How much does studying and living in Antwerp cost for an international student? Based on averages from students over recent years, we’ve created an overview of costs to take into account.
How much does studying cost?
Tuition fees
This information does not apply to exchange students.
Your tuition fee depends on your nationality, the programme you’re enrolled in, and the number of credits you take on.
- Students with a nationality of a member state of the European Economic Area pay the same tuition fees as Belgians.
- Students who are a recognised refugee or receiving subsidiary protection (Dutch: subsidiaire bescherming) or have a permanent residence permit, you will also pay the same tuition fee as Belgian students.
- Students with a nationality from states outside the European Economic Area need to pay a higher tuition fee, depending on the programme.
International students can contact the International Student Office for individual cost estimates.
Other study costs
Estimated yearly costs
Estimated Living Costs for Individual Students (Per Month) - from the survey of degree students who were in Antwerp in AC25-26.
| Category & description | Monthly (survey) | Need to Have (Visa Minimum) | Nice to Have (Comfort/Luxury) | Context & Savings Potential (Antwerp) |
| Rent (see Kotweb) Cost of accommodation. In Belgium, a student room with shared facilities is called a "kot". | € 554 | € 490 | € 64 | Private market rooms in Antwerp average: €490 covers a standard room with utility advances. Studios or private bathrooms push this over €580. |
| Groceries Daily food, drinks, and basic household items bought at supermarkets. | € 275 | € 220 | € 55 | Hard discounters like Aldi or Lidl allow a tight food budget of €220. Eating out or ordering food requires utilizing the 'Nice to have' margin. |
| Personal Expenses Clothing, shoes, haircuts, cosmetics, and daily toiletries. | € 191 | € 70 | € 121 | Highly flexible. Shopping via second-hand platforms or budget clothing chains keeps this at the absolut visa minimum of €70. |
| Utilities Electricity, heating, water, and internet bills for the room. | € 156 | € 90 | € 66 | Most student contracts use lower fixed monthly advances or all-inclusive pricing. €156 is an overestimation for a single room. |
| Local Transport Commuting costs, city public transport, or city bike sharing schemes. | € 133 | € 5 | € 128 | Antwerp's biggest saver: A Velo Antwerp city bike subscription costs under €60 per year (€5/month). Higher survey costs come from weekly intercity train travel. |
| Internet & Mobile Mobile phone data plans and home internet connection. | € 115 | € 30 | € 85 | Almost all student buildings provide free Wi-Fi. A strong local mobile data plan (e.g., Hey Telecom or Mobile Vikings) costs maximum €25 to €30. |
| School Supplies Mandatory textbooks, course readers, and essential stationery. | € 16 | € 16 | € 0 | Textbooks and printed course packages are mandatory but can be bought at discounts via campus-linked student printing services. |
| Health Insurance & Medical Mandatory Belgian public health insurance fee and basic medical care. | € 18 | € 12 | € 6 | Registering with a local public health insurance fund (mutualiteit) is mandatory and costs around €10 to €12 per month. |
| Other Major Expenses Leisure, student nightlife, social activities, and entertainment. | € 31 | € 29 | € 2 | The visa baseline allocates roughly €29 for small miscellaneous expenses, enough for a minimal social life or basic emergency buffers. |
| TOTAL | € 1,489 | € 1,062 | € 427 | The official legal visa requirement is exactly € 1,062 per month. Surviving on this budget requires a strict lifestyle and a standard room. |
Crucial financial checkpoints for visa applicants:
- One-time startup costs: The monthly €1,062 visa allocation does not cover initial arrival costs. Students must bring extra buffers for the rental deposit.
- Tuition fees are NOT included in these amounts.