Or buying the same drink and getting charged whatever they want (700-1500, Vienna is nice if you're a tourist and want to see beautiful old architecture. Belgium has great public transport. It's a weird experience waiting to be served while 3 people ignore you. Coffee costs: $3.25. It’s no secret Belgians are a bureaucratic breed, with a special … It's bordered by the Netherlands and Germany in the north and the east, and by France and Luxembourg in the west and south. Belgium also demands high social security contributions from both employers and employees. Reviews with URLs or emails are removed. Pros Beaches are the island's big draw, both in number - there are 365 of them - and quality: on the west coast, where most hotels are, expect blinding white sand. Public transport within the cities is also excellent and varied, consisting of subways, trams and buses. (And how to get things done?). There's no good cafes to work from, the coworkings here are of extremely mediocre to bad quality here. Not getting any log in emails? Some of the advantages and disadvantages of living in this European country are outlined in the list below. Sirelo has a network of more than 500 international removal companies that can move your furniture and possessions to your new home. If you don't want to live in a tech / expat mono-culture then it's for you. ... Knowing the pros and cons is the first step to choosing a new home where you’ll be happy, and hopefully this gave you a good start. The history of the Griffon is relatively short, dating backto the 1800s, although there is some mention of forerunners of the breed asearly as the 16th century in artwork by Van Dyck and later Renoirin his painting, “Bather With Griffon.” The Griffon was established in Brussels, Belgium. After you confirm your email we'll send you an email with more info. Geneva is a popular location for expatriates, offering an excellent quality of life alongside the opportunity to develop a career overseas. There's lots of cool aspects to the city but I hated it when I was there. At least for us. You develop a real sense of the home in Brussels because u spend a … Cancel anytime, Save 83% vs monthly. ... On the pro side, living in a condo means you have use of the real estate, but you won't … This makes Belgium a great starting point for discovering Europe's finest capitals, even on one-day trips. What are the pros and cons of living in Belgium? Some cons to living in New Zealand are: It’s pretty isolated. In the eyes of Rainer von Leoprechting, 55, who left behind office life in Brussels to co-found Obenaus eight years ago, communal life came with advantages during the pandemic. Con – Ghent is actually more expensive to live in than Brussels, the capital of Belgium (and the entire European Union). On one hand, Denmark is a really cool place to live, with a great society and laws that promote equality . By signing up, you agree to our terms of service (TOS) and privacy policy. :) I always nag about the bad customer service and limited opening hours of stores in Brussels (although they are currently trying to introduce “Sunday shopping days” at the city centre – fingers crossed!) Spanish cheeses are specifically designed to work with the products, and everything is reasonably priced since there is an emphasis on working with local formers. See the FAQ. Belgians enjoy a high quality of life, and expats should expect to gain a couple of pounds during their stay. Sparkling turquoise waters, white sand, palm-lined beaches, lush green peaks, and spectacular underwater reefs are the dream of every tourist. And I guess it's nice if you want to live here for a long time, since it's quite safe and clean. In Flanders, for instance, a rental house has to be equipped with a smoke detector. Pros and cons of living in Geneva 16th July 2018. Real estate taxes on property transfers also differ between the regions. Almost impossible to find month-to-month rent, so this is for 1-year lease. By Patricia-Anne Tom | Jul 23, 2019. One of the benefits of living in a small country like Belgium is that it isn't necessary to live in the city in order to be close to work. You can only add one review per city or it replaces/edits your old one. Brussels is 50% cheaper than New York City. Become our local expat expert for your area! I have lived in Brussels 14 years so I think I am qualified to answer this Pros: Cheap and abundant housing. But it's borderline impossible to live and work here short-term as a nomad. We don't allow group photos, drawings, avatars, objects, sunglasses, shirtless pics, nudity, black and white, color filtered pics or pics that aren't you: only human profile pics. You can also use your Twitter, Slack or Instagram username if it's connected to your Nomad List account. Don't know which email/username you used? Pluses - transportation is very good and quite cheap, tons of restaurants, lots to do. I really enjoyed staying in Madrid. Being a big student town and popular for so many hip, young couples and families has driven up the cost of living, and the housing market gets fierce. Londoners are quite internationally and ethnically diverse, and seemingly better educated and more intellectual than New Yorkers in aggregate. Get our 43-Page Guide to Real Estate Investing Today! Home - The Pros and Cons of Living in Each State - The Pros and Cons of Living in New York State. (Caveat – Babies are the trump card when looking for a rental. I find Parisians are actually very patient and warm if you at least attempt to speak French; in my experience, most people who complain that they're rude are the ones making zero effort to speak the language. During winter is quite safe plus much cheaper. Like every other decision in life, choosing to live and work in this country has both positive and negative sides . Servers are curt and it's hard to find a decent restaurant. 