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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,508 per month in Belgrade vs $1,463 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,303 per month in Belgrade vs $2,209 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,098 per month in Belgrade vs $2,955 in Budapest, rent included.

Belgrade costs about 3% more than Budapest, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Belgrade and Budapest sit above the global median – Belgrade by 13%, Budapest by 10%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.41 RSD 1,269

$11.48 Ft 3,637

8.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.13 RSD 5,024

$56.4 Ft 17.9K

-12.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.96 RSD 1,223

$8.73 Ft 2,767

37.00%

Cappuccino

$2.83 RSD 289

$2.85 Ft 903

-0.70%

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

$2.71 RSD 277

$1.74 Ft 550

55.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 RSD 222

$1.31 Ft 415

65.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.36 RSD 344

$2.80 Ft 886

20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 RSD 401

$2.93 Ft 929

33.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 RSD 150

$1.27 Ft 401

15.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 RSD 96.5

$1.75 Ft 554

-46.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.05 RSD 312

$2.11 Ft 670

44.55%

Eggs

$2.87 RSD 294

$3.16 Ft 1,002

-9.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.34 RSD 1,160

$9.91 Ft 3,139

14.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.48 RSD 765

$6.32 Ft 2,002

18.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.97 RSD 1,326

$13.58 Ft 4,303

-4.49%

Apples (1kg)

$1.42 RSD 145

$1.91 Ft 604

-25.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 RSD 194

$2.00 Ft 633

-5.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 RSD 200

$2.15 Ft 682

-8.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.69 RSD 276

$3.59 Ft 1,137

-25.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 RSD 105

$1.12 Ft 356

-8.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 RSD 81.7

$1.21 Ft 382

-33.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 RSD 90.5

$1.54 Ft 488

-42.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 RSD 80.1

$0.55 Ft 173

41.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 RSD 463

$6.79 Ft 2,152

-33.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 RSD 868

$5.78 Ft 1,831

46.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 RSD 89.8

$1.20 Ft 380

-26.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 RSD 164

$1.65 Ft 523

-3.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 RSD 99.1

$1.27 Ft 403

-23.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.94 Ft 8,220

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 RSD 330

$3.26 Ft 1,032

-0.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.96 RSD 97.9

$1.12 Ft 355

-14.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.63 RSD 1,803

$19.21 Ft 6,087

-8.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.81 RSD 185

$1.76 Ft 559

2.84%

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

$30.8K RSD 3.2M

$26.3K Ft 8.3M

17.25%

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

$26.2K RSD 2.7M

$30.7K Ft 9.7M

-14.68%

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

$205 RSD 21.0K

$144 Ft 45.5K

42.91%

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

$22.48 RSD 2,299

$26.33 Ft 8,343

-14.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.43 RSD 3,316

$20.06 Ft 6,357

61.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.00 RSD 3,987

$63.2 Ft 20.0K

-38.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.19 RSD 2,166

$21.87 Ft 6,929

-3.11%

Cinema Ticket

$8.04 RSD 822

$8.90 Ft 2,820

-9.66%

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

$455 RSD 46.5K

$450 Ft 142.7K

1.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,282 RSD 949.0K

$12.1K Ft 3.8M

-23.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 RSD 10.3K

$84.6 Ft 26.8K

18.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.53 RSD 4,349

$42.60 Ft 13.5K

-0.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 RSD 11.5K

$98.2 Ft 31.1K

14.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 RSD 12.3K

$104 Ft 32.8K

16.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$876 RSD 89.6K

$715 Ft 226.6K

22.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$576 RSD 58.9K

$560 Ft 177.5K

2.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,574 RSD 161.0K

$1,339 Ft 424.2K

17.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$999 RSD 102.1K

$971 Ft 307.6K

2.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,543 RSD 566.7K

$6,062 Ft 1.9M

-8.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,206 RSD 327.8K

$4,298 Ft 1.4M

-25.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,214 RSD 124.2K

$1,751 Ft 554.8K

-30.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.59

7.03

-20.48%

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

Last update for Belgrade: July 12, 2026

Last update for Budapest: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $876 in Belgrade versus $715 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 44% higher in Budapest, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Belgrade versus $56.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $241 – 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: $1,508 in Belgrade, $1,463 in Budapest – roughly 3% apart. Belgrade costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,262 per month in Belgrade and $2,194 in Budapest. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Budapest, 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 $49.00 in Belgrade and $56.0 in Budapest. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Belgrade – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Budapest, where all-in costs run around $1,463, than in Belgrade at $1,508. In Budapest it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belgrade 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 $1,463 in Budapest to $1,508 in Belgrade. 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 Budapest. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Belgrade makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.