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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,438 per month in Budapest vs $1,148 in Esztergom, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,208 per month in Budapest vs $1,715 in Esztergom, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,979 per month in Budapest vs $2,283 in Esztergom, rent included.

Budapest costs about 25% more than Esztergom, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Budapest sits 7% above the global median, while Esztergom is 14% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.49 Ft 3,584

$8.83 Ft 2,755

30.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.2 Ft 18.2K

$43.15 Ft 13.5K

34.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 Ft 2,688

$8.54 Ft 2,664

0.82%

Cappuccino

$2.78 Ft 866

$1.96 Ft 612

41.84%

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

$1.73 Ft 540

$1.41 Ft 439

22.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 Ft 417

$1.20 Ft 375

11.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.82 Ft 879

$1.82 Ft 569

54.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Ft 891

$2.33 Ft 727

22.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 Ft 383

$1.06 Ft 331

16.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 Ft 521

$1.51 Ft 471

10.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 Ft 636

$1.88 Ft 587

8.51%

Eggs

$3.06 Ft 955

$2.72 Ft 850

12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.23 Ft 3,191

$9.12 Ft 2,845

12.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 Ft 1,980

$5.92 Ft 1,847

7.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.39 Ft 4,179

$12.55 Ft 3,917

6.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.91 Ft 595

$1.66 Ft 518

15.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 Ft 599

$1.92 Ft 600

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 Ft 680

$1.84 Ft 575

18.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.62 Ft 1,130

$3.24 Ft 1,009

11.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 Ft 351

$1.13 Ft 353

-0.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 Ft 377

$1.43 Ft 446

-15.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 Ft 462

$1.67 Ft 522

-11.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 Ft 180

$0.53 Ft 167

9.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.56 Ft 2,046

$7.08 Ft 2,210

-7.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.74 Ft 1,791

$6.58 Ft 2,053

-12.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 Ft 357

$1.10 Ft 345

4.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 Ft 517

$1.70 Ft 529

-2.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 Ft 397

$1.17 Ft 365

8.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.28 Ft 8,201

$24.59 Ft 7,673

6.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 Ft 977

$2.61 Ft 814

19.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 Ft 346

$1.12 Ft 351

-0.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.94 Ft 5,910

$13.68 Ft 4,267

38.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.78 Ft 556

$1.72 Ft 536

3.49%

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

$25.7K Ft 8.0M

$24.9K Ft 7.8M

3.01%

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

$30.4K Ft 9.5M

$34.7K Ft 10.8M

-12.30%

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

$148 Ft 46.2K

$200 Ft 62.3K

-25.86%

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

$26.66 Ft 8,317

$26.31 Ft 8,209

1.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.96 Ft 6,229

$19.92 Ft 6,216

0.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.9 Ft 19.9K

$46.44 Ft 14.5K

37.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.92 Ft 6,840

$16.96 Ft 5,292

29.25%

Cinema Ticket

$8.74 Ft 2,726

$7.14 Ft 2,228

22.41%

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

$463 Ft 144.6K

$327 Ft 102.0K

41.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.2K Ft 3.8M

$3,472 Ft 1.1M

250.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.9 Ft 26.8K

$54.6 Ft 17.0K

57.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.25 Ft 13.5K

$27.20 Ft 8,485

59.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.7 Ft 29.9K

$64.3 Ft 20.1K

48.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 Ft 32.4K

$66.8 Ft 20.9K

55.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$736 Ft 229.5K

$449 Ft 140.2K

63.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$560 Ft 174.6K

$340 Ft 106.1K

64.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,355 Ft 422.7K

$642 Ft 200.2K

111.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$972 Ft 303.4K

$542 Ft 169.1K

79.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,938 Ft 1.9M

$3,099 Ft 967.0K

91.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,194 Ft 1.3M

$2,427 Ft 757.3K

72.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,737 Ft 541.8K

$1,243 Ft 387.9K

39.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.03

7.5

-6.27%

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

Last update for Budapest: April 26, 2026

Last update for Esztergom: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $736 in Budapest versus $449 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 40% 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 $58.0 in Budapest versus $43.00 in Esztergom. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $239 vs $224 – 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 25%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,157 per month in Budapest and $1,722 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 $463 per month in Budapest and $327 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 $1,148, than in Budapest at $1,438. 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.