Daily life in Brussels

Brussels is a big city on a human scale. Everything happens by tram, bicycle or on foot. Here are the orders of magnitude to live well, without holding back.

€850 – 1,250: Total monthly budget
€12: STIB youth pass, per month
1h25: Paris by direct train

Typical monthly budget

For a student living in a kot or shared flat, here is a realistic budget. The total quickly rises to €1,200 in a private studio.

Housing (kot or shared flat)€450 – 600
Groceries€200 – 300
Going out, restaurants, leisure€100 – 200
Unforeseen€50 – 100
Phone and internet€20 – 40
Healthcare and mutuelle€5 – 15
Transport (STIB youth pass)€12

Estimated total€850 – 1,250

Getting around

Brussels is one of the most connected cities in Europe. You will not need a car.

STIB
€12 / month
Tram, bus, metro
Annual youth pass (under 25). The CAD campus is served by trams 4 and 92.
Villo!
€33.60 / year
Public bike-share
The first 30 minutes of each ride are free.
SNCB
< 1 h
National trains
For weekends across Belgium. Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, Liège: everything is less than an hour away.
Eurostar, ICE
1h25
International trains
Brussels is an international hub: Paris in 1h25, London and Cologne in 1h50, Amsterdam in 3h.

Eating and grocery shopping

Groceries

The most affordable chains: Lidl and Aldi (discount), Colruyt (good price-quality), then Delhaize and Carrefour. For organic and producer markets, the Châtelain market (Ixelles) on Wednesdays and the Midi market on Sunday mornings.

Restaurants

Kebab, fries, bagel: €8 – 14
Full student meal: €12 – 18
Decent restaurant: €20 – 30

Brussels is also the world capital of specialty beers: tasting is cultural, not just festive.

Going out and feeding your creativity

Brussels is one of the most stimulating cities in Europe for a future designer. Its art scene is dense and accessible.

One of the Atomium spheres seen from below

Museums: Bozar, WIELS, KANAL Centre Pompidou, Design Museum, Magritte Museum, Atomium. Student rates everywhere, free entry on the first Sunday of every month in all federal museums.
Cinemas: Cinematek, Aventure, Vendôme, Galeries. Student rate €8.
Festivals: Brussels Design September (design month), KIKK, AB Concerts, Couleur Café, Brosella.
Neighbourhoods: Sablon (antiques, design), Saint-Gilles (cafés, bookshops), Dansaert (fashion), Ixelles (student), Marolles (vintage).

Health and well-being

75 %

of consultations reimbursed by the mandatory mutuelle

€30

at the GP, €25 of which is reimbursed

Free

or almost: student mental health services (PMS centre, Wel’Com)

Mutuelles: Solidaris, Mutualité chrétienne, Partenamut.

The other guides

Guide 01

Housing in Brussels

Student room (kot), studio, shared flat: where to search, what to pay, best neighbourhoods near the CAD campus in Uccle.

Read the housing guide →

View over central Brussels from the Mont des Arts

Guide 02

Visa and administrative steps

EU and non-EU: student visa D, town hall registration, opening a bank account, healthcare.

Read the visa guide →

Secretariat

A question about your arrival?

Once your admission is confirmed, the secretariat helps you with visa, housing, town hall and bank.

Contact the secretariat