Moving to Belgium: tax, residence and real costs (2026)
Belgium: worldwide: up to 50% on income · 30% on dividends · 10% on financial gains (from 2026). The cheapest route to residence is home country: about USD 0 in fees doing it yourself, with no investment, in about 0 months. Living costs about USD 1,850 a month for one person in Antwerp, USD 1,300 in Verviers, and around USD 1,250 on a bare-minimum budget.
Key facts
| Tax in one line | worldwide: up to 50% on income · 30% on dividends · 10% on financial gains (from 2026) |
| Foreign income | taxed worldwide |
| Gains · dividends | 10% on financial assets from 2026 (EUR 10k exemption; up to 10% sliding scale for 20%+ stakes after EUR 1 M) · 30% |
| Wealth · inheritance tax | securities account tax 0.15% above EUR 1 M · up to 27-30% in direct line (regional) |
| Cheapest residence | home country |
| Money needed | About USD 0 in fees doing it yourself, with no investment |
| Time | about 0 months |
| Doable yourself? | Yes, with a checklist |
| Days you must spend there | - |
| Citizenship | - |
| Online business | 45% effective, about USD 3,000 a year to run: BV/SRL ~25% + 15-30% on dividends, or self-employed up to 50% + social |
| Living (one person a month) | Antwerp ~USD 1,850; bare minimum ~USD 1,250; family of four ~USD 4,150 |
| Good for | reference: the country being left; holding companies with VVPR-bis and liquidation reserves for entrepreneurs who stay |
| Common set-up | management company + holding; leaving: see the starting-situation notes |
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
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Questions
- How much does residence in Belgium cost?
- Home country: about USD 0 in fees doing it yourself, with no investment, about 0 months.
- Does Belgium tax foreign income?
- Taxed worldwide. In one line: worldwide: up to 50% on income · 30% on dividends · 10% on financial gains (from 2026).
- What does it cost to live in Belgium?
- Living costs about USD 1,850 a month for one person in Antwerp, USD 1,300 in Verviers, and around USD 1,250 on a bare-minimum budget (based on livingcost.org, 2026).
- Can I run an online business from Belgium?
- Effective tax about 45% with the cheapest legal set-up, which costs about USD 3,000 a year: BV/SRL ~25% + 15-30% on dividends, or self-employed up to 50% + social.
- What is the catch in Belgium?
- The 2026 capital gains tax and its exit tax shape any move out: plan before moving.
Compare
- Monaco: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income (French citizens excepted)
- Andorra: 10% on foreign income (credit for tax paid abroad) · 10% on local income · 10% top
- Switzerland (lump-sum taxation): lump-sum: a yearly fixed tax on living costs instead of tax on income (foreign income and gains included)
- Italy (flat tax for new residents): EUR 300k a year flat on all foreign income and gains, whatever the amount · 43% on Italian income
- Greece (non-dom): EUR 100k a year flat on all foreign income (+EUR 20k per family member) · up to 44% on Greek income
- Cyprus (non-dom): 0% on dividends and interest (non-dom, 17 years) · 20-35% on work income · 0% on securities gains
- Malta: foreign income: 0% unless brought to Malta (min. tax EUR 5k) · 35% top on Maltese income
- Portugal (IFICI): 0% on most foreign income (IFICI, 10 years) · 20% flat on qualifying Portuguese work income · 48% otherwise
Compare all 53 places with your own income and budget →
Sources
- https://news.pwc.be/belgiums-comprehensive-capital-gains-tax-changes-key-updates-and-implications-starting-january-2026/
- https://www.bdo.be/en-gb/insights/news-alerts/2025/belgian-exit-tax-on-financial-assets-on-the-way
- Living costs: based on livingcost.org (livingcost.org, June 2026), rounded