Belgium is not a real tax haven. It is not for the Swiss, the Luxembourgers or the Scandinavians. It was once for the Dutch, and it could be for some well-to-do Brits and Italians. Conversely, in view of the large number of tax exiles, it seems to be so for the French.

The reason is very simple: because the government spend a huge amount of money on useless things and there’s also a lot of corruption and fraud. 1. They make buildings worth millions in small towns (Google for example “Gare Mons” or “Gare Liege”).

In 2018, a full-time employee in the private sector earned a gross average salary of 3,627 euros per month, according to the latest figures of Statbel, the Belgian statistical office. The median, i.e. the amount for which 50 % of employees earn less and 50 % of employees earn more, is 3,361 euros gross per month.

The cost of living in Belgium is relatively high but still considered affordable, including the cost of living in Brussels, when compared to some of its neighbors. Though the cost of living in Belgium is definitely up there, it is nowhere near as expensive as some other western European countries.

3000 euro is not a great salary. Especially if they’re already lowballing you and there is little room for growth I would be very careful.

As public healthcare in Belgium is subsidized rather than free, many residents choose to take out a private insurance policy to top up their state coverage, as well as give them access to private healthcare treatment.

A person working in Brussel typically earns around 6,360 EUR per month. Salaries range from 1,950 EUR (lowest average) to 26,800 EUR (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher). This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits.