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The author, right, with her husband and daughter in Brussels.
Jessica van Dop DeJesus
I attended grad school in Belgium years ago and met my now-husband.
He came back to the US with me later, but last year we decided to move back to Europe.
Most of our costs have been slashed, from housing and food to healthcare and childcare.
My first time living in Belgium was in 2006 when I moved to attend graduate school after leaving my active duty military service. What I thought would be an 18-month stint for school ended up becoming a six-year adventure in Europe, with five years living and working in Brussels and a year in Stuttgart, Germany.
While living in Brussels, I met my husband, who was born and raised in Rotterdam, Netherlands. He followed me to the United States when I took an assignment as a civil servant for the Marine Corps at the Pentagon and still served as a Marine Corps Reserve officer.
However, I retired from the Marine Corps Reserves last year, and we decided to move back to Europe. We settled in Brussels for various reasons: close to my husband’s family; a vibrant international community; and affordability.
Before I explain why our life is more affordable in Brussels, I want to caveat that we live in the local economy without any expat benefits or special perks. My husband is salaried at a tech company, paying around 50% in income tax. To offset the high tax rate, many companies in Belgium use different incentives such as company cars, a stipend for meals, and affordable healthcare. I am a freelance writer, content creator, digital marketing educator, and strategist, and I am currently in the process of setting up my business in Belgium.
All that said, our life is much more affordable here for a few reasons.
Housing
In the US, we lived in Brookland, a quiet residential neighborhood in Northeast Washington, DC, a 15-minute drive to downtown DC and on the metro line. We paid almost $3,000 a month in mortgage costs on our 1,500-square foot attached rowhome.
In Brussels, we found an apartment similar in size, and we currently pay 2,000 euros (around $2,000). Our apartment is located in a neighborhood similar to DC’s Logan Circle, with shops, restaurants, and easy access via public transportation to the city center of Brussels and the European institutions. A similar apartment in Washington, DC, costs almost $5,000 monthly. We’re currently looking to purchase a similar-sized apartment, and the mortgage costs look similar to our current rent.
Childcare
We were fortunate that our daughter started kindergarten in Brussels, thus saving the cost of full-time childcare that used to cost us $2,000 a month in Washington, DC. Aftercare was also pricey in DC, with an average cost of around $1,000 a month.
Our daughter attends a Dutch-language public elementary school, and we pay the equivalent of $60 a month in aftercare. In addition, we receive around $150 equivalent stipend from the Belgian government to help with the cost of having a child. So technically, our childcare is free.
During the summers, private and public institutions offer camps, averaging 100-150 euros a month. This summer, my daughter attended swim camp for 150 euros a week, and we were eligible to receive a small refund of 20% from our health insurance.
Healthcare
Another factor influencing our move to Europe was access to affordable healthcare. My husband’s benefits package includes a health insurance supplement covering hospitalization and dental for around $55 a month for our whole family.
General practice doctors charge around $30 for a consultation, but we get 95% of that cost reimbursed almost immediately.
In Washington, DC, I had Tricare (military insurance provider) through the Marine Corps Reserve and paid $250 monthly for a family plan, considered affordable in the United States. When I worked for the federal government as a civilian, we paid $425 for my family plan.
Food and drink
Whether eating at home or eating out, food costs are still more affordable in Brussels despite inflation on both continents.
I travel back and forth to the United States often and have the opportunity to compare prices. I find fruits and vegetables especially affordable in Brussels versus the United States. Seasonality is key, and given that Belgium shares a border with four countries (France, Germany, Netherlands, and Luxemburg), we get quality products from a 200-mile radius.
For example, a 10-pound bag of potatoes grown in the south of Belgium goes for 4 euros (around $4.50) at the supermarket. In DC, the same bag costs $10. Farmer’s markets can be found throughout the city and, unlike in the United States, prices at the farmer’s markets are more affordable than the supermarkets most of the time.
Free trade through the European Union makes the wine extremely affordable. You can get a fabulous bottle from Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and beyond for less than $8.
I also find dining out more affordable, given the lower costs of wine and beer. A dinner for two at an upscale restaurant in Brussels averages $60 per person. A comparable restaurant in Washington, DC, will cost almost double, especially when you factor in a 20% tip. Tipping is not common in Belgium as the service charge is already included in the cost of the meal. You can round up your check or give 5-10% to the server if you get exceptional service.
Transportation
I don’t have a car in Brussels and don’t plan to have one. I have three supermarkets and two farmer’s markets within a half-mile radius, and plenty of restaurants, cafes, and shops.
I walk our daughter to school (10 minutes away), and I either walk to the city center (30 minutes) or take the tram or bus. Public transportation for children under 12 is free, and I buy my public transport passes in bulk to save 25%, making it less than $2 per ride.
My husband has a company car, a common perk for people in Belgium who work in middle/upper management, consulting, and sales roles. He only pays a tax fee (as the car can be used for unlimited private mileage) of $350 a month. In Washington, DC, we shared a car, and between car payments, insurance, and gas, we spent $600 a month.
Travel
One of the perks of living in Brussels is the proximity to many European destinations by rail, car, or plane. I keep my eye out for sales on the Thalys rail system, which takes you from Brussels to Paris in 75 minutes. We can get them as cheap as $65 roundtrip if we book in advance.
I’ve flown from Brussels to Madrid this year for $80 and to Oslo, Norway, for $100 via Brussels Airlines. I also skip chain hotels and stay at locally-owned boutique hotels and guesthouses, which usually include free breakfast, averaging 80-120 euros depending on the destination. Domestic flights within the US on a regular carrier can range from $250-500 per person for the same distance.
How we feel about our move
Do we get homesick for Washington, DC? Absolutely! Brussels is not perfect (anyone who has dealt with the Belgian administration can attest), but we’re happy with our choice as we’re gaining so much for our family.
We’re a short drive/train ride away from my in-laws, we’re saving money, and our daughter is growing up in a multilingual environment. When we get tired of Brussels, we can hop on a train to Paris, London, or Amsterdam, or drive to the Grand Est region of France or the Mosel Valley in Germany. For a family who loves to travel and eat good food, Brussels is the perfect place for us.