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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,439 per month in Budapest vs $1,165 in Esztergom, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,207 per month in Budapest vs $1,696 in Esztergom, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,976 per month in Budapest vs $2,227 in Esztergom, rent included.

Budapest costs about 24% more than Esztergom, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Budapest sits 8% above the global median, while Esztergom is 13% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 Ft 3,606

$8.68 Ft 2,669

35.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.1 Ft 17.9K

$43.47 Ft 13.4K

33.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.56 Ft 2,631

$8.47 Ft 2,604

1.06%

Cappuccino

$2.78 Ft 856

$1.97 Ft 606

41.12%

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

$1.78 Ft 548

$1.42 Ft 435

25.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 Ft 396

$1.25 Ft 383

3.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.86 Ft 880

$1.88 Ft 578

52.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 Ft 901

$2.25 Ft 691

30.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 Ft 386

$1.04 Ft 320

21.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.69 Ft 520

$1.51 Ft 465

11.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 Ft 655

$1.90 Ft 585

12.11%

Eggs

$3.07 Ft 943

$2.64 Ft 811

16.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.81 Ft 3,016

$9.11 Ft 2,801

7.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.37 Ft 1,957

$5.95 Ft 1,829

7.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.07 Ft 4,019

$12.41 Ft 3,816

5.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 Ft 594

$1.67 Ft 513

15.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 Ft 612

$1.99 Ft 613

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 Ft 669

$1.80 Ft 555

21.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.61 Ft 1,109

$3.31 Ft 1,017

9.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 Ft 348

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 Ft 369

$1.38 Ft 424

-13.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 Ft 454

$1.60 Ft 491

-7.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 Ft 176

$0.54 Ft 165

5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.93 Ft 2,131

$6.94 Ft 2,133

-0.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.85 Ft 1,800

$6.48 Ft 1,993

-9.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 Ft 368

$1.16 Ft 356

3.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 Ft 528

$1.78 Ft 548

-3.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 Ft 388

$1.12 Ft 345

12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.55 Ft 7,856

$24.69 Ft 7,592

3.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.22 Ft 990

$2.53 Ft 779

27.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.17 Ft 361

$1.16 Ft 358

0.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.78 Ft 5,774

$13.94 Ft 4,285

34.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 Ft 560

$1.74 Ft 536

4.60%

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

$25.4K Ft 7.8M

$24.3K Ft 7.5M

4.63%

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

$31.4K Ft 9.6M

$34.6K Ft 10.6M

-9.21%

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

$144 Ft 44.3K

$200 Ft 61.4K

-27.91%

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

$25.99 Ft 7,991

$26.75 Ft 8,225

-2.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.06 Ft 6,168

$19.89 Ft 6,114

0.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.0 Ft 19.7K

$46.01 Ft 14.1K

39.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.83 Ft 6,713

$16.78 Ft 5,159

30.10%

Cinema Ticket

$9.09 Ft 2,794

$7.41 Ft 2,278

22.67%

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

$463 Ft 142.4K

$330 Ft 101.5K

40.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K Ft 3.8M

$3,465 Ft 1.1M

260.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.5 Ft 26.0K

$55.2 Ft 17.0K

53.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.11 Ft 13.3K

$26.99 Ft 8,299

59.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 Ft 29.6K

$62.2 Ft 19.1K

55.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 Ft 32.4K

$67.3 Ft 20.7K

56.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$722 Ft 222.0K

$440 Ft 135.2K

64.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$543 Ft 167.0K

$345 Ft 106.1K

57.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,320 Ft 406.0K

$634 Ft 195.0K

108.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$953 Ft 292.9K

$534 Ft 164.2K

78.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,215 Ft 1.9M

$3,471 Ft 1.1M

79.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,448 Ft 1.4M

$2,512 Ft 772.4K

77.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,795 Ft 552.0K

$1,242 Ft 381.9K

44.54%

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Esztergom: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $722 in Budapest versus $440 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 45% 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 $223 – 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 24%, 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 $2,158 per month in Budapest and $1,747 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 3% less in Esztergom. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $463 per month in Budapest and $330 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 $1,165, than in Budapest at $1,439. 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.