Cost Of Living For a Family in Gent (Ghent) 2025

Average monthly spending for families in Gent (Ghent)

We consider a family to be a member of four members, two adults and two children. This is the most common type of family. From the figures below, it should be fairly easy to calculate the average spending for families of different sizes.

How much money does a family need in a month to survive in Gent (Ghent)?

Families in Gent (Ghent) spend around 9,300 EUR per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a family can survive with a monthly budget as low as 3,300 EUR or as high as 60,000 EUR. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Family expenditure to income ratio in Gent (Ghent)

Analysing the how affordable it is for families to live in Gent (Ghent)

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Families usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a family of four ranges between 70% to 80%.

Families in Gent (Ghent) spend around 93% of their monthly income. Some families spend as low as 81% of their income while some as high as 100%.

How do families spend their money in Gent (Ghent)?

We asked thousands of families about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for families

Families in Gent (Ghent) typically spend from 25% to 40% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 30% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 3,000 EUR with expenditure ranging from 1,000 EUR to 19,000 EUR. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for families

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Gent (Ghent) ranges from 2% to 7% of total expenses with 4% being the average for most families. The average monthly cost of utilities is 460 EUR with 160 EUR and 3,000 EUR being the upper and lower limits for a family of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for families

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a family resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a family would expect to spend from 330 EUR to 6,000 EUR in a month on commuting with 930 EUR being the norm for most families. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 7% of total spending on average but can go as low as 5% or as high as 9%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for families

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical family in a month in Gent (Ghent) is 1,700 EUR. The cost of groceries can range between 590 EUR to 11,000 EUR. Families spend on average about 19% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 12% and 25% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for families

Families in Gent (Ghent) allocate 5% to 14% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 290 EUR to 4,800 EUR with 930 EUR being the norm for most families.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for families

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 160 EUR to 3,000 EUR with 460 EUR being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 8% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most families.

Education and schooling expenditure for families

Spending on education can vary drastically between different families. On average, education constitutes 14% of the monthly expenditure of families with 7% and 22% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 1,300 EUR per month with 460 EUR being the minimum spent amount and 8,500 EUR being the maximum.

What percentage of families in Gent (Ghent) are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of families that reported their ability to save money

Almost 72% of surveyed families in Gent (Ghent) said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 28% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do families manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families that are able to save money can put anywhere from 16% to 35% of their monthly income to their savings, with 24% being the average for most families. The average monthly amount of money that families can put aside is 4,000 EUR with 1,400 EUR and 26,000 EUR being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Gent (Ghent)

Reasons that make it difficult for families to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping families from maximizing their savings in Gent (Ghent). Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 7% of the families said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 10% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 20% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 10% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 8% of families blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 6% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 7% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 16% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 10% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 4% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 3% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for families in Gent (Ghent)

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Gent (Ghent)

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked families one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Gent (Ghent)?

Around 92% of surveyed families think that living in Gent (Ghent) is affordable with proper budgeting while 8.3% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Gent (Ghent)

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked families how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options70%

Few low-cost options30%

Based on the survey, 70% of the families living in Gent (Ghent) have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 30% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Families

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked families of Gent (Ghent) whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes90%

No11%

Based on the survey, 11% of the families living in Gent (Ghent) said that they don't have an emergency fund while 90% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Belgium

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy78%

We asked family guardians and parents in Gent (Ghent) whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 22% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 78% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether families of Belgium have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 19% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 81% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance19%

Easily manages finances81%

Financial goals of families in Gent (Ghent)

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Gent (Ghent), we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 6% of families said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 29% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 7% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 9% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 16% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 10% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 12% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 7% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Gent (Ghent)

Percentage of families who are in debt

According to the survey, 27% of the families in Gent (Ghent) have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 74% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Gent (Ghent)

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 28% of a family's monthly income in Gent (Ghent) goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 2% of the debtors in Gent (Ghent) pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 9% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 10% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 12% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 17% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Gent (Ghent)

15% of debtors in Gent (Ghent) confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 23% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 25% of people and personal loans rose at 34%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 3% of debtors in Gent (Ghent).

