How expensive is water in Belgium?
Your tap water payments depend on your specific situation.
If you have a water meter you will pay for your actual water use. In 2022 you pay 0.87 euro per m³, 4 cents more than in 2021. Fixed costs went up with 6.40 euro, ending up at 82.82 euro per year.
Paying your water bill
Generally speaking, you'll receive a water bill from your supplier once every quarter. This will be based on your consumption that quarter. Once a year, you'll also receive a final invoice for the year.
The average price of water for household use in Europe is highly variable. It is highest in Denmark with 9.32 €/m3, followed by Norway with 7.8 €/m3. The UK is in the middle of the ranking, with an average price of 3.5 €/m3.
But generally the tap water throughout the Brussels, Flander and Wallonia regions is safe to drink based on EU standards. More specifically, according to the Belgian consumer organisation tap water is safe to drink based on testing of water across 40 locations in Belgium.
Though the cost of living in Belgium is definitely high, it is nowhere near as expensive as some other western European countries. This guide will help you navigate living costs from healthcare and food to housing and transportation.
Belgium squeezed into the top 20 in a ranking of the most expensive countries to live in during 2020, in a list in which European countries take up half the spots.
Belgium, December 2021: The price of electricity is 0.315 U.S. Dollar per kWh for households and 0.150 U.S. Dollar for businesses which includes all components of the electricity bill such as the cost of power, distribution and taxes.
| Household Size | Electricity (€/year) | Electricity (€/month) |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 335.04 | 27.92 |
| Medium | 1,005.12 | 83.76 |
| Large | 2,094.00 | 174.50 |
The suppliers in the Belgian market usually offer their customers several ways of paying their energy bills. These include direct debit (automatic payment), bank transfer and Zoomit, which is free and accessible from your online banking service.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia had the lowest average tap water price in 2021, at just 0.04 U.S. dollars per cubic meter. The Egyptian capital of Cairo had the second lowest water price, where 1,000 liters of tap water cost 0.08 U.S. dollars.
Is water free in Europe?
To date, the European Union has passed no laws requiring establishments in its member countries to provide free tap water. The owners of European restaurants and other establishments can choose whether they provide it or not.
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There is no free tap water or table water, in Belgium, argued Paul van Havere, President of the Belgian Restaurants Association. It is a principle that has always been anchored in the sector, he added. Under current law, the state does not require restaurateurs to offer tap water.
Tipping is not common in Belgium. Restaurant, taxi and hairdresser bills include the service charge. Service staff in Belgium are well-paid, in comparsion with those in the USA, and do not rely on tips to make up their income.
Although water resources in Belgium are not as scarce as in other countries in Europe— particularly the Mediterranean countries—Belgium is vulnerable mainly as result of its high population density.
| Restaurants | Edit |
|---|---|
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | 0.78€ |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 6.64€ |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | 1.63€ |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) | 2.02€ |
The charge per cubic metre for water is 138.18 pence, so this part of the bill is 60 x 138.18, which equals 8,291p or £82.91. The charge per cubic metre for wastewater is 89.63 pence, so this part of the bill is 60 x 89.63, which equals 5,378p or £53.78.
According to Waterwise, for the year April 2019 – March 2020, the average amount of water usage in cubic meters in, a home of: one person - 66 (per year) two people - 110. three people - 136.
