Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Birgunj

For one person, living is cheaper in Birgunj: $354 a month against $1,647 in Budapest, rent and utilities included – about $15,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Budapest, Hungary
Birgunj, Nepal
Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,647
/mo nomad
Birgunj
🇳🇵 Nepal
$354
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Budapest and in Birgunj

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,647 in Budapest versus $354 in Birgunj.

  • Budapest $1,647
  • Birgunj $354

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,567 in Budapest versus $576 in Birgunj.

  • Budapest $2,567
  • Birgunj $576

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,488 in Budapest versus $798 in Birgunj.

  • Budapest $3,488
  • Birgunj $798

Living in Budapest is roughly 366% more expensive than in Birgunj, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Budapest is 22% above, Birgunj is 74% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
Birgunj
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.63 Ft 4,419
$1.28 NPR 194
964.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.7 Ft 19.7K
$20.44 NPR 3,091
196.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.02 Ft 3,248
$7.09 NPR 1,073
41.33%
Cappuccino
$3.33 Ft 1,078
$1.52 NPR 230
119.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 Ft 686
$0.55 NPR 83.3
285.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 Ft 583
$0.14 NPR 21.57
1185.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.61 Ft 1,169
$2.32 NPR 351
55.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 Ft 1,163
$3.32 NPR 501
8.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
Birgunj
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 Ft 362
$0.63 NPR 95.0
77.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.93 Ft 624
$0.24 NPR 36.02
704.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.49 Ft 806
$0.61 NPR 92.2
308.20%
Eggs
$3.94 Ft 1,278
$1.55 NPR 234
154.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.28 Ft 3,656
$7.04 NPR 1,064
60.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.73 Ft 2,183
$2.35 NPR 355
186.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.44 Ft 4,682
$5.98 NPR 904
141.47%
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 Ft 603
$2.10 NPR 318
-11.43%
Banana (1kg)
$2.04 Ft 660
$0.92 NPR 140
121.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.29 Ft 742
$1.28 NPR 194
78.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.99 Ft 1,294
$0.60 NPR 90.0
565.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.94 Ft 305
$0.41 NPR 62.3
129.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 Ft 331
$0.53 NPR 80.8
92.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.65 Ft 536
$0.12 NPR 18.67
1275.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 Ft 221
$0.22 NPR 32.68
209.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.81 Ft 2,533
$1.68 NPR 254
364.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.02 Ft 1,952
$7.66 NPR 1,158
-21.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 Ft 419
$2.23 NPR 338
-42.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 Ft 656
$2.94 NPR 445
-31.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
Birgunj
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.50 Ft 485
$0.15 NPR 22.37
900.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.13 Ft 8,792
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.36 Ft 1,088
$1.84 NPR 278
82.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 Ft 445
$1.20 NPR 182
14.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.96 Ft 6,468
$3.22 NPR 487
519.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.86 Ft 604
$1.06 NPR 161
75.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K Ft 9.2M
$36.3K NPR 5.5M
-21.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K Ft 10.8M
$37.2K NPR 5.6M
-10.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
Birgunj
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 Ft 57.8K
$32.25 NPR 4,877
452.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.58 Ft 7,643
$3.37 NPR 510
599.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.12 Ft 7,817
$9.32 NPR 1,409
158.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
Birgunj
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.7 Ft 22.6K
$13.34 NPR 2,017
422.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.03 Ft 5,520
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.48 Ft 3,397
$2.02 NPR 305
418.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
Birgunj
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$625 Ft 202.6K
$65.8 NPR 9,957
849.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.6K Ft 6.4M
$5,426 NPR 820.6K
261.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
Birgunj
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 Ft 33.1K
$24.53 NPR 3,709
315.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41 Ft 14.1K
$26.98 NPR 4,079
60.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 Ft 35.6K
$26.14 NPR 3,953
320.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 Ft 39.1K
$16.61 NPR 2,511
626.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
Birgunj
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 Ft 274.0K
$34.36 NPR 5,196
2360.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$638 Ft 206.9K
$39.58 NPR 5,984
1512.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,609 Ft 521.5K
$125 NPR 18.9K
1189.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,217 Ft 394.5K
$79.1 NPR 12.0K
1439.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,555 Ft 1.8M
$653 NPR 98.7K
751.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,898 Ft 1.3M
$499 NPR 75.5K
680.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
Birgunj
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,724 Ft 559.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.34
9.98
-36.47%

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

Last update for Budapest: November 1, 2026

Last update for Birgunj: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Budapest
$638
Birgunj
$40 93.8% $599
Groceries & Markets
Budapest
$260
Birgunj
$130 50% $130
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
$226
Birgunj
$45 80.1% $181
Eating Out
Budapest
$220
Birgunj
$71 67.8% $149
Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
$169
Birgunj
$42 74.9% $127
Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
$91
Birgunj
$17 80.8% $73
Getting Around
Budapest
$43
Birgunj
$8.5 * 80.5% $35

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 $845 in Budapest and $34 in Birgunj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $61 in Budapest vs $20 in Birgunj for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $260 vs $130 per month, with Birgunj cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇭🇺 Budapest
🇳🇵 Birgunj
🕒 Local time
08:41 8:41 AM
13:26 1:26 PM
4 h 45 min ahead of Budapest
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,686,222 Capital
135,904
💱 Currency
Nepalese Rupee NPR रु
Exchange rates and currency converter

NPR, USD, EUR to HUF – Hungarian Forint Converter

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 324 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.09 USD). 1 EUR = 364 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.75 EUR).

Nepalese Rupee exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 151 NPR (1,000 NPR = 6.61 USD). 1 EUR = 170 NPR (1,000 NPR = 5.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Budapest Birgunj 6,060 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Budapest
  • Birgunj

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 Birgunj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Budapest or Birgunj?
Birgunj wins on cost – living expenses run 79% lower than in Budapest. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Birgunj the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Budapest and in Birgunj?
You’d need roughly $2,471 in Budapest and $530 in Birgunj to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Budapest compared to Birgunj?
Rent for a central apartment: $845 in Budapest versus $34 in Birgunj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Budapest and in Birgunj?
Childcare runs $625 in Budapest versus $66 in Birgunj. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Budapest and in Birgunj?
Dining out is cheaper in Birgunj – a meal for two runs $20 versus $61 in Budapest. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Budapest or in Birgunj?
At $354 in Birgunj versus $1,647 in Budapest, a $800 budget is realistic in Birgunj but tight or insufficient in Budapest. The gap between the two cities makes Birgunj the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Budapest or Birgunj?
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.
How safe is Budapest compared to Birgunj?
Safety-wise, Budapest and Birgunj are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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