96% of young expats satisfied with life in Belgium, but all good things come at a price

The survey was meant to map the young expats' expectations before, during and after their stay in Belgium and six other European countries: Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Poland and the UK. In total, 6,349 young expats were interviewed.

Students

53% moved to Belgium through an opportunity (e.g. Erasmus exchange program) given to them by their university or school. 39% wanted to learn a new language or new culture. 37% said they moved to Belgium to improve their resumé and broaden their career's options.

Young professionals

Over 80% of young professional expats moved to Belgium because of the career-opportunities that were present, while 50% moved here for their personal development. Other reasons ranged from learning a new language, the standard of life or quality of life. Surprisingly, only 10% indicated that they moved due to financial reasons.

Students

After arrival in Belgium, 63% of expat students quickly notice that their social life has improved significantly. 6 out of 10 praise the quality of the Belgian education system and nearly half of all test subjects claim to have a better standard of life in Belgium. Affordable education (30%) and livelihood (21%) are also deemed as important benefits by students.

Young Professionals

82% of young professionals say that, thanks to their move to Belgium, they improved their career. 43% also said to have improved their social life and 42% has seen an improvement when it comes to personal finance. About 36% claim their standard of life has improved during their stay in Belgium.

In total, 96% of all questioned young expats indicated they are satisfied with their Belgian experience. However, 72% said that the cost of life was less expensive in their home country. This trend carries on when it comes to housing, making Belgium a more expensive destination for many expats.

Source: BNP Paribas Fortis & ThinkYoung