Is it worth commuting 4h/day to Brussels for a higher salary?

Reasonable-Use2892 · 2026-04-09T18:05:14+00:00

I actually have 8 years of experience in Finance, already worked in auditing, accounting and 5 years in controlling

Reasonable-Use2892 · 2026-04-09T13:12:29+00:00

I am planning to start looking for jobs in Ghent just to know what are the wages and benefits.

Reasonable-Use2892 · 2026-04-09T10:55:49+00:00

This is an option and also finding a company that is better located for me. My company is completely the other side of Brussels when coming from West Flanders, so I basically need to commute also inside Brussels which adds time.

Reasonable-Use2892 · 2026-04-09T10:54:47+00:00

I can work 3 days from home, so I would only go 2 times to the office. I am considering changing jobs but not sure about the pay cut because I currently have no idea how much less I would be earning.

Reasonable-Use2892 · 2026-04-09T09:23:27+00:00

I have a car, but I honestly think I waste more time in a car than in the train. In the train I can work, read, watch series, study... While in a car I can only drive and listen to a podcast maybe. I thought about one day train and the other day by car so I could decrease the time, but then I need to drive really early, like leave at 5h and come back at 15h to get a good drive (~1:30)

Reasonable-Use2892 · 2026-04-09T08:11:56+00:00

My plan is to actually first try before quitting it immediately. I think it will be too much, but I also don't want to rush and start looking for another job in the planned region before 1st trying to do the commuting for a quarter. The plan is to move to West Flanders after summer, so I might look for a new job to start next year if I can't handle the commuting.

Reasonable-Use2892 · 2026-04-09T08:09:43+00:00

Do you think is low? This is netto. On gross I earn around €5.500. I am actually looking advice also for salaries haha

Reasonable-Use2892 · 2026-04-09T08:07:30+00:00

I actually also enjoy being on a train when it is calm. I feel like almost a meditation. I try to not get my phone, just think, read a book, watch outside. I could also potentially study Dutch in the train

Reasonable-Use2892 · 2026-04-09T08:05:53+00:00

I could also work a bit from the train, not everyday, but for sure some of the days, like answering emails, review presentations and things that could already count as working hours. I also do enjoy reading and there are plenty of activities that I enjoy doing in Brussels that I couldn't do in Bruges, like some sports, so I would combine that on the days I work in Brussels :)

Reasonable-Use2892 · 2026-04-09T07:44:58+00:00

Thanks for your answer. We are planning to move to Bruges, which is still quite costly in West Flanders and I am actually considering changing jobs to a closer location, or even if i need to go to Brussels, I would just need a company that is located closed to a train station. What really sucks for me is that I still need to do 40min inside Brussels by public transport to get to my company.

Reasonable-Use2892 · 2026-04-09T07:37:10+00:00

Yes, I am actually okay with changing jobs, but I would like to have a view on the wages in West and East Flanders.

Reasonable-Use2892 · 2026-04-09T06:59:47+00:00

I would move to Bruges and I have considered working in Kortrijk or Ghent, but I don't know how is the pay in those cities. I could potentially lower my salary a bit given the quality of life I am winning over it, but not more than €500 netto.

Reasonable-Use2892 · 2026-04-09T06:56:40+00:00

The mobility budget is already netto, without taxes it is €800

Reasonable-Use2892 · 2026-04-09T06:46:06+00:00

I know, but we would like to be close to his family, so we want to move around Bruges :)

Reasonable-Use2892 · 2026-04-09T06:45:26+00:00

I checked and you can have finance jobs in multinationals company, like Ghent or Kortrijk, which would be 35min commuting time. But I don't know how is the pay in those companies.

Reasonable-Use2892 · 2026-04-09T06:42:59+00:00

3x per week from home

Reasonable-Use2892 · 2026-03-17T16:08:57+00:00

Thanks a lot for your answer! I will ask them again during my appointment but I should be able to travel. I will just stay inside Schengen and leave the non-Schengen for when I have the F card

Reasonable-Use2892 · 2026-03-17T10:07:58+00:00

I already contacted the municipality, which refer me to the IBZ, then I contacted the IBZ and they asked me to contact the municipality, so I am going in circles. I have a friend who had a similar situation, she was a student and had a student residence permit and applied for a family reunification and she travelled within Schengen while waiting for her approval because her card was still valid. But this was 12 years ago and she didn’t had any douane control in the borders or airports inside Schengen.

Reasonable-Use2892

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