Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Brentwood

For one person, living is cheaper in Budapest: $1,619 a month against $3,111 in Brentwood, rent and utilities included – about $17,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,619
/mo nomad
Brentwood
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$3,111
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Budapest and in Brentwood

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

A single person spends $1,619 per month in Budapest vs $3,111 in Brentwood, rent included.

  • Budapest $1,619
  • Brentwood $3,111

A couple spends around $2,524 per month in Budapest vs $4,334 in Brentwood, rent included.

  • Budapest $2,524
  • Brentwood $4,334

A family of three spends $3,429 per month in Budapest vs $5,556 in Brentwood, rent included.

  • Budapest $3,429
  • Brentwood $5,556

Budapest is about 48% cheaper than Brentwood, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Budapest and Brentwood sit above the global median – Budapest by 20%, Brentwood by 130%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
Brentwood
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.94 Ft 4,503
$20.06 £15.05
-30.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 Ft 19.8K
$80.4 £60.3
-23.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.19 Ft 3,291
$11.34 £8.51
-10.14%
Cappuccino
$3.26 Ft 1,055
$4.59 £3.44
-28.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 Ft 690
$1.81 £1.36
18.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 Ft 577
$1.14 £0.85
56.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.71 Ft 1,198
$6.55 £4.91
-43.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77 Ft 1,217
$5.84 £4.38
-35.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
Brentwood
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 Ft 371
$1.61 £1.21
-28.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 Ft 578
$1.09 £0.82
64.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.49 Ft 804
$2.25 £1.69
10.67%
Eggs
$3.90 Ft 1,261
$4.03 £3.03
-3.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.10 Ft 3,587
$8.66 £6.49
28.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.62 Ft 2,139
$6.42 £4.82
3.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.69 Ft 4,745
$12.76 £9.58
15.13%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 Ft 591
$3.20 £2.40
-42.81%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 Ft 661
$1.48 £1.11
38.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.37 Ft 765
$2.58 £1.94
-8.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.90 Ft 1,260
$2.77 £2.08
40.79%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 Ft 320
$0.79 £0.60
25.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 Ft 322
$1.29 £0.97
-22.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.58 Ft 511
$0.80 £0.60
97.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 Ft 216
$1.30 £0.97
-48.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.96 Ft 2,572
$17.53 £13.15
-54.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.22 Ft 2,009
$8.83 £6.63
-29.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 Ft 411
$2.17 £1.63
-41.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 Ft 654
$2.04 £1.53
-0.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
Brentwood
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 Ft 490
$5.29 £3.97
-71.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.02 Ft 9,053
$95.5 £71.6
-70.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.31 Ft 1,070
$4.90 £3.68
-32.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 Ft 442
$1.43 £1.08
-4.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.83 Ft 6,406
$22.16 £16.63
-10.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 Ft 589
$2.05 £1.54
-11.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K Ft 9.6M
$37.9K £28.4K
-21.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K Ft 10.9M
$39.8K £29.8K
-14.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
Brentwood
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 Ft 55.3K
$310 £232
-44.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.51 Ft 7,596
$14.52 £10.89
61.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.29 Ft 7,526
$40.13 £30.11
-41.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
Brentwood
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.5 Ft 21.8K
$32.88 £24.67
105.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.89 Ft 6,104
$22.89 £17.17
-17.47%
Cinema Ticket
$9.30 Ft 3,004
$20.83 £15.62
-55.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
Brentwood
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$533 Ft 172.3K
$1,882 £1,412
-71.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.8K Ft 5.4M
$22.7K £17.0K
-26.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
Brentwood
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.6 Ft 32.2K
$91.8 £68.8
8.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.49 Ft 14.0K
$40.16 £30.13
8.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 Ft 35.7K
$79.3 £59.5
39.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 Ft 38.4K
$93.4 £70.1
27.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
Brentwood
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$830 Ft 268.3K
$1,500 £1,126
-44.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$622 Ft 200.9K
$1,847 £1,385
-66.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,594 Ft 514.9K
$2,704 £2,029
-41.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,170 Ft 378.1K
$2,821 £2,116
-58.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,832 Ft 1.9M
$4,926 £3,695
18.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,889 Ft 1.3M
$3,907 £2,931
-0.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
Brentwood
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,651 Ft 533.4K
$3,357 £2,518
-50.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
4.67
38.12%

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

Last update for Budapest: October 13, 2026

Last update for Brentwood: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Budapest
$622
Brentwood
$1.8K 197% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Budapest
$258
Brentwood
$254 1.5% $4
Eating Out
Budapest
$223
Brentwood
$306 37.1% $83
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
$218
Brentwood
$364 67.3% $147
Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
$168
Brentwood
$137 18.2% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
$86
Brentwood
$75 13.4% $12
Getting Around
Budapest
$44
Brentwood
$129 191% $84

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $830 in Budapest versus $1,500 in Brentwood. 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 103% higher in Brentwood, 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 $61.0 in Budapest versus $80.0 in Brentwood. Groceries tell a different story – $258 in Budapest vs $254 in Brentwood – so Brentwood wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇭🇺 Budapest
🇬🇧 Brentwood
🕒 Local time
23:07 11:07 PM
22:07 10:07 PM
1 h behind Budapest
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,686,222 Capital
76,575
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GBP, USD, EUR to HUF – Hungarian Forint Converter

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 323 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 363 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.75 EUR).

British Pound exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Budapest Brentwood 1,420 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Budapest
  • Brentwood

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 Brentwood: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Budapest or Brentwood?
Brentwood costs about 92% more than Budapest, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Budapest and in Brentwood?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,428 per month in Budapest and $4,667 in Brentwood. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Budapest or Brentwood?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Budapest and in Brentwood?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Budapest and $80.0 in Brentwood. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Budapest compared to Brentwood?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,619 in Budapest and $3,111 in Brentwood. That's a gap of about 92%.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Budapest or in Brentwood?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Budapest, where all-in costs run around $1,619, than in Brentwood at $3,111. In Budapest it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brentwood it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Budapest or Brentwood?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Budapest costs $1,619 versus $3,111 in Brentwood. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Budapest compared to Brentwood?
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.
Should I move to Budapest or to Brentwood?
If budget matters most, go with Budapest. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brentwood makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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