Why is life in Belgium so expensive?

Show all answers

packard1963

Its not if you ask others that live in Nederlands. The price of rent is cheap and some even buy groceries when they find themselves out of country for the day .Each use the same euro

Orla C

Because of the bureaucratic curruption .....

christopher592862

When I lived there (in Hasselt, Limburg) I never had the impression that Belgium was excessively expensive. Of course if you compare UK costs with Euro-denominated Belgian costs now you will find charges high because the pound is so weak but if you compare number of hours you need to work to buy certain goods then costs are broadly comparable. Belgium does have higher rates of VAT than the UK but on the other hand Belgian housing costs are lower. It's all swings and roundabouts. I always had the impression that Belgian social security provisions were much better than in the UK but I never had to make use of them. In an ideal world you get what you pay for. Belgium is not ideal but all the same I felt there was much less disparity of income between low and high paid and the overall education levels seemed higher.
I am surprised about your statement with regard to health benefits. If you work you pay into a 'mutualiteit' and most of the cost is met by this private insurance when you need treatment. There is a charge but this only represents a small percentage of the total medical cost.
I don't know what infrastructure you are talking about but there is much that is impressive in Belgium.

Luc L

Well, for a start they have one national government, four regional (or federal) governments, and ten provinces with each their governments... all that for only ten million people! Oh... and they house the European government... to who's employees they give disproportionate tax cuts on about everything.

asrobs

Because there is so much EU money in Belgium and most of it is expenses it means the ordinary person,is priced out,and a lot of the claims are false that`s why its expensive,its easy to claim and there is no one to stop the rot.

Chantal D.

Excellent health system??
We have here in Belgium the worst health system in Europe!
They force everyone who's disabled and can't work in to work because the corrupt government don't like to pay!
The illegal immigrants costing money and the government here likes that the disabled pay for that!

pickle

we go over there a lot and to holland as ny partner works over there.It def has got a lot dearer but i still feel things are cheaper over there.I think belgium is a class of their own and thats how they like it,they dont like holland and they dont seem to like it in england either!Hollands dif,i like it there and i think the people are dif there too.I know a lot of people in belg and thay have to pay weekly from their wages etc or they dont get medical treatment but they say its the same amount whatever you earn.from what i hear of the amounts telephone charges,internet isnt that bad.I know the price of their coal for their fires has gone up a lot though. Def wouldnt want to live in belg but holland i wouldnt mind.

franky

because the politicians have to fill their pockets first, it is very much a country with class difference. I had some treatment for a broken leg and was told to pay before i was allowed to leave the hospital,but managed to sneak out the back door.

Bojan Jankovic

You have obviously never been to Norway.

Reggie

wages are far more the system is totally different and they have a great one?your average pay is poss triple to ours in the UK?

Dafydd

It isn't for Belgians. They have a strong currency. We have a weak one.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: