Is Belgium a Good Place to Live?
Is Belgium a good place to live? The honest answer depends on what you value, so here is the case for and against, built from Eurostat data rather than opinion: cost, salaries, safety, healthcare and quality of life, each against the EU average.
The verdict
The short answer
Short answer: Belgium leans positive on the numbers, with 6 clear strengths against 2 weak spots. The standout in its favour is easy healthcare access; the one to weigh against it is a high cost of living. Self-reported life satisfaction is 7.6/10.
The case for
Why Belgium works
- Easy healthcare access. Unmet healthcare need of 0.9 %, 62% below the EU average.
- A low poverty rate. At-risk-of-poverty of 10.9 %, 33% below the EU average.
- Strong take-home pay. Net salary (single) of 34.642 €/yr, 29% above the EU average.
- Low income inequality. Income inequality (Gini) of 23.4 0–100, 20% below the EU average.
- Manageable housing costs. Housing cost overburden of 6.7 % of pop., 13% below the EU average.
- High life satisfaction. Life satisfaction of 7.6 /10, 6% above the EU average.
The case against
What to weigh up
- A high cost of living. Price level of 105.3 EU=100, 5% above the EU average.
- Higher violent crime than most. Homicide rate of 1.4 /100k, the 25th-lowest of 30 European countries.
Cost of living
How expensive is Belgium?
Expect a price level of 105.3 against the EU benchmark of 100, which puts everyday costs 5% above the EU average. The line that varies most is rent: nationally 6.7% of people are housing-cost overburdened (13% below the EU average), with the capital well above that. Our cost of living in Belgium page breaks down the full picture.
Safety
Is Belgium safe?
On the hardest measure, Belgium records 1.4 homicides per 100,000 people, the 25th-lowest of 30 European countries. Perceived crime tells the day-to-day story: 12.4% of residents report crime, violence or vandalism in their area, 24% above the EU average. As everywhere, both vary sharply by city and neighbourhood, so treat the national figures as a baseline and check the specific area you are considering.
Healthcare
Healthcare in Belgium
Two numbers sketch healthcare in Belgium: a 82.4-year life expectancy (around the EU average) and an unmet-need rate of 0.9% (62% below the EU average). The first reflects outcomes, the second how reachable and affordable care is in practice. Both are national averages; rural access differs from the cities.
Work
Working in Belgium: pay and jobs
Take-home pay averages around 34.642 EUR/year for a single earner, after the 37.9% tax wedge. The labour market reads 6.2% unemployment against a 72.8% employment rate, a comparatively open market, though sector and language still decide a lot. What that wage buys depends on the 105.3 price level, which is the real test of an offer.
Fit
Who Belgium suits
Who does Belgium suit? Families will weigh the 1.4 per 100,000 homicide rate, 0.9% unmet healthcare need and 6.6% overcrowding, a mixed set worth checking against specific towns. Remote workers get 94.68% household broadband coverage and a 105.3 price level for their foreign income to land in. For those moving for a local job, the 6.2% unemployment rate and 34.642 EUR/year net pay are the two figures to anchor on.
Context
How Belgium compares with its neighbours
| Country | Price level EU=100 |
Net salary (single) €/yr |
Tax wedge on labour % |
Life satisfaction /10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 105.3 | 34.642 | 37.9 | 7.6 |
| Luxembourg | 124.8 | 54.260 | 32.9 | 7.4 |
| Germany | 102.7 | 31.000 | 42.7 | 7 |
| France | 110.1 | 30.832 | 35.4 | 7.1 |
Belgium set against the neighbours people most often weigh it against. National averages from Eurostat; living costs vary widely within each country.
More on Belgium
Read next
Practical guides
Setting up life in Belgium
Decided on Belgium? These are the practical set-up steps for week one.
Common questions
Is Belgium a good place to live: FAQ
Is Belgium a good place to live for expats?
On the data it leans positive, with 6 clear strengths and 2 drawbacks. It tends to suit people whose priorities line up with its strengths; check the lists above against your own.
What are the downsides of living in Belgium?
The main ones on the data: a high cost of living, higher violent crime than most.
Is Belgium safe?
Belgium records 1.4 homicides per 100,000 (the 25th-lowest of 30 European countries), making it weaker on recorded safety than most of Europe. Perceived crime in residential areas runs at 12.4%.
Is Belgium good for families?
The family-relevant signals: safety (1.4 per 100,000), healthcare access (0.9% unmet need), overcrowding (6.6%) and the 10.9% at-risk-of-poverty rate. Together they are mixed, so check the specific town.
Is Belgium good for remote workers?
Broadband reaches 94.68% of households and the price level is 105.3 (EU=100), which together decide whether a foreign salary lands comfortably.
How is the healthcare in Belgium?
Life expectancy is 82.4 years (around the EU average) and 0.9% report an unmet medical need, 62% below the EU average.
What does it cost to live in Belgium?
The price level is 105.3 against EU=100, 5% above the EU average; see our full cost of living in Belgium guide for prices, salaries and tax.
Source: Eurostat (latest available years). National averages; figures vary by region and city. See the methodology.