Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL)

Belgacom, the local phone company, charges far too much to give you a number, and they charge again when you cancel the line at the end of your stay. Even if you don't phone a lot, you pay every month, and it's quite a lot. Try to live in a flat where they already have a phone ! Local supermarkets are expensive : they're well aware of the fact tat most students have no car, and therefore have no choice : they shop in Louvain. Find friends to go shopping in the surrounding malls.

The costs of living are pretty much the same as they are in Austria, though the travelling expenses pushed up the total costs;

The cost of living is elevated compared to the US. I had many more opportunities to travel in Belgium than in the US.

Food in Europe was more costly than in Canada. I had to call long-distance for telephone which became quite costly.

Because we were going out and travel a lot.

At home I live with my parents who take care of housing and food. However, the prices for food are higher in Louvain than in my home country. In addition I traveled more than usually.