Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Belo Horizonte

For one person, living is cheaper in Belo Horizonte: $984 a month against $1,621 in Budapest, rent and utilities included – about $7,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,621
/mo nomad
Belo Horizonte
🇧🇷 Brazil
$984
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Budapest and in Belo Horizonte

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 Belo Horizonte actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,621 in Budapest versus $984 in Belo Horizonte.

  • Budapest $1,621
  • Belo Horizonte $984

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,555 in Budapest versus $1,589 in Belo Horizonte.

  • Budapest $2,555
  • Belo Horizonte $1,589

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,489 in Budapest versus $2,193 in Belo Horizonte.

  • Budapest $3,489
  • Belo Horizonte $2,193

Living in Budapest is roughly 65% more expensive than in Belo Horizonte, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Budapest is 21% above, Belo Horizonte is 27% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
Belo Horizonte
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.99 Ft 4,551
$5.90 R$29.46
137.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.3 Ft 19.6K
$37.35 R$186
61.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.96 Ft 3,241
$8.86 R$44.22
12.42%
Cappuccino
$3.38 Ft 1,100
$2.27 R$11.36
48.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 Ft 692
$1.43 R$7.13
48.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 Ft 608
$0.81 R$4.05
130.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.75 Ft 1,221
$2.12 R$10.60
76.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57 Ft 1,162
$3.67 R$18.32
-2.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
Belo Horizonte
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 Ft 368
$0.95 R$4.72
18.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 Ft 599
$1.82 R$9.09
1.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.39 Ft 777
$2.08 R$10.39
14.90%
Eggs
$3.83 Ft 1,245
$2.22 R$11.07
72.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.33 Ft 3,686
$9.91 R$49.47
14.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.74 Ft 2,192
$4.33 R$21.63
55.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.69 Ft 4,780
$7.63 R$38.10
92.53%
Apples (1kg)
$1.84 Ft 597
$1.93 R$9.66
-4.66%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 Ft 653
$1.15 R$5.75
74.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 Ft 767
$1.20 R$5.98
96.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.77 Ft 1,226
$1.65 R$8.23
128.48%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 Ft 313
$1.15 R$5.74
-16.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 Ft 334
$0.97 R$4.86
6.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.56 Ft 509
$0.85 R$4.23
83.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 Ft 216
$0.92 R$4.58
-28.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.96 Ft 2,591
$2.47 R$12.33
222.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.01 Ft 1,954
$8.23 R$41.09
-26.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 Ft 421
$1.43 R$7.15
-9.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 Ft 676
$2.74 R$13.68
-24.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
Belo Horizonte
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.50 Ft 489
$1.25 R$6.26
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.61 Ft 8,982
$68.0 R$339
-59.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 Ft 1,074
$1.02 R$5.10
223.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 Ft 424
$0.77 R$3.84
68.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.78 Ft 6,436
$6.32 R$31.53
212.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 Ft 591
$1.32 R$6.58
37.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K Ft 9.5M
$24.0K R$119.9K
22.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K Ft 11.1M
$32.5K R$162.1K
5.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
Belo Horizonte
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 Ft 55.3K
$76.1 R$380
123.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.98 Ft 7,802
$10.33 R$51.6
132.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.42 Ft 7,621
$21.02 R$105
11.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
Belo Horizonte
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.2 Ft 21.6K
$28.07 R$140
135.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.18 Ft 6,239
$46.30 R$231
-58.57%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 Ft 3,098
$7.90 R$39.41
20.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
Belo Horizonte
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$537 Ft 174.6K
$459 R$2,292
16.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K Ft 5.4M
$13.8K R$69.0K
20.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
Belo Horizonte
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 Ft 33.0K
$62.0 R$309
63.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.99 Ft 14.0K
$48.86 R$244
-12.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 Ft 36.7K
$97.6 R$487
15.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 Ft 38.6K
$71.5 R$357
66.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
Belo Horizonte
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$805 Ft 262.0K
$590 R$2,945
36.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$629 Ft 204.7K
$292 R$1,456
115.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,549 Ft 504.1K
$890 R$4,440
74.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,167 Ft 379.7K
$591 R$2,950
97.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,618 Ft 1.8M
$2,358 R$11.8K
138.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,968 Ft 1.3M
$1,121 R$5,598
253.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
Belo Horizonte
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,626 Ft 529.0K
$613 R$3,062
165.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
11.25
-42.84%

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

Last update for Budapest: October 5, 2026

Last update for Belo Horizonte: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Budapest
$629
Belo Horizonte
$292 53.6% $338
Groceries & Markets
Budapest
$258
Belo Horizonte
$198 23.3% $60
Eating Out
Budapest
$224
Belo Horizonte
$128 42.9% $96
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
$217
Belo Horizonte
$107 50.6% $110
Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
$169
Belo Horizonte
$126 25.5% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
$85
Belo Horizonte
$44 48.6% $41
Getting Around
Budapest
$43
Belo Horizonte
$78 79.3% $34

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $805 in Budapest and $590 in Belo Horizonte. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Budapest pays 165% 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 $37.00 in Belo Horizonte for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $198 per month, with Belo Horizonte cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇭🇺 Budapest
🇧🇷 Belo Horizonte
🕒 Local time
14:12 2:12 PM
09:12 9:12 AM
5 h behind Budapest
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,686,222 Capital
2,315,560
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, 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).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.99 BRL (1 BRL = 0.2 USD). 1 EUR = 5.59 BRL (1 BRL = 0.179 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Budapest Belo Horizonte 9,770 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Budapest
  • Belo Horizonte

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 Belo Horizonte: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Budapest and in Belo Horizonte?
Budapest and Belo Horizonte differ by about 65% in total monthly costs ($1,621 vs $984 including rent). Belo Horizonte is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Budapest or Belo Horizonte?
Average pay runs 165% higher in Budapest, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Budapest and in Belo Horizonte?
Rent for a central apartment: $805 in Budapest versus $590 in Belo Horizonte. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Budapest and Belo Horizonte?
Childcare runs $537 in Budapest versus $459 in Belo Horizonte. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Budapest. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $984 in Belo Horizonte versus $1,621 in Budapest, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Belo Horizonte but tight or insufficient in Budapest. The gap between the two cities makes Belo Horizonte the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Budapest and Belo Horizonte?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Budapest or Belo Horizonte safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Budapest and Belo Horizonte are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Budapest or Belo Horizonte?
Expats usually find Belo Horizonte gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Budapest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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