The average Belgian spent 40,223 euros in 2022 according to figures from statistical office Statbel that carried out its biennial household budget survey. After the big dip in spending during corona year 2020, we are again spending more on culture, leisure and hospitality. The biggest chunk of the budget, some 12,300 euros, still goes on housing.
In 2020, both the cultural sector and the hospitality industry were at a standstill due to corona measures. As a result, their share in Belgians' household budget also fell sharply: from 7.2 per cent in 2018 to 6.3 per cent and from 6.6 per cent in 2018 to 4.3 per cent, respectively.
In 2022, however, Belgians caught up and significantly increased their budgets for culture, travel and hospitality. Culture and leisure accounted for 7.7 per cent (+0.5 percentage points) of the total budget, or 3,114 euros per household.
This is the first increase since 2012. This is mainly attributable to sports activities and the leisure and cultural sectors (+25.3 per cent compared to 2018) and travel (+28.8 per cent compared to 2018).
Belgians spent 7 per cent of their budget in hospitality outlets in 2022, accounting for 2,828 euros. That is an increase of almost 500 euros on average over four years. Some 6,300 euros were spent on food, drink and tobacco, 15.8 per cent of the budget.
The biggest bite out of the budget, 30.7 per cent, remains housing (rent, water, energy, maintenance and other costs). The increase in the price of gas plays a major role with an increase in the average budget for gas, from €472 per household in 2020, to €709 in 2022.