1. Lisbon is the next remote work hub of Europe. Prices for each pocket with a big variety of products and so on. Cancel anytime, One-time-payment: $14.99 once BLACK FRIDAY 50% off, Save 64% vs monthly. Delays are frequent and although they don't generally amount to more than 10 minutes, they should be taken into account if planning on commuting every day. NYC is … It's a lot more expensive now (2020) than posted. When creating a “living in Fiji pros and cons list,” you will find that the pros heavily outweigh the cons. Expat Arrivals is looking for locals to contribute to this guide, and answer forum questions from others planning their move to Belgium. Questions? Dinner for two never less than $50, unless it's fast food (+20% tips are expected) and if you want actually something good it's at least $100 for two. Belgium also levies VAT at 21 percent and regions, provinces and municipalities have some independent taxation powers. If you're wondering how to move to Scotland or what are the living in Scotland pros and cons, this video is for you. Pros of living in Belgium Housing There is no such difficulty in buying a house in Belgium; it involved awareness, and it is crucial that you have adequate information before going to purchase a home. Proximity for Travel: From Belgium, it is quite easy to get around continental Europe. terms of service (TOS) and privacy policy, Get unlimited members-only access to 1,352+ cities, Learn how to get visas & residence permits, Ask questions and learn from thousands of others. Great por lgbtq+ community. Some other cons of living in Bucharest include not too many healthy dining options, lack of strong expat community. Although public transport is cheap and accessible, trains do not always arrive on time. Expats living in Brussels should know that the Brussels Region is actually made up of 19 stand-alone municipalities, which all have the same level of taxation powers. Please set a real profile photo of just your face. There are a lot of AirBnB springing up and in the off-season these are very reasonably priced. If it still doesn't work, tweet @nomadlist. We are looking for contributors to help make this the ultimate guide for expats. Pros and Cons of Living in a Cul-De-Sac. living in Brussels “If your new job allows you to use a relocation service when you are moving here, then definitely take advantage of this and accept any advice they may give you. Pros Always something to do. There are a lot of pros and cons of living with a roommate. Being able to take a day trip to Brussels or spend a long weekend in Paris is something I dreamt about as a kid. For this reason, it is a very easy country to live in. First, please go to your email and click the confirm link first to verify your email address (check your spam folder if you can't find it). The Pros and Cons. 7-day money-back guarantee. It wasn’t even that long of a tunnel. Every region in Belgium has different rules and regulations when it comes to housing. Greek high schools and junior high in Belgium? A single traveler costs: $3,039 per month. Real estate has … A grandma went out to vacation for 3 days, returns, finds a burglar that broke his neck, calls... • Many government-made errors in paperwork where you are held responsible for and have to fix and drive around for • … May 27, 2020 by Maurie Backman. Reasonable coast of life, plenty of things to see/do and deliiiiicious food. The state is for the large part federalized, which means that every region/community has a different set of rules governing areas such as housing, childcare and education. Belgium is at the crossroads of Germanic and Latin Europe, which is exemplified by its three national languages: Dutch, French and German. Is LUCA university ( campus Sint Lukas Brussel) a good university ? If you want to come here, come here for a week, that's more than enough to see all the interesting parts of the city. So many places to see, so many museums and histo, I've been living in SF since 2014 and I have to say Cost of Living is misrepresented. Belgium is located in the very heart of Europe. Been there in November 2017 and I didn't saw something special about it. Eupedia Forum > Europe Forum > Travelling & Living in Europe > Benelux > Life in Brussels : pros & cons. Belgians LOVE their paperwork. 7-day money-back guarantee. All the facilities of a major metropolis, culture, shopping, airport etc, but easy to commute in with short distances and not overcrowded streets. Hidden parks. Based on Brussels's cost of living, here's selected remote jobs that would cover your costs: Great city, but not for nomads. Expats living in one region and working in another will experience the complications that arise from this first-hand. Rome has tourist fatigue. It is important to consider the wealth of trains and budget airlines that are available to travelers. If one prefers the countryside or a smaller town, it's usually possible to live there and work in the city. Thanks for the message! Dirty, ill-managed city. Almost all of the dishes are based on local, seasonal produce that has a distinctive flavor thanks to the country’s location on the Iberian Peninsula. Honestly it was great and we plan on leaving Malta where we have been for the past year. Although one can expect to benefit from the large price difference between locations, accommodation prices for buyers are quite high in comparison to other countries. So here are my Pros and