Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Esztergom Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Esztergom

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,666 per month in Budapest vs $1,315 in Esztergom, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,657 per month in Budapest vs $2,061 in Esztergom, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,649 per month in Budapest vs $2,807 in Esztergom, rent included.

Budapest costs about 27% more than Esztergom, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Budapest sits 22% above the global median, while Esztergom is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.41 Ft 4,552

$12.66 Ft 3,999

13.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.2 Ft 20.0K

$53.1 Ft 16.8K

19.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.21 Ft 3,543

$9.62 Ft 3,040

16.53%

Cappuccino

$3.56 Ft 1,124

$2.70 Ft 852

31.85%

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

$2.16 Ft 682

$2.03 Ft 643

6.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 Ft 634

$1.21 Ft 383

66.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.85 Ft 1,215

$3.08 Ft 974

25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 Ft 1,212

$2.87 Ft 906

33.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 Ft 395

$1.26 Ft 397

-0.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.87 Ft 591

$1.56 Ft 491

19.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.55 Ft 805

$2.45 Ft 773

4.08%

Eggs

$4.10 Ft 1,296

$3.31 Ft 1,045

23.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.93 Ft 3,770

$11.24 Ft 3,553

6.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.88 Ft 2,173

$6.55 Ft 2,068

5.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.30 Ft 4,835

$14.14 Ft 4,466

8.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 Ft 631

$2.44 Ft 771

-18.03%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 Ft 691

$2.12 Ft 670

3.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.52 Ft 796

$2.20 Ft 694

14.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.14 Ft 1,308

$4.05 Ft 1,281

2.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 Ft 316

$1.18 Ft 373

-15.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 Ft 325

$1.36 Ft 429

-24.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.67 Ft 529

$1.80 Ft 569

-7.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 Ft 221

$0.50 Ft 158

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.18 Ft 2,584

$8.16 Ft 2,580

0.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.31 Ft 1,992

$6.46 Ft 2,041

-2.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 Ft 414

$1.29 Ft 408

1.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 Ft 665

$1.70 Ft 537

24.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.57 Ft 495

$1.30 Ft 409

20.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.14 Ft 8,890

$30.08 Ft 9,505

-6.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 Ft 1,105

$3.20 Ft 1,013

9.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 Ft 428

$1.57 Ft 495

-14.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.69 Ft 6,536

$19.25 Ft 6,083

7.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.94 Ft 613

$1.92 Ft 606

1.04%

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

$31.6K Ft 10.0M

$33.7K Ft 10.6M

-6.33%

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

$34.6K Ft 10.9M

$38.0K Ft 12.0M

-8.92%

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

$174 Ft 55.0K

$156 Ft 49.3K

11.61%

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

$25.89 Ft 8,179

$34.10 Ft 10.8K

-24.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.46 Ft 7,727

$28.34 Ft 8,954

-13.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.3 Ft 22.2K

$49.74 Ft 15.7K

41.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.50 Ft 6,161

$17.71 Ft 5,596

10.11%

Cinema Ticket

$9.59 Ft 3,030

$8.08 Ft 2,554

18.69%

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

$555 Ft 175.3K

$514 Ft 162.5K

7.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.5K Ft 5.5M

$7,025 Ft 2.2M

148.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 Ft 33.2K

$92.6 Ft 29.2K

13.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.79 Ft 13.8K

$28.78 Ft 9,092

52.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 Ft 37.1K

$102 Ft 32.2K

15.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 Ft 38.4K

$112 Ft 35.4K

8.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$860 Ft 271.7K

$530 Ft 167.3K

62.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$655 Ft 207.0K

$404 Ft 127.6K

62.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 Ft 534.0K

$824 Ft 260.3K

105.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,262 Ft 398.7K

$588 Ft 185.7K

114.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 Ft 1.9M

$2,872 Ft 907.5K

104.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,017 Ft 1.3M

$2,740 Ft 865.5K

46.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,735 Ft 548.0K

$1,202 Ft 379.8K

44.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

8.25

-20.48%

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

Last update for Budapest: September 13, 2026

Last update for Esztergom: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $860 in Budapest versus $530 in Esztergom. 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 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 $63.0 in Budapest versus $53.0 in Esztergom. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $271 vs $256 – making Esztergom 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

Budapest vs Esztergom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,499 per month in Budapest and $1,972 in Esztergom. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Esztergom, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 7% less in Esztergom. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $555 per month in Budapest and $514 in Esztergom. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Esztergom, where all-in costs run around $1,315, than in Budapest at $1,666. In Esztergom it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Esztergom – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Esztergom. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Budapest makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.