a very little difference between the minimum and average monthly wage, and it is estimated that it is a salary that can cover all the expenses which are cheaper than many others countries in the European Union, but still quite higher than in less developed countries.
If you are earning enough and thinking of buying a property in Gent, then you can find the mortgage interest rate very low and reasonable.
All in all, the amount of money you will spend wherever you find yourself in the world depends on your needs and lifestyle.
Cost of Living by City in Gent
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Antwerp | 74.88 |
| Brussels | 75.69 |
| Leuven | 74.58 |
