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Can i live good in 3000 euros?

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santosh82

I got a great job offer in Antwerp. Its really exiting in terms of work. Salary they are giving me is 3000 euros after tax+ health insurance + pension + daily travelling expenses.

How good is 3000 euros? Will it be enough for a good living. How much i need to pay initially apart from rent for a decent apartment?

I am not sure yet exactly where i will work but it can at "2030 Antwerp" will i be able to get a apartment near by?

schoolmum

We are a family of 6 and live on that much, so yes you can live very well indeed if your rent is very low.

hannahhadman

Yes indeed its a very good wage

flyboy07

Hi

If you can plan well. You can easily pocket 1500 EUR a month.

Good Luck.

santosh82

Thanks schoolmum, hannahhadman and flyboy07 for your reply. what about rent how much do i need to pay advance and how is the transportation in Antwerp?

schoolmum

Public transport is excellent in Antwerp, a mix of a few train stations, many tram lines some of which go underground like they are metros and buses too. The trams and buses are run by a single company and the tickets are valid over the whole of Flanders (that's Dutch speaking Belgium). A year pass will set you back, if you're between 25 and 64 years old, only €232 for the entire year.


Here is a map of buses, trams and trains in Antwerp, it's about to go a little out of date as next week some of the tram routes will be re-organised, small changes only. I strongly recommend you find out transport routes between work and home for all possible apartmens/houses.


If you don't want luxurious accommodation, you can easily pick up an 80m2 apartment for €800, a 60m2 apartment for €600 or less. Work on €10 for every 1m2 and that should allow you a nicely maintained place. Most accommodation is unfurnished but usually with part or fully fitted kitchen, a much smaller amount of furnished accommodation which often costs more and damage the furniture and you pay to replace it! So I'd go for unfurnished, if your move is longer than a few months. You can pick up 2nd hand furniture or go to Ikea and furnish a whole apartment for less than €1000.

I'd personally be looking to get a 1 bed at under €500 a month. Another €500 a month on food, electricity, gas, water, going out etc. So you could even save €2000 a month.

Just do be careful with contracts. a 9 year contract doesn't mean 9 years! You can break this contract with penalties of 3/2/1 months rent in the first 1/2/3 years, after that you can break the contract without penalty. Notice is always 3 calendar month. Try and start a contract on the 1st of the month it's easier. A fixes 1/2/3 year contract can not normally be broken and you leave the contract, you pay the whole rent for the whole of the contract.

santosh82

Thanks for the detailed info schoolmum.

santosh82

where should i look for rent. My main criteria is the neighborhood should be good. How much rent will it need to pay for a single bedroom apartment in a decent neighborhood.

Also knowing just english is enough or do i need to learn local language.

´¡³Ü°ùé±ô¾±±ð

Hello santosh82.

The Housing in Antwerp is at your disposal. Do not hesitate to post an advert there. :)

Thank you,
´¡³Ü°ùé±ô¾±±ð

schoolmum

I think you should look first at areas which are a good location for work. Too many nice areas, although I don't know Antwerpen that well. Look at the public transport map and tell us where your work is on it and people might be able to suggest somewhere to live.

You can pay anything you want for a 1 bed apartment, from as little as 400 per month up to several thousands per month, it's more dependent on the quality of the apartment than the area.

GuestPoster419

Hi Santosh,

You can live well with €3000/month in Antwerp. It is also worth mentioning that you will get paid for 14 months (2 extra months per year).

Cheers!

santosh82

Thanks schoolmum unexpectedbelgium and ´¡³Ü°ùé±ô¾±±ð.

I will most probably work in noorderlaan 2030 Antwerp. I have searched a few apartments for rent on web but all are more that 6 km away.

Is it possible to get any apartment near to my work. say within 3 km area.

schoolmum

Merksem 2170
Ekeren 2180
Both within 3km and there are 27 ads on immoweb for 1+ beds under 1k per month.

levalencia

dont come to live to belgium, its the most boring place on earth. it really sucks. I have no option than staying here.

In the other hand, 500 euros of food? You really eat a lot to the person who commented that, we are 2, and I spend only 200 on food, 690 on rent, 85 on energy, 25 on water. transport and car paid by the company

esteve_cr

Hello, responding about what levalencia said, I have been living in Brussels for several years (over 25), and yes, Belgium in general is a sad country, because it's grey must of time, the buildings is grey also, etc... But, is Belgium is a sad country because of that, then, London, Paris, and many cities of Europe is sad too. Something that Belgium have is a lot of things to do, lots of sports installation, ice court to play hockey, lots of cinemas, bars, disco, library, and very nice places for entertainment. Another thing people should knows, is Belgium, is a country which is raining a lot, then, that push citizen to stay at home, but Belgian have a habit to visit friends, as we have to stay at home because of bad weather, so, better to stay at home with friends, is why is very important to have friends in Belgium. Nowadays I'm living in Vietnam, but even I get the sun all the year, I no have friends, or at least, friends as I've got in Belgium, and most of time, I'm so bored here. Now, me and my wife will come back Spain first and in three months, we will move to Brussels again. Can not wait the moment I will meet my friends again.
To conclude: in Belgium, need have a friend, and you will see how the life become more fun and more easy to life.
Hasta la vista.

santosh82

Finally arrived in Antwerp today. Its an incredibly beautiful place. but water is very expensive. I bought 500ml of beer for .59 euros at carrefour but bought 330 ml of water for 1.7 euros in my hotel.

Anyways looking for a good mobile phone operator(sim card). I will make a lot of calls to India so will i get any packages that will benefit me.

schoolmum

water is free from the tap, don't waste your money on unenvironmental bottled water.

Mobile Vikings. Use Skype.

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