Cost of living in Budapest: let’s analyze costs of food, real estate, entertainment and transport in Budapest, Hungary
Are you planning to move to Budapest, Hungary? Check below the data for the cost of living in Budapest, the capital and the biggest city in Hungary.
Cost of Living in Budapest, Hungary
Budapest is the capital and largest city in Hungary. It is also one of the most beautiful cities in the old continent, and famous for its architecture, ruin pubs and amazing alles beside the Danube.
Furthermore, Budapest is one of the best cities for expats. The city is breathtaking and the price levels of goods and services are relatively low compared to the surrounding countries. Also Budapest has an international airport and three international railway stations which makes travelling comfortable and easy in and out of the city.
One of the main reason behind the growing number of foreign companies and employees in Budapest might be the location of the city. From Budapest it is convenient to do business with any part of the world but with a significantly lower operational cost than from Western Europeans countries.
The cost of living in Budapest is still more affordable than in most of the European countries thanks to the cheap public transport and general services. However the rent rate in city is continuously growing and getting closer to the Western European housing prices.
Let’s check some data for the cost of living in Budapest, Hungary below:
The currency in Hungary is the Hungarian Forint. The conversion rate to the HUF is 1 dollar to 356.46 HUF as of September 14, 2024.
If you want to suggest your own values based on your experiences in this city, click on edit and insert the values. Upon moderation they will be calculated to make part of the average prices displayed below.
| Food | Price [EDIT] |
|---|---|
| 1 liter of milk | 1.00 USD |
| 1 loaf of bread | 1.00 USD |
| 1 kg of tomatoes | 2.60 USD |
| 1 kg of chicken | 4.00 USD |
| 1 single meal cheap restaurant | 7.50 USD |
| 1 single meal high-end restaurant | 28.50 USD |
| 1 cappuccino or latte | 2.60 USD |
| 1 big pizza delivery | 12.00 USD |
| Real Estate | Price [EDIT] |
| 1 bedroom flat (40 m2) rent per month | 500.00 USD |
| 1 bedroom flat (40 m2) utilities per month | 100.00 USD |
| 2 bedroom flat (80 m2) rent per month | 700.00 USD |
| 2 bedroom flat (80 m2) utilities per month | 1,800.00 USD |
| Price per square meter (city center) | 2,899.98 USD |
| Transport | Price [EDIT] |
| 1 single ride public transport | 1.28 USD |
| Monthly public transport ticket | 35.00 USD |
| 1 km taxi or similar transport app | 1.30 USD |
| 1 liter of gasoline (1/4 gallon) | 1.50 USD |
| Toyota Corolla (new) basic version | 19,958.00 USD |
| Salaries | Price [EDIT] |
| Minimum Salary | 560.00 USD |
| Average Salary (net) | 949.98 USD |
| Extras | Price [EDIT] |
| 1 ticket to the movies (adult price) | 6.00 USD |
| High speed internet per month | 15.00 USD |
| 1 month gym subscription | 12.00 USD |
Cost of Living for Students in Budapest, Hungary
Budapest is great place for students. The education level of the universities is high and internationally acknowledged. Several student dorms are available for international students, too. The cost of living for students is definitely more favorable than in cities with similar attributes.
There are numerous higher education institutes in Budapest. Undergraduate, graduate and even higher level education and courses are available mainly in English, German and Hungarian but other languages are also represented. It is possible to participate in Hungarian language courses for students.
Here are some of the main higher education institutions in Budapest:
Corvinus University of Budapest
Budapest University of Technology and Economics
Getting a Job in Budapest
Budapest is not just the capital but the center of country’s business life and job market. Most of the international jobs in Hungary are located in Budapest. The two most commonly required languages are English and German but several jobs are available for Russian speakers or any other slavic native people. More and more IT companies are coming to Budapest but there are positions for almost any kind of engineers and business professionals.
Salaries in line with the prices are not that high in Hungary but in case of international employees the employers are always willing to pay closer to the all European market. Additionally it is common to offer relocation services or other daily services for expats.
Here are some websites for job hunting in Hungary:
Quality of Life in Budapest
Budapest has a great quality of life with its amazing parks and natural areas equally with the spectacular squares and streets of city. For a reasonable price luxury services are available. Several theater and cultural programs offer high level of entertainment. The infrastructure and the public transport are well organized and fairly priced. Additionally there are various non-stop stores and restaurants around the city.
Most of the city is secure and has an exciting but in the same time safe nightlife. Pickpockets are very rare on the public transport.
English and German are well spoken among the younger generations,the older generations are more likely to speak Russian. Hungarian is not an easy language but Hungarian are enthusiastic language teachers.
If you are visiting Budapest soon you may want to check some of our other Hungary guides. Check the where to stay in Budapest and our article on the Budapest travel budget per day. You can also check the our article on trains from Budapest. You can also check how to travel from the Budapest Airport to the city center, and how to travel from Ljubljana to Budapest, Vienna to Budapest and Krakow to Budapest.
Other Resources for Expats and Travelers
Salaries Worldwide: check our articles on wages worldwide and understand better the economics of the countries you may be considering to move or invest.
Retire Abroad: check our retirement guides and maximize your retirement income and quality of life.
Jetradar: compare and find the cheapest air fares worldwide.