Life in Belgium
Looking for housing in Belgium is a task that should be started as early as possible. In large cities, dozens of people sometimes apply for one ad, so being quick and having your documents ready can significantly increase your chances.
Where to look
The most convenient way is to use online platforms with filters by city, price, type of housing, and conditions:
- Immoweb.be - the largest portal with verified ads
- Zimmo.be - convenient map and sorting
- Facebook groups of Ukrainian s (Ukrainians in Belgium, Housing Brussels, etc.) - especially useful for rooms, homestays or short-term rentals
- Appartager.be - for co-housing, mainly among young people and students
Sometimes you can find housing “second-hand” - through friends, in local Telegram chats, or in ads in stores and on university boards.
What documents to prepare
In order not to miss a chance, it is better to have a basic set of documents at hand. Most often, landlords ask for
- a copy of your passport or ID card
- proof of income: a contract with an employer or recent bank statements
- sometimes a police clearance certificate or a letter of recommendation from the previous place of residence
- Belgian phone number for communication
In some cases (especially when signing a long-term contract), you may also be asked for a certificate of no debts or provide a questionnaire with basic questions: what you do for a living, why you are looking for housing, how long you plan to stay.
By the way, impressions are important in Belgium: even when corresponding with a landlord, you should write a short polite cover letter to introduce yourself, explain what you do and why you are looking for this particular option.
What to look for
When viewing an ad, be sure to look at the following details:
- “Charges includes” means that utilities are included in the price
- “Netto ” - rent without additional costs
- “Meublé ” or “partiellement meublé ” - the degree of furnishing
- Type of contract - short or long term
- Is it possible to register at the address (domiciliation) - this is important for obtaining health insurance, benefits, taxes, etc.
If you have recently arrived and do not yet have a job, you may have difficulty concluding a contract directly. In this case, it is worth looking for short-term options (for example, on Airbnb or in Ukrainian groups) to have an official address for further documents.
💡 If you doubt the wording in the contract or are asked to pay for the “reservation” in advance without official guarantees, this is an alarming signal.
➡️ Legal assistance in checking the contract and rental conditions is available on Visit Ukraine.
Despite the generally higher cost of living, you can save money on groceries in Belgium - you just need to keep an eye out for promotions and choose budget supermarkets. Prices vary by region, store format, and brand. On average, monthly food costs are about 300-400 euros per person.
The most affordable options are discounters: Lidl, Aldi, Colruyt. They often sell private label products that are no worse than popular brands, but are much cheaper. In the middle segment stores - Delhaize, Carrefour, Intermarché - there is a wider selection, but the prices are slightly higher. But if you buy in biomass stores, such as Färm or Bio Planet, get ready to pay twice as much.
The Belgians themselves save money by closely monitoring promotions. Each chain has mobile applications where personalized coupons or weekly discounts appear. Another useful feature is evening discounts. Products with an expiration date before the end of the day are sold with discounts of up to 50%, and sometimes even more. This is especially true for meat, dairy products and bread.
Here are the approximate prices for basic goods in supermarkets (2026):
- Bread - €2.2
- Milk - 1.3 € per liter
- Eggs - 3.3 € for 12 pieces
- Chicken - 10-11 € per kg
- Pork - 12-13 € per kg
- Pasta - 1.2-1.5 € per 500 g
- Rice - 1.5-2 € per 1 kg
- Apples - 2.3-3 € per kg
- Potatoes - 3.5-4.5 € per 5 kg
- Tomatoes - 2.8-4 € per kg
- Oil - 4-5 € per liter
For household chemicals (laundry, cleaning, and hygiene products), you should budget another 30-50 euros per month per person. It is more profitable to buy some of these goods in promotions or in stores such as Action or Kruidvat - these are Belgian “drogerie” stores with low prices.
If you want to save money, plan your purchases in advance, look for discounts in apps, and feel free to choose store brands. This is a common practice followed by the Belgians themselves.
Belgium has a convenient but not always cheap transportation system. If you live in a city, you can easily get around by public transportation. In smaller towns, however, it is sometimes difficult to get to the supermarket without a car.
In Belgium, there are different operators depending on the region:
- STIB/MIVB - Brussels (metro, trams, buses)
- De Lijn - Flanders
- TEC - Wallonia
- NMBS/SNCB - national railways (trains all over the country)
Fares vary, but on average a single ticket costs about 2.4-3 euros. There are daily, weekly, and monthly passes - for example, a monthly pass in Brussels will cost 55.50 €. Children, students, and some categories of IDPs can get discounted passes, so you should immediately check with your local public transportation service to find out what your rights are.
Mobile applications are convenient to use - they show routes, arrival times and allow you to buy tickets. For example, STIB has the STIB Mobile app, TEC has the TEC Official App, and SNCB/NMBS has the SNCB/NMBS app for trains.
Trains are a popular way to travel between cities. The system is reliable, but not always punctual. It is better to buy tickets in advance - prices for the same route can vary significantly. For example, Brussels - Bruges costs from 8 to 17 euros depending on the time of departure and class. Children under 12 years old travel free when accompanied by an adult.
