- 24/01/2023

Average household spending

4 min

The household budget survey

A survey of 6,000 households

Below are the results of the household budget survey, conducted by Statbel, the Belgian statistical office. These figures were collected as part of a survey of more than 6,000 households in 2018, to be used as a source for political decision-making and to update the basket of goods and services for the consumer price index.

The average household spending

Differences between Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels

In 2018, the average annual expenditure of Belgian households was €35,764. However, there were regional variations: Flemish households spent an average of €36,895, Walloon households €34,589, and Brussels households €33,356. Notable differences in spending habits were observed between the regions. For instance, Flemish households allocated a larger proportion of their budget to clothing and footwear (5.1%) compared to Walloon (3.9%) and Brussels (4.2%) households. Additionally, Flemish and Brussels residents spent more on hotels, bars, and restaurants (7%) than their Walloon counterparts (5.6%). Conversely, Walloon households spent a greater proportion of their budget on energy (5.3%) and transport (13%) compared to Flemish (4.4% and 11.1%, respectively) and Brussels households (3.6% and 7.8%, respectively).

Housing represents an important part of household budgets

Housing expenses account for the largest share of Belgian household spending. On average, households allocate 30.3% of their total budget (10,837 euros per year) to housing costs, including rent, water, energy, maintenance, and other expenses. Furthermore, an additional 5.3% (1,878 euros per year) is spent on furniture, household items, maintenance supplies, home and garden tools, and other related expenses. In total, Belgian households spend an average of 16,715 euros per year on housing, which represents just over a third (35.6%) of their total household budget.

Other major expenses include food and transport

We spend 14% of our total household budget on food and non-alcoholic beverages. This figure rises to 16% when alcohol and tobacco are included. We are also prepared to pay the price for getting around: 11.4% of the total household spend goes to transport We spend 15% of our budget on personal care and services, 7% on hotels, restaurants and bars, 7% on culture and leisure, and 5% on clothing and footwear.

Tools for optimising your budget

There are all kinds of apps, sites, and tools you can use for managing your money. Wikifin has an online budget planner, for example. Or how about Easy Banking app, which comes with a budget management tool that gives you a clear overview of your expenses and income? The benefit? It's free, automated, and always just a tap away.