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

Average monthly spending for students in Gent (Ghent)

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

Students in Gent (Ghent) spend around 3,000 EUR per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 460 EUR or as high as 20,000 EUR. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

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

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

Housing and accomodation expenditure for students

Students in Gent (Ghent) typically spend from 17% to 28% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 22% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 720 EUR with expenditure ranging from 110 EUR to 4,800 EUR. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

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

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Gent (Ghent) ranges from 3% to 9% of total expenses with 5% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 120 EUR with 19 EUR and 800 EUR being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 33 EUR to 1,400 EUR in a month on commuting with 210 EUR being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 6% of total spending on average but can go as low as 5% or as high as 12%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Gent (Ghent) is 600 EUR. The cost of groceries can range between 93 EUR to 4,000 EUR. Students spend on average about 21% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 15% and 25% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students

Students in Gent (Ghent) allocate 4% to 10% 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 7%. The range of medical expenses range from 28 EUR to 1,200 EUR with 180 EUR being the norm for most students.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for students

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 23 EUR to 1,000 EUR with 150 EUR being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 3% to 8% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most students.

Education and schooling expenditure for students

Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 19% of the monthly expenditure of students with 12% and 24% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 570 EUR per month with 88 EUR being the minimum spent amount and 3,800 EUR being the maximum.

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 students one simple question and recorded their answers.

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

Around 92% of surveyed students 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 students 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 students 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 Students

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 students of Gent (Ghent) whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes90%

No11%

Based on the survey, 11% of the students 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 student 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 students 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%

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 / Student

19 EUR

120 EUR

800 EUR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$20

$130

$860

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 students is around 120 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 students 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 students