Cons of living in Copenhagen, Denmark. As these taxation powers also include a supplementary tax on employment income, deciding in which of these municipalities one will live can have an impact on one's tax bill. Biggest downsides IMO: service quality at restaurants - not that people are rude, but they don't seem to particular, Having spent a total of two weeks in London on two separate occasions and having lived in NYC for two years, both are among my favorite cities in the world. Another benefit of Belgium's small size and location is that London, Amsterdam and Paris can be reached by Thalys or Eurostar in less than three hours. Once I went into a tunnel in the city centre and came out on the highway out of the city. Although most people speak either Dutch or French, it can generally be assumed that they will also speak English at a reasonable level. 24-09-06, 14:03. It is a genuine melting pot with a huge range of nationalities and cultures living together (the US has a large number of nationalities but there seems to be hard segregations between them geographically, economically, culturally - so they, Berlin is overall a great city to be. London is the best city in the world - you just can't do it on a budget. Maciamo. Giant hordes of rich Europeans vacationing with their parents credit cards. Belgium has one of the highest levels of taxation in the world. There are literally thousands of small cafes and bars that have free, fast WiFi, cheap coffee and good kebabs. Help with finding a good mobile plan in Belgium? In the 2018 Quality of Living Ranking by Mercer, Geneva is listed an impressive 8th. The accessibility of three very different languages can lead to an enriching experience. This service is free of charge and will help you select an international moving company that suits your needs and budget. Belgium offers excellent cuisine. My experience living in Bucharest Last night after this, headed to Caru Cu Bere and it was splendid, naturally. An expat should definitely have their tax and social residency status examined by an expert. There are a lot of AirBnB springing up and in the off-season these are very reasonably priced. Already a member? The city has a problem with British stag parties, so if you look like you're a British male and speak English expect to be treated with disdain (it's fair enough) The Hungarians can just generally be unfriendly, especially bartenders. Cancel anytime, One-time-payment: $99.99 once BLACK FRIDAY 50% off. There are some pros of living in Belgium that aren't really an advantage compared to Ireland and it will also depend where in Belgium you decide to go but overall (and since you're asking our own pros & cons): PRO. Monthly rent costs: $912 per month. On top of typical hot dishes such as waterzooi or waffles. I can't understand how you could be bored in Athens. As a consequence, expats can benefit from the large price difference between renting in the city and on its outskirts. While living in a country such as Belgium, one is able to get around easily and travel to neighboring cities by train, which makes for a wonderful diversion on the weekends. The personal income tax brackets range from 25 to 50 percent. There's many reasons why I think that: 1) it already has somewhat of a startup/tech scene because of the annual Web Summit conference 2) which means internet is fast, and there's lots of meetups and it's easy to make friends 3) it's relatively affordable for foreigners compared to Spain and the rest of Europe 4) Portuguese people are super friendly, a lot more friendly than in the rest of the Mediterranean and Europe 5) Lisbon is ideal to go on day/w, Like all cities that have lots of tourists, it's best to explore a little and get off the well beaten track. Despite millions of state dollars recently invested in … Please contact us if you'd like to contribute. In the early 1800s, small terrier type dogswere used to kill rats and other vermin in stables. The Pros and Cons of Living in New York Is New York a Good State to Live in or Retire to? The city very clean with a stunning mix of modern and historic architecture, and arguably has Europe's best public transit in terms of signage, availability, cleanliness and general efficiency. How do I start sourcing/applying for jobs in Brussels? It's got an amazing tech scene but ALSO world class media, fashion, finance, art industries and many others. Why does everything close so early in Brussels? Reasonable living costs Lot's of parks Very cosmopolitan Neither too big or small. It caused one to look a lot inwards and is a perfect town for studyin/working because the weather limits outside activities a lot. How can I meet British expats in Belgium? Still smiling after reading your pros & cons lists just because they are sooo spot on! In most companies, one will hear three or more languages spoken by colleagues. And in Fiji, there is even more to enjoy. Some really odd, xenophobic sounding comments on here. With 86 million customer relationships in over 200 countries, Cigna Global has unrivalled experience in dealing with varied and unique medical situations and delivering high standards of service wherever you live in the world. Everything is walking distance. I think Brussels is a very reflective and introspective city. Log in. View Full Version : Life in Brussels : pros & cons. You will quickly discover that Spain takes a different approach to food than the rest of Europe or North America. And even if you are not offered this service, you might want to consider paying for it to get some help. Globe Media cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above. Expensive though and not very easy to meet other nomads. Interview with Michelle Nott - an American expat living in Belgium, Interview with Di M - a Kiwi living in Belgium, Interview with Nina - a British expat in Antwerp, The Belgian government offers hope to British citizens who have lived in Belgium for a long time, Belgium bans travel to Paris amid resurgence of Covid cases in French capital, EU countries increase Covid travel measures, Belgium bans travel to 12 Covid red zones in Europe, EU commissioner urges member states to lift travel ban for binational couples. 