The International Schools Review Forum

What type of yearly salary (in euros) do you think a family of 3 would need to do alright in Europe?

Depends on what you mean by alright, but would say 75,000 euros as a ballpark figure.

We're not looking for a penthouse apartment or anything. Just to be able to live in a 2 bedroom, not worry about every cent we spend, and be able to travel a bit. Won't we loose half of our salary in taxes there too?

Mrs. Pepper,

I would recommend a little research on the tax situation for expats in Belgium. Western European countries are known for income tax rates in the range of 30-60%. Belgium is one of them. If you aren't prepared for true social democracy I would advise against it.

Oh wow. I have researched it and our tax bracket would be around 40-50%. And thanks for the civics lesson.

If anyone else has lived in Belgium with a family and would like to chime in, I'd really appreciate it.

You would need a base salary of at least and I mean at least 70K€ just to get by. By getting by I mean paying your rent and utilities, your 'fixed' expenses. You need two salaries for anything involving kids.

First the tax rate in Belgium would be 40%. So take 70K and that's 28K in taxes, which leaves you 42K in salary. Your tuition waiver is also taxable. So the average value of that is about 10K per child, and 40% of that is 4K, and I'm assuming with a 2 bedroom you have 1 child so your gross salary is down to 38K. Now annualize that salary over 12 months and you have 3,166€ a month. Your apartment will cost you about 1,500-1,800€ a month? Utilities about 180€ and Internet about 40€. That's 2,020€ a month. Your mobile will average .24€ per minute/text. Here are some average costs of everyday expenses in Belgium:
 
Restaurants
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 14.13 € 
Meal for 2, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course 58.81 €
Combo Meal at McDonalds or Similar 7.35 €
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) 3.70 €
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) 3.61 €
Cappuccino (regular) 2.73 €
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) 2.09 €
Water (0.33 liter bottle) 1.77 €

Markets
Milk (regular), 1 liter 0.95 €
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) 1.64 €
Eggs (12) 2.65 €
Fresh Cheese (1kg) 11.96 €
Chicken Breasts (Boneless, Skinless), (1kg) 8.29 €
Apples (1kg) 1.80 €
Oranges (1kg) 2.27 €
Potato (1kg) 1.13 €
Lettuce (1 head) 1.18 €
Water (1.5 liter bottle) 1.09 €
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 5.95 €
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) 1.33 €
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) 1.78 €
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) 4.90 €

Transportation
One-way Ticket (local transport) 1.92 €
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) 45.08 €
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) 2.44 €
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) 2.07
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) 30.00 €
Gasoline (1 liter) 1.57 €

Sports And Leisure
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 61.33 €
Athletic Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) 16.25 €
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat 9.28
 
Clothing And Shoes
1 Pair of Levis 501 (Or Equivalent) 83.12 €
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store 46.00 €
1 Pair of Nike Shoes 88.33 €
1 Pair of Men/Women Leather Shoes 100.00 €

Start adding food, household supplies, durable goods, transportation in the city, etc and you will spend the other 1,100€. You will be lucky to have anything left over at the end of the month, and forget traveling or savings. You really need 2 salaries to life a typical western lifestyle. Your non working spouse will have to basically content themselves with staying home, and watching TV. You will be eating at home a lot, and maybe eat out a couple times a month. Forget traveling it would cost You 450€ round trip, for a family of three to go from Brussels to Paris on the high speed rail. You really, really have to have 2 incomes, if you have any kids.

Thanks for the info psyguy! And one more question, I assume there's no way for a spouse to find a job in Belgium, even if they do speak French, right?

Not unless they have an EU passport, or a Belgian employer to sponsor them for a work permit. You could freelance, or work under the table for cash. Tutoring, child care, maybe even translation work. You basically have to work for cash, where the income won't be reported by the employer. I know one person that did wedding photography on the weekends when I was in Rome. It wasn't real money though, basically pocket money.

Just an FYI:
http://www.permitsfoundation.com/docs/P ... y_2012.pdf

So while your spouse will need a permit to work, the employer does not have to prove that there is no local that could fill the position.

Not technically, but you cant just apply for a job and seriously think you will be considered the same as everyone else who either already has or doesnt need a work permit. Applying for a work permit is not an easy process for an employer, the regional ministry of labor has complete discretion on whether to grant a work permit.