Many cities are equipped for bicycles. In Brussels, for example, there is a system called Villo! - bike rental points at almost every turn. A monthly subscription costs from 4 €, and the first 30 minutes of each trip are free.
If you have a car
Having your own car in Belgium is convenient, especially if you live in the suburbs or work in different locations. But car maintenance is not a cheap pleasure. A liter of gasoline costs €1.85-2.10, while diesel is slightly cheaper. Parking in cities is paid, and it is sometimes difficult to find a place in the center - an hour of parking can cost 1.5-4 €.
💡 For cars, civil liability insurance is required, and if you drive with Ukrainian license plates, an international green card is also required.
Green Card policy can be issued in 5 minutes right on the Visit Ukraine website - insurance is accepted in all EU countries.
Some cities have environmental zones - you need an environmental sticker (LEZ) to enter. In Brussels, for example, a fine of €150 is imposed for driving an old diesel car without a permit. You can check whether your car is subject to restrictions on the websites of local administrations.
In Belgium, you will need a bank account literally from the very first weeks of your stay: to rent a house, receive a salary, connect a mobile phone, or simply pay for utilities. The good news is that it is quite possible to open an account for a foreigner, even without a residence permit, if you have at least a proof of address.
Which bank to choose?
Belgium has dozens of financial institutions, but the most convenient for Ukrainians are those that offer account opening without excessive bureaucracy:
Online banks:
- N26 - opening completely online, user-friendly interface, Mastercard, support for several currencies
- Bunq - multicurrency, the ability to open an account to a temporary address
- Revolut - suitable for short-term stays or travel, but not always accepted for official contracts
Traditional banks:
- BNP Paribas Fortis, ING, KBC, Belfius - a large network of branches, stability, but sometimes require a Belgian ID or a contract with an employer.
In traditional banks, account opening procedures can take up to 1-2 weeks, and in online banks - a few hours.
What you need to open an account
In most cases, it is enough to have
- a passport or ID card
- proof of address in Belgium (this can be a lease agreement or an official letter in your name)
- Belgian mobile number (you can buy a prepaid card)
In some cases, an additional income statement or proof of employment is requested, but this is not necessary for a basic account.
A bank card (debit or Mastercard/Visa) is usually sent by mail. Account maintenance is free in online banks or 3-6 €/month in regular banks.
Please note: in many institutions, opening an account is possible only after you have registered your place of residence (domiciliation). If you are not yet registered, choose an online bank that works with temporary addresses.
💡 If you are not sure which bank is right for you or do not understand the requirements for opening an account, contact a lawyer.
The Belgian mobile market is easy to use, but not the cheapest in Europe. The most popular operators - Proximus, Orange, BASE - cover almost the entire territory of the country, including remote settlements. In addition, there are prepaid operators aimed at foreigners, such as Lycamobile.
Mobile tariffs: contract or prepaid?
For newcomers, the most convenient option is a prepaid card. It can be purchased at a supermarket or gas station without submitting documents. The cost of a starter package starts from 10 €, and it usually includes mobile Internet and minutes for calls. This option doesn't require registration or a bank account, which is ideal for the first few weeks.
Postpaid services involve a fixed monthly fee. You can sign up for it after opening a bank account, and sometimes even after registering your place of residence. The price of a contract is from 15 to 30 € per month for 10-30 GB of mobile Internet and unlimited calls. Contracts are often signed for 12 or 24 months, so read the terms carefully - early termination may be charged.
Many tariffs include minutes for calls to Ukraine, such as Lycamobile or Vectone. If communication with your family is important to you, check this before buying.
Home internet
Home internet in Belgium is stable, but the pricing is often not obvious: the price depends on the speed, whether TV is included in the package, and the length of the contract. The most common providers are Proximus, Telenet, VOO, Orange.
The standard cost of an Internet package at a speed of 100-200 Mbps is from 35 to 55 € per month. Some tariffs have a traffic limit (for example, 300 GB/month), so you should carefully look at what is included in your plan.
Most providers require a minimum 12-month contract, and sometimes up to 24 months. If you plan to live in an apartment for a short period of time, ask your landlord if the Internet is already connected - this will help you save time and money.
You may need to provide the following information to get an internet connection: address, bank account, and sometimes a Belgian phone number.
Preschool education system
In Belgium, children can attend kindergarten (crèche or garderie) from a very early age - from 3 months. However, the most common is the registration from the age of 1-2 years. There are queues for kindergartens even in small towns, so you should apply immediately upon arrival or even earlier.
The cost of kindergarten depends on your income and region.
In public institutions, it ranges from 50 to 300 euros per month, and in Brussels, for example, some places may be free for families with low incomes. Private kindergartens are much more expensive (400-800 €/month).
In addition to the basic fee, you usually have to pay for meals separately (about 25-40 € per month) and sometimes an entrance fee.
An alternative to kindergartens is tagesmutter or accueillant(e): licensed nannies who take children in their homes. This format is convenient, but places are limited.