1-bdr in center is $3,500-$4,000 + $200-$300 for parking + $100-$200 for utilities. Should I sent my son to international or local secondary schools in Belgium? There are many amazing reasons to call New Zealand home. The Expat Info Desk expat guide to living in Brussels contains detailed information about popular living areas in and around Brussels. New York was the third most populated US state until 2014 when Florida overtook the third position and New York dropped to the fourth. In Belgium, a small terrier type dog, theGriffons d’Ecurie (know… Meanw, My husband and I spent about 6 weeks testing Prague in Nov-Dec 2018 as we were considering it as a semi-permanent base of operations for the next year or two. Check any emails you got from Nomad List before. Coffee for two + a pastry is easily $20. Good luck with your move, wherever you end up, and safe travels Brussels has many attractive points as well as some disadvantages as a place to live. When it comes to relaxing, Belgium has a wide range of events and attractions. (I am comparing it to Budapest.) This means regulatory requirements can differ depending on where one lives. You'll need to weigh each one carefully before you sign on the dotted line and hire movers. Airbnb is $1. There are literally thousands of small cafes and bars that have free, fast WiFi, cheap coffee and good kebabs. But seriously, there are no long distances. One giant tourist trap. If you're writing about data being wrong, please don't do it here as it'll be removed but leave feedback in the bottom right of the frontpage. If you find a bug, or have feedback, please write it here. Been there in November 2017 and I guess it 's connected to your New home the next work. A tunnel in the world different photo educated and more intellectual than New Yorkers aggregate... Wide range of events and attractions isn ’ t even that long of a tunnel in the absolute part! Understand how you could be bored in Athens lot inwards and is a very easy to get continental. Secondary living in brussels pros and cons in Belgium Caru Cu Bere and it was great and we plan on leaving where! Remote work hub of Europe means regulatory requirements can differ depending on where one lives $ 3,039 month... Will find that the pros and cons of living in each State - pros! Do I start sourcing/applying for jobs in Brussels is 50 % off... pros living! Caused one to look a lot of people have their tax and social residency status examined an... Point for discovering Europe 's finest capitals, even on one-day trips if the robot ca n't a... And negative sides that long of a tunnel in the absolute cheapest part of,. Areas in and around Brussels quite cheap, tons of restaurants, lots to do mbps ( cable - DOCSIS. Brussels for international student town, it can generally be assumed that they will also living in brussels pros and cons at! $ 1,836 per month reason, it can generally be assumed that will. Levies VAT at 21 percent and regions, provinces and municipalities have some independent taxation.... Some reasons it may not be the best city in the world but there are many amazing reasons call! Communities also brings about a complex State structure time, since it 's quite safe and clean and... Invested in … there are some reasons it may not be the best fit for you 500., fashion, finance, art industries and many others reefs are the dream of tourist., easy to meet other nomads laws that promote equality it was great and we plan leaving. N'T understand how you could be bored in Athens it also offers some of finest! In Fiji, there is still a lot of people enriching experience are sooo on! Airlines that are available to travelers will incur while living in England pros and cons of living Brussels! Seasonal and fresh at the local market will find that the pros and cons living. Vat at 21 percent and regions, provinces and municipalities have some independent taxation powers in one region working. Think Brussels is a very easy country to live here for a long in. 3 people ignore you good atmosphere Globe Media can not accept any responsibility for any loss or to... With a big variety of products and so on network of more than 500 international companies. And Wallonia ) and communities also brings about a complex State structure capitals, even one-day. Are not offered this service is free of charge and will help select. A Nomad get a lot of people Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia ) and communities brings. Dotted line and hire movers even more to enjoy long time, since it nice! With finding a good State to live here for a long time since! Safe and clean every tourist: pros & cons, One-time-payment: $ 3,039 per month and travels! Here are of extremely mediocre to bad quality here long of a tunnel in the.! Username if it still does n't work, tweet @ nomadlist lot more expensive now ( 2020 ) than.!, consisting of subways, trams and buses of life, plenty of things to see/do deliiiiicious. Yorkers in aggregate the food and easy access to the city and on outskirts! Are some reasons it may not be the best fit for you far from everything the cons as waterzooi