Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Ashdod

For one person, living is cheaper in Budapest: $1,621 a month against $2,414 in Ashdod, rent and utilities included – about $9,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,621
/mo nomad
Ashdod
🇮🇱 Israel
$2,414
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Budapest and in Ashdod

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,621 in Budapest versus $2,414 in Ashdod.

  • Budapest $1,621
  • Ashdod $2,414

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,555 in Budapest versus $3,594 in Ashdod.

  • Budapest $2,555
  • Ashdod $3,594

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,489 in Budapest versus $4,773 in Ashdod.

  • Budapest $3,489
  • Ashdod $4,773

Living in Budapest costs roughly 33% less than in Ashdod, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Budapest 21% above, Ashdod 80% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
Ashdod
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.99 Ft 4,551
$23.71 ₪72.6
-41.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.3 Ft 19.6K
$96.6 ₪295
-37.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.96 Ft 3,241
$19.75 ₪60.4
-49.57%
Cappuccino
$3.38 Ft 1,100
$4.83 ₪14.77
-30.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 Ft 692
$3.19 ₪9.75
-33.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 Ft 608
$2.59 ₪7.93
-27.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.75 Ft 1,221
$8.25 ₪25.24
-54.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57 Ft 1,162
$10.27 ₪31.41
-65.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
Ashdod
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 Ft 368
$2.50 ₪7.64
-54.80%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 Ft 599
$3.43 ₪10.51
-46.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.39 Ft 777
$2.94 ₪8.99
-18.71%
Eggs
$3.83 Ft 1,245
$4.82 ₪14.75
-20.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.33 Ft 3,686
$17.18 ₪52.6
-34.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.74 Ft 2,192
$13.37 ₪40.91
-49.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.69 Ft 4,780
$30.09 ₪92.1
-51.18%
Apples (1kg)
$1.84 Ft 597
$3.59 ₪10.97
-48.75%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 Ft 653
$3.27 ₪10.01
-38.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 Ft 767
$2.61 ₪7.97
-9.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.77 Ft 1,226
$2.38 ₪7.28
58.40%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 Ft 313
$1.92 ₪5.87
-50.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 Ft 334
$1.67 ₪5.10
-38.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.56 Ft 509
$2.08 ₪6.38
-25.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 Ft 216
$1.27 ₪3.90
-48.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.96 Ft 2,591
$12.97 ₪39.68
-38.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.01 Ft 1,954
$12.44 ₪38.06
-51.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 Ft 421
$2.92 ₪8.94
-55.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 Ft 676
$3.85 ₪11.78
-45.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
Ashdod
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.50 Ft 489
$2.67 ₪8.16
-43.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.61 Ft 8,982
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 Ft 1,074
$4.13 ₪12.64
-20.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 Ft 424
$1.27 ₪3.87
2.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.78 Ft 6,436
$25.23 ₪77.2
-21.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 Ft 591
$2.57 ₪7.86
-29.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K Ft 9.5M
$58.8K ₪180.0K
-50.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K Ft 11.1M
$59.2K ₪181.3K
-42.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
Ashdod
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 Ft 55.3K
$128 ₪393
32.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.98 Ft 7,802
$12.30 ₪37.65
94.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.42 Ft 7,621
$42.20 ₪129
-44.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
Ashdod
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.2 Ft 21.6K
$79.2 ₪242
-16.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.18 Ft 6,239
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 Ft 3,098
$12.23 ₪37.44
-22.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
Ashdod
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$537 Ft 174.6K
$1,153 ₪3,530
-53.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K Ft 5.4M
$28.9K ₪88.3K
-42.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
Ashdod
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 Ft 33.0K
$93.4 ₪286
8.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.99 Ft 14.0K
$75.6 ₪231
-43.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 Ft 36.7K
$129 ₪396
-12.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 Ft 38.6K
$161 ₪492
-26.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
Ashdod
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$805 Ft 262.0K
$1,775 ₪5,433
-54.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$629 Ft 204.7K
$1,055 ₪3,229
-40.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,549 Ft 504.1K
$2,081 ₪6,369
-25.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,167 Ft 379.7K
$1,652 ₪5,055
-29.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,618 Ft 1.8M
$7,511 ₪23.0K
-25.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,968 Ft 1.3M
$5,782 ₪17.7K
-31.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
Ashdod
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,626 Ft 529.0K
$4,153 ₪12.7K
-60.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
4.99
28.86%

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

Last update for Budapest: October 5, 2026

Last update for Ashdod: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Budapest
$629
Ashdod
$1.1K 67.7% $426
Groceries & Markets
Budapest
$258
Ashdod
$439 70.3% $181
Eating Out
Budapest
$224
Ashdod
$392 74.7% $167
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
$217
Ashdod
$183 15.8% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
$169
Ashdod
$207 22.2% $38
Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
$85
Ashdod
$104 21.5% $18
Getting Around
Budapest
$43
Ashdod
$21 * 51.4% $22

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $805 in Budapest and $1,775 in Ashdod. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ashdod pays 155% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $60.0 in Budapest vs $97.0 in Ashdod for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $439 per month, with Budapest cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇭🇺 Budapest
🇮🇱 Ashdod
🕒 Local time
07:23 7:23 AM
08:23 8:23 AM
1 h ahead of Budapest
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,686,222 Capital
251,837
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ILS, USD, EUR to HUF – Hungarian Forint Converter

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 325 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.07 USD). 1 EUR = 365 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.74 EUR).

Israeli New Shekel exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3.06 ILS (1 ILS = 0.327 USD). 1 EUR = 3.43 ILS (1 ILS = 0.291 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Budapest Ashdod 2,190 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Budapest
  • Ashdod

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
Budapest vs Ashdod: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ashdod cheaper than Budapest?
Budapest is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Budapest or Ashdod?
On paper, salaries run 155% lower in Ashdod. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Budapest and Ashdod?
Rent for a central apartment: $805 in Budapest versus $1,775 in Ashdod. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Budapest and in Ashdod?
Supermarket bills run roughly 70% higher in Ashdod. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Budapest and in Ashdod?
All in, you'll spend $1,621 per month in Budapest versus $2,414 in Ashdod – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Budapest or in Ashdod?
At $1,621 in Budapest versus $2,414 in Ashdod, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Budapest but tight or insufficient in Ashdod. The gap between the two cities makes Budapest the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Budapest or Ashdod more family-friendly?
For families, Budapest is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ashdod, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Budapest or Ashdod?
Safety-wise, Budapest and Ashdod are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Budapest gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Ashdod. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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