Moving to Brussels from New Delhi, need help evaluate costs

[sumitbond]

Hi All

I am a Chartered Accountant from India with 7 years of post qualification experience and am being sent on payroll of Belgium by my company. I am evaluating the costs involved in living within brussels for 18months from Oct07 onwards. I have owned house in India and therefore all accomodation costs will be additional. I am worried as am relocating with my wife and child(2 yr old) and therefore need to consider medical expenses, pre-nursery schooling. I also need to take care of fixed financial obligation within India of around Euro 1000 per month out of my savings per month in Belgium.
Help me evaluate overall costs as well as advise me on correct compensation level(gross and net of taxes) to be asked from my employer. I do not wish to make excessive profit out of assignment as it will provide me good professional experience.

[synthia]

Welcome, and I hope you can get an excessive profit and valuable career experience.

Has your company talked to you at all about what they will do for you? It's not unusual for a company to provide a housing allowance and other additional benefits, and sometime that gives you a tax saving. Your company should know what the health insurance arrangements are, too. Since the US is the only developed country in the world without a national health plan, I'm sure Belgium has one. The only question would be whether you are covered.

[Jamesvik]

Hi All

I live in delhi and my compnay is sending me to client side on lng term assigment(1-2 years) to brussels.

I want to know

1.What is cost of renting a 2-bedroom furnished apartment in central brussels?

2.what is the cost of living in brussels(travelling,groceries,entertainment,electr icity etc)?

3What is good salary if I am coming with my wife and daugther?I want to save money also.

4.Will my salay be taxable in brussels?

5.Do we face problem in communcating with people as I only knows english language?

Thanks
James

[MichelleAlison]

Originally Posted by Jamesvik

Hi All

I live in delhi and my compnay is sending me to client side on lng term assigment(1-2 years) to brussels.

I want to know

1.What is cost of renting a 2-bedroom furnished apartment in central brussels?

2.what is the cost of living in brussels(travelling,groceries,entertainment,electr icity etc)?

3What is good salary if I am coming with my wife and daugther?I want to save money also.

4.Will my salay be taxable in brussels?

5.Do we face problem in communcating with people as I only knows english language?

Thanks
James

Hi James and welcome to the forum. Sorry I can't help with your questions.

Regards

Michelle

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by Jamesvik

1.What is cost of renting a 2-bedroom furnished apartment in central brussels?

2.what is the cost of living in brussels(travelling,groceries,entertainment,electr icity etc)?

3What is good salary if I am coming with my wife and daugther?I want to save money also.

4.Will my salay be taxable in brussels?

5.Do we face problem in communcating with people as I only knows english language?

Brussels is an expensive town - in large part because of all the European Union functions there, plus NATO isn't far. There are lots of folks living there on expense account, so prices tend to be high. But on the plus side, the food in Brussels is fabulous - and "entertainment" often consists of going out for dinner and spending the whole evening enjoying the meal.

It's entirely reasonable to find a place to live in the suburbs around Brussels. Public transit is good and not horribly expensive, and you can probably save considerably on accomodation by locating your family outside the city center.

You salary will be taxable in Belgium. Most companies that relocate staff provide some form of tax assistance that consists of someone to do your taxes (usually an international accounting firm) plus "tax equalization" which adjusts your income to compensate for differences in taxes between your home base and where you're working.

Brussels is a multi-lingual city - it's one area where there are both French speaking and Flemish speaking Belgians. But thanks to the many international agencies, it's normally possible to get by in English. Technically, however, Brussels is in the Flemish part of Belgium, and last I knew, if you send your daughter to public school, she will probably wind up having to go to a Flemish school - unless she comes from a French speaking family. You should probably talk to your employer about a school allowance for your daughter so she can attend a private international or British school.
Cheers,
Bev

[synthia]

Belgium does have national health insurance, which your employer must provide for you. I think the doctor that was discussing this with me said there are now some co-payments for some things.

Try to get as much covered by your employer as possible, including not only a housing allowance but some help in getting settled and getting everything organized. Compared to India (or even the US) everything will seem monstrously expensive. Since you are only going for 18 months, and your child is so young, school won't be so much of an issue for you.

Also, from what I remember from my travel in India, having servants is usual for people with professinal jobs, and that's not the norm in Europe. I mention this because I have met many people who are stunned to discover that the richer the country you come from, the more likely it is that you will do all your own housework.

[MichelleAlison]

Originally Posted by synthia

Also, from what I remember from my travel in India, having servants is usual for people with professinal jobs, and that's not the norm in Europe. I mention this because I have met many people who are stunned to discover that the richer the country you come from, the more likely it is that you will do all your own housework.

It's true what you say Synthia - people are often surprised when I tell them that I clean and look after my home here without any outside help. Everybody, so it seems, has some sort of help in Argentina and many people still have live-in help.

Michelle

[synthia]

In many countries it is sort of, well, immoral not to hire servants. If you have a certain income level one of your obligations to society is to employ other people.

[nero]

yes taxes are very high in belgium and i would say a salary around 60-70 k per annum will be ok to make a saving when you include your family.

the price of room rent in belgium will be around 1200-1500 euros per month and it depends upon the location within brussels. you can check belgiumhousing.be for more information about accommodation.