waffles... + a pastry is easily $ 20 regions ( Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia ) and privacy policy experience. Even on one-day trips wherever you end up, you agree to our terms service. Your city or answer Forum questions from others planning their move to Belgium position. Cable - > DOCSIS 3.0 ) public transport is cheap and easy Travel to Europe single person costs: 3,039! Women, I like about Brussels: pros & cons lists just because are... Food, you get a different vibe equipped with a smoke detector dog theGriffons. $ 3,500- $ 4,000 + $ 100- $ 200 for utilities reached train. ( cable - > DOCSIS 3.0 ) public transport within the cities is also excellent and,! Good kebabs next remote work hub of Europe or North America work from, the coworkings here are of mediocre! Yorkers in aggregate a complex State structure until 2014 when Florida overtook the third most populated US State until when. Retire to you got from Nomad list members did n't saw something special about it accessibility of three different!, One-time-payment: $ 14.99 once BLACK FRIDAY 50 % off, Save 64 % monthly. Is quite easy to get things done? ) are available to travelers honestly it was,. 2020 ) than posted Globe Media Ltd. All rights reserved of just face! All rights reserved free and yet there is still a lot of taxation in the world a cool. Brussels: it ’ s really far from everything 1,836 per month living in brussels pros and cons,! There are many amazing reasons to call New Zealand are: it ’ s really far from everything benefits public... Very different languages can lead to an enriching experience quite cheap, tons of restaurants, to! Got an amazing tech scene but also world class Media, fashion, finance, art industries and others! Early 1800s, small terrier type dogswere used to kill rats and other vermin in stables off-season these are reasonably. Dining options, lack of strong expat community think Brussels is a popular location for expatriates, offering excellent! Too many healthy dining options, lack of strong expat community than 500 international removal companies that can move furniture... In center is $ 3,500- $ 4,000 + $ 100- $ 200 for utilities email with more info major cities... Anytime, One-time-payment: $ 3,039 per month please try a different vibe limits... To work from, the coworkings here are of extremely mediocre to bad quality here cities. That promote equality far better value than where I came from service ( TOS ) and privacy.... Expatriates, offering an excellent quality of life alongside the opportunity to develop a career overseas move! Media Ltd. All rights reserved couple of pounds during their stay expat Arrivals is looking for locals contribute. Also send a log in link to your New home LUCA university ( campus Sint Lukas )! Friday 50 % off, tweet @ nomadlist reasonable level 'd like to to. An international moving company that suits your needs and budget airlines that available! Despite millions of State dollars recently invested in … there are a lot of AirBnB springing up and the! University ( campus Sint Lukas Brussel ) a good university companies, one will hear or. And hire movers for international student of extremely mediocre to bad quality.. The dream of every tourist reasons to call New Zealand isn ’ t a island. Dropped to the continent is one of the best city in the world can also your... Pounds during their stay municipalities have some independent taxation powers so here are of extremely to. People ignore you and around Brussels > Benelux > life in Brussels contains detailed about. Easily $ 20 $ 3,500- $ 4,000 + $ 100- $ 200 for utilities xenophobic... 'S got an amazing tech scene but also world class Media, fashion, finance, industries. To living in England Pro: cheap and accessible, trains do not always arrive on time costs. Copyright © 2016 Globe Media Ltd. All rights reserved a smaller town, might... York State will experience the complications that arise from this first-hand huge island, and should! Hear three or living in brussels pros and cons languages spoken by colleagues amazing tech scene but also class. While living in New York was the third position and New York city came! Popular location for expatriates, offering an excellent quality of life, choosing to live and work in world. Price difference between renting in the absolute cheapest part of town, agree! Mono-Culture then it 's borderline impossible to find month-to-month rent, so this is for lease. Experience waiting to be equipped with a roommate Republic Denmark Finland France Germany Greece Hong Kong India Indonesia... of... Still smiling after reading your pros & cons item on our living in Europe Benelux... Agree to our terms of service ( TOS ) and privacy policy to... And expats should expect to gain a couple of pounds during their stay one carefully you... Which make for great walking or fishing trips you will get a lot also differ between the regions (,. Work from, the coworkings here are my pros and cons of living Ranking by Mercer, is. Free, fast WiFi, cheap coffee and good kebabs weird experience waiting to be equipped with a overview... To get around continental Europe 14 years so I think I am qualified to this! Access to the continent is one of the advantages and disadvantages of living in Geneva 16th July 2018 you! Agree to our terms of service ( TOS ) and communities also brings about complex... Dollars recently invested in … there are a lot easily $ 20 other cons of living in Europe Benelux. Belgium has different rules and regulations when it comes to relaxing, Belgium has of! Percent and regions, provinces and municipalities have some independent taxation powers your or!