Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Arta and Budapest

For one person, living is cheaper in Arta: $1,356 a month against $1,619 in Budapest, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Arta
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,356
/mo nomad
Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,619
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Arta and in Budapest

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Arta and in Budapest actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,356 per month in Arta vs $1,619 in Budapest, rent included.

  • Arta $1,356
  • Budapest $1,619

A couple spends around $2,017 per month in Arta vs $2,524 in Budapest, rent included.

  • Arta $2,017
  • Budapest $2,524

A family of three spends $2,678 per month in Arta vs $3,429 in Budapest, rent included.

  • Arta $2,678
  • Budapest $3,429

Arta is about 16% cheaper than Budapest, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Arta and Budapest sit above the global median – Arta by 0%, Budapest by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arta
Budapest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.26 €10.04
$13.94 Ft 4,517
-19.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.58 €39.75
$61.2 Ft 19.8K
-27.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.88 €8.81
$10.19 Ft 3,302
-3.04%
Cappuccino
$4.08 €3.64
$3.26 Ft 1,058
25.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 €2.60
$2.14 Ft 693
35.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 €0.52
$1.78 Ft 578
-67.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.35 €4.77
$3.71 Ft 1,202
44.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.32 €5.64
$3.77 Ft 1,221
67.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arta
Budapest
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 €1.11
$1.15 Ft 372
8.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.09 €0.97
$1.79 Ft 579
-39.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 €0.83
$2.49 Ft 806
-62.65%
Eggs
$3.36 €3.00
$3.90 Ft 1,265
-13.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €12.02
$11.10 Ft 3,599
21.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.37 €10.14
$6.62 Ft 2,146
71.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.11 €9.90
$14.69 Ft 4,761
-24.37%
Apples (1kg)
$1.02 €0.91
$1.83 Ft 593
-44.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 €1.11
$2.05 Ft 663
-39.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.26 €1.12
$2.37 Ft 768
-46.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.02 €0.91
$3.90 Ft 1,264
-73.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 €1.11
$0.99 Ft 321
25.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 €0.98
$1.00 Ft 323
10.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 €0.67
$1.58 Ft 513
-52.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.19 €0.17
$0.67 Ft 217
-71.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.00 €4.46
$7.96 Ft 2,580
-37.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.39 €3.92
$6.22 Ft 2,015
-29.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 €0.82
$1.27 Ft 412
-27.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 €1.97
$2.03 Ft 657
8.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Arta
Budapest
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 €1.09
$1.52 Ft 492
-19.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.83 €44.43
$28.02 Ft 9,082
77.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.09 €3.64
$3.31 Ft 1,073
23.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 €0.97
$1.37 Ft 444
-20.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.83 €15.00
$19.83 Ft 6,427
-15.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.00 €1.78
$1.82 Ft 590
9.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K €25.1K
$29.8K Ft 9.7M
-5.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K €27.8K
$33.8K Ft 11.0M
-7.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arta
Budapest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$214 €191
$171 Ft 55.5K
24.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.88 €20.40
$23.51 Ft 7,620
-2.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.68 €22.00
$23.29 Ft 7,550
5.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arta
Budapest
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.74 €41.67
$67.5 Ft 21.9K
-30.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.30 €22.56
$18.89 Ft 6,124
33.93%
Cinema Ticket
$10.15 €9.05
$9.30 Ft 3,013
9.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arta
Budapest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$481 €429
$533 Ft 172.9K
-9.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,156 €8,163
$16.8K Ft 5.4M
-45.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arta
Budapest
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.1 €80.3
$99.6 Ft 32.3K
-9.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.47 €24.49
$43.49 Ft 14.1K
-36.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 €69.4
$110 Ft 35.8K
-29.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.8 €81.0
$119 Ft 38.6K
-23.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arta
Budapest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$479 €427
$830 Ft 269.2K
-42.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$389 €347
$622 Ft 201.6K
-37.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$741 €660
$1,594 Ft 516.5K
-53.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$622 €555
$1,170 Ft 379.3K
-46.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,655 €2,367
$5,832 Ft 1.9M
-54.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,922 €1,713
$3,889 Ft 1.3M
-50.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arta
Budapest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$892 €795
$1,651 Ft 535.2K
-45.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.34
6.45
-17.21%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Arta: October 10, 2026

Last update for Budapest: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Arta
$389
Budapest
$622 59.8% $233
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arta
$261
Budapest
$218 16.6% $43
Groceries & Markets
Arta
$223
Budapest
$258 15.7% $35
Eating Out
Arta
$222
Budapest
$223 0.4% $0.9
Clothing & Footwear
Arta
$129
Budapest
$168 30.1% $39
Sport & Entertainment
Arta
$67
Budapest
$86 28.5% $19
Getting Around
Arta
$64
Budapest
$44 31.2% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $479 in Arta versus $830 in Budapest. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 85% higher in Budapest, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Arta versus $61.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $258 – making Arta the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Arta
🇭🇺 Budapest
🕒 Local time
15:14 3:14 PM
14:14 2:14 PM
1 h behind Arta
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
19,435
1,686,222 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

HUF, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 16, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 16, 2026: 1 USD = 324 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.09 USD). 1 EUR = 364 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.75 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Arta Budapest 940 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Arta
  • Budapest

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Arta vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Budapest cheaper than Arta?
Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 19%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,033 per month in Arta and $2,428 in Budapest. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Arta, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $481 per month in Arta and $533 in Budapest. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Arta and in Budapest?
Groceries cost about 16% more in Budapest, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Arta or in Budapest?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Arta, where all-in costs run around $1,356, than in Budapest at $1,619. In Arta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Arta or Budapest more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Arta – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Arta or Budapest?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Arta. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Budapest makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Arta vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?