Cost of Living Comparison Between Belgrade and Budapest Cost of Living Comparison Between Belgrade and Budapest

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,658 per month in Belgrade vs $1,730 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,486 per month in Belgrade vs $2,693 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,313 per month in Belgrade vs $3,657 in Budapest, rent included.

Belgrade is about 4% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Belgrade and Budapest sit above the global median – Belgrade by 20%, Budapest by 25%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.63 RSD 1,374

$14.32 Ft 4,486

-4.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.1 RSD 6,055

$63.2 Ft 19.8K

-5.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.01 RSD 1,311

$11.22 Ft 3,515

15.95%

Cappuccino

$3.18 RSD 321

$3.42 Ft 1,070

-7.02%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 RSD 295

$2.17 Ft 680

35.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 RSD 251

$2.00 Ft 626

24.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.58 RSD 361

$3.90 Ft 1,222

-8.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 RSD 408

$3.81 Ft 1,193

6.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 RSD 150

$1.22 Ft 383

22.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 RSD 120

$1.99 Ft 624

-40.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.88 RSD 290

$2.54 Ft 794

13.39%

Eggs

$2.84 RSD 287

$4.22 Ft 1,320

-32.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.88 RSD 1,198

$12.13 Ft 3,800

-2.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.33 RSD 739

$7.06 Ft 2,211

3.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.32 RSD 1,645

$15.32 Ft 4,799

6.53%

Apples (1kg)

$1.76 RSD 177

$2.03 Ft 636

-13.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 RSD 187

$2.22 Ft 695

-16.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 RSD 192

$2.44 Ft 765

-22.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.20 RSD 322

$4.05 Ft 1,268

-20.99%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 RSD 93.2

$1.03 Ft 323

-10.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 RSD 73.3

$1.05 Ft 330

-30.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 RSD 82.2

$1.70 Ft 533

-51.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 RSD 69.2

$0.65 Ft 205

6.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.78 RSD 482

$8.36 Ft 2,619

-42.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.86 RSD 994

$6.36 Ft 1,994

55.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 RSD 91.1

$1.35 Ft 421

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 RSD 154

$2.22 Ft 695

-31.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 Ft 514

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.37 Ft 9,201

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 RSD 323

$3.44 Ft 1,078

-6.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 RSD 103

$1.43 Ft 448

-28.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.77 RSD 1,791

$21.27 Ft 6,664

-16.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.99 RSD 200

$1.93 Ft 605

3.11%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.2K RSD 3.1M

$32.0K Ft 10.0M

-2.35%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.2K RSD 2.5M

$35.3K Ft 11.1M

-28.70%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$223 RSD 22.5K

$174 Ft 54.6K

27.84%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.22 RSD 2,642

$25.65 Ft 8,036

2.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.14 RSD 3,643

$24.58 Ft 7,700

47.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.95 RSD 4,329

$71.2 Ft 22.3K

-39.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.54 RSD 2,372

$19.93 Ft 6,243

18.11%

Cinema Ticket

$8.77 RSD 883

$10.18 Ft 3,188

-13.85%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$418 RSD 42.1K

$563 Ft 176.4K

-25.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K RSD 1.2M

$17.3K Ft 5.4M

-33.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$112 RSD 11.3K

$110 Ft 34.3K

1.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.51 RSD 4,889

$45.47 Ft 14.2K

6.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 RSD 12.1K

$119 Ft 37.2K

1.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$161 RSD 16.3K

$125 Ft 39.1K

29.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$876 RSD 88.3K

$846 Ft 265.1K

3.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$591 RSD 59.6K

$658 Ft 206.2K

-10.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,603 RSD 161.5K

$1,673 Ft 524.0K

-4.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$986 RSD 99.4K

$1,292 Ft 404.8K

-23.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,708 RSD 575.3K

$5,932 Ft 1.9M

-3.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,286 RSD 331.2K

$4,104 Ft 1.3M

-19.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,276 RSD 128.6K

$1,734 Ft 543.0K

-26.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.64

6.56

-29.27%

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

Last update for Belgrade: September 6, 2026

Last update for Budapest: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $876 in Belgrade versus $846 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 36% 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 $60.0 in Belgrade versus $63.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $274 – making Belgrade the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Belgrade vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,658 in Belgrade, $1,730 in Budapest – roughly 4% apart. Budapest costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,487 per month in Belgrade and $2,594 in Budapest. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Belgrade, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Belgrade and $63.0 in Budapest. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Budapest, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Belgrade, where all-in costs run around $1,658, than in Budapest at $1,730. In Belgrade it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Budapest has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,658 in Belgrade to $1,730 in Budapest. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Belgrade. 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.