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Gent (Ghent)

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked families of Gent (Ghent) how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Gent (Ghent)

Rent Cost in Gent (Ghent)

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

550 EUR

830 EUR

2,200 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$600

$900

$2,400

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

830 EUR

1,300 EUR

3,300 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$900

$1,400

$3,600

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,100 EUR

1,700 EUR

4,400 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,200

$1,800

$4,800

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,300 EUR

2,200 EUR

6,000 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,400

$2,400

$6,500

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

2,700 EUR

6,600 EUR

13,000 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2,900

$7,200

$14,000

Townhouse monthly rent cost

2,200 EUR

3,300 EUR

9,500 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2,400

$3,600

$10,000

House monthly rent cost

2,700 EUR

6,600 EUR

13,000 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2,900

$7,200

$14,000

Villa monthly rent cost

3,300 EUR

8,300 EUR

13,000 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3,600

$9,000

$14,000

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Gent (Ghent) ranges between 550 EUR and 2,200 EUR, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 830 EUR to 3,300 EUR. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 1,100 EUR and 4,400 EUR per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 1,300 EUR to 6,000 EUR. The average rent of a townhouse in Gent (Ghent) is around 3,300 EUR while house rental costs can be as high as 6,600 EUR per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 3,300 EUR to 13,000 EUR per month.

Apartment and house prices in Gent (Ghent)

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

110,000 EUR

170,000 EUR

330,000 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$120,000

$180,000

$360,000

1-bedroom apartment price

130,000 EUR

220,000 EUR

830,000 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$140,000

$240,000

$900,000

2-bedroom apartment price

220,000 EUR

660,000 EUR

1.3M EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$240,000

$720,000

$1.4M

3-bedroom apartment price

740,000 EUR

1.1M EUR

3.3M EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$800,000

$1.2M

$3.6M

Townhouse price

950,000 EUR

2.2M EUR

8.3M EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1M

$2.4M

$9M

House price

1.1M EUR

6.6M EUR

9.5M EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.2M

$7.2M

$10M

Villa price

1.3M EUR

7.4M EUR

11M EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.4M

$8M

$12M

The average price of a studio apartment in Gent (Ghent) can range from 110,000 EUR to 330,000 EUR depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 130,000 EUR to 830,000 EUR. A villa can cost you 7.4M EUR on average with prices ranging from 1.3M EUR to 11M EUR.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Gent (Ghent) can be x162 to x252 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x162 multiples of the average monthly salary in Gent (Ghent).

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Gent (Ghent) is around 39%. This means that people pay 39% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 28% to 50% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Gent (Ghent)

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Gent (Ghent)

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

160 EUR

460 EUR

3,000 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$180

$500

$3,300

Internet and cable cost

31 EUR

62 EUR

83 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$34

$67

$90

Mobile phone bill and charges

25 EUR

41 EUR

120 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$27

$45

$130

The average monthly energy and water consumption of families is around 460 EUR. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 31 EUR to 83 EUR with 62 EUR being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 41 EUR but can range between 25 EUR and 120 EUR depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Gent (Ghent) is around 4.4%. This means that people pay 4.4% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 1.1% to 8.8% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Gent (Ghent)

Prices and cost of goods and services in Gent (Ghent)

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

6.2 EUR

12 EUR

21 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6.7

$13

$22

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Gent (Ghent) is approximatly 12 EUR with meal cost ranging from 6.2 EUR to 21 EUR. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

21 EUR

32 EUR

64 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$23

$35

$70

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 21 EUR and 64 EUR with 32 EUR being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Gent (Ghent).

Fine dining meal for one price

43 EUR

64 EUR

260 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$46

$70

$280

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 43 EUR to 260 EUR with the average cost being 64 EUR for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Gent (Ghent).

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

5.2 EUR

8.3 EUR

12 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.6

$9

$13

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Gent (Ghent) is around 8.3 EUR. Price ranges between 5.2 EUR and 12 EUR depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

4.1 EUR

5 EUR

6.2 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.5

$5.4

$6.7

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Gent (Ghent) is 5 EUR. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 6.2 EUR and the minimum being 4.1 EUR depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

3.1 EUR

4.1 EUR

6.2 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.4

$4.5

$6.7

A dozen eggs costs around 4.1 EUR on average with 3.1 EUR and 6.2 EUR being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

7.1 EUR

9.1 EUR

13 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$7.7

$9.9

$14

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Gent (Ghent) is between 7.1 EUR and 13 EUR depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 9.1 EUR.

Pack of beef price

8.3 EUR

12 EUR

25 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$9

$13

$27

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 12 EUR. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

3.3 EUR

4.6 EUR

6.5 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.6

$5

$7

A bag of rice in Gent (Ghent) costs around 4.6 EUR on average with prices rangeing between 3.3 EUR and 6.5 EUR depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

1.2 EUR

1.7 EUR

3.1 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.3

$1.8

$3.4

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 1.2 EUR to 3.1 EUR. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

2.2 EUR

2.9 EUR

4.8 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.4

$3.1

$5.2

A bag of apples costs 2.9 EUR on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Gent (Ghent) is around 27%. This means that families spend 27% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 18% to 33% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for families