Primary and secondary school
School education in Belgium is compulsory from the age of 6 and is free in public schools.
Children who have been granted temporary protection have the same rights as citizens.
The education system has three main language zones:
- French (Wallonia, Brussels)
- Dutch (Flanders)
- German (east of the country)
In most cases, children are enrolled in a school at their place of residence. However, sometimes you can choose a school on your own if there are vacancies.
Integration classes for newcomers are a standard practice. Children undergo language adaptation and then gradually move on to the main program. Many schools have a Ukrainian-speaking coordinator or engage translators in the early stages.
To enroll, you need
- child's passport
- birth certificate
- proof of address
- medical record (usually vaccinations and general health)
Extracurricular activities and support
In most municipalities, there are free clubs, sections, libraries, and language clubs. There are also educational programs for parents: how to help their child with their studies, where to go in case of difficulties, and how the grading system works.
Often schools provide free basic supplies (notebooks, textbooks), but backpacks, clothes, and sports uniforms are at the family's expense. Fundraising for school trips or events is common, but not required.
Tip: Immediately after settling in, contact the local municipality or CPAS (social services) to find out which school to apply to and where there are vacancies.
In Belgium, health insurance is compulsory for everyone who resides in the country for more than three months, regardless of citizenship. Without insurance, you will not be able to visit a doctor, receive medicines or reimbursement for treatment.
The system operates through medical funds (mutuelle / mutualité), which are non-profit insurance funds through which people receive reimbursement for medical services. All of them operate on the same principles, but with minor differences in service.
What does insurance cover?
- Basic insurance covers up to 75% of the cost of medical consultations, diagnostics, hospitalization, and medications.
- Medicines, tests, and visits to doctors are paid out of pocket first, and then you are reimbursed for part of the costs. The compensation comes to an account linked to the cash desk(mutuelle).
- For more comprehensive coverage (for example, dentistry or a private room in a hospital), you can take out additional insurance(assurance complémentaire), but this is no longer required.
How to get insurance
Ukrainians who have temporary protection in Belgium can take out insurance for free through one of the insurance companies. To do this, you need to
- obtain a national register number (NISS)
- register your address of residence
- have a temporary protection ID card
After that, contact one of the insurance offices:
- Partenamut
- Solidaris
- Mutualité Chrétienne (MC)
- Liberale Mutualité
- or any other that operates in your region
The very next day after registration, you can visit a doctor - just show your temporary ID card. If you have just applied for protection and have not yet received your documents, medical care is available through refugee reception centers or municipal clinics for the first few weeks.
If you are staying for a short time
If you plan to stay in Belgium for less than three months or do not yet have an official status, you will not be able to apply for mutuelle. However, you can still be insured, for example, through Ukrainian international insurance.
Such a policy covers treatment in EU clinics, including consultations, emergency care, diagnostics, and even hospitalization, depending on the package.
➡️ You can apply for health insurance online on the Visit Ukraine website.
Tip: After applying for health insurance, be sure to open a bank account - this is where compensation for treatment is paid. Also, keep all receipts and “chips” (special coupons given by the doctor) - they must be submitted for a refund.
Common fines
Belgium is a country of rules. Here, many everyday situations are regulated by law, even if at first glance it seems like a “trifle”.
The most common violations for which you can get a fine:
- Crossing the road at a red light - 58 €.
- Traveling without a ticket in public transport - 107 €
- Improper parking - from 30 to 150 €.
- Disposal of garbage not in the container - up to 350 €
- Smoking in a prohibited place - 150 €
- Failure to sort garbage - fine from 100 to 250 € (especially relevant in Brussels)
Tip: Pay attention to road signs, sidewalk markings, and the colors of garbage containers - all of this is important. Even neighbors or cameras can record violations.
Language courses and integration
There are free or very affordable language courses in every region of Belgium. They are organized by municipalities, NGOs, and cultural centers.
- In French-speaking cities - contact CPAS, Lire et Écrire, CVO
- In Flanders - Huis van het Nederlands, CVO, Inburgering
- In Brussels - both languages are available (French and Dutch)
The courses cover not only the language but also practical knowledge about life in the country: how to open an account, where to find a doctor, how the social assistance system works, etc.
After registering with CPAS or the municipality, you may be offered a free integration plan - agree to it if you have the time and opportunity.
Leisure, support, Ukrainian community
The Ukrainian community in Belgium is very active. In every major city, there are volunteer centers, humanitarian centers, language clubs, meetings, and concerts. You can find out about them in Facebook groups or Telegram chats, for example:
- Ukrainians in Brussels
- Ukrainians in Antwerp
- House of the Ukrainian / Maison de l'Ukrainien
Many museums, parks, and cultural centers have free admission days or discounts for IDPs. It is also worth keeping an eye out for events organized by municipalities - summer festivals, movie screenings, and language cafes are often free.
Walks, bicycle routes, local markets - all this is part of the Belgian way of life, which even those who come from a “different pace” gradually get used to.
Tip: don't isolate yourself. Even if the first weeks are difficult, the community and activities around you help you feel “in place”.