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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,435 per month in Budapest vs $1,157 in Esztergom, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,204 per month in Budapest vs $1,723 in Esztergom, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,972 per month in Budapest vs $2,289 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

$11.54 Ft 3,635

$8.81 Ft 2,777

30.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.0 Ft 18.3K

$42.84 Ft 13.5K

35.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.89 Ft 2,800

$8.47 Ft 2,668

4.96%

Cappuccino

$2.73 Ft 860

$2.03 Ft 639

34.48%

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

$1.71 Ft 539

$1.42 Ft 449

20.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 Ft 404

$1.20 Ft 380

6.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Ft 923

$1.91 Ft 601

53.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 Ft 903

$2.31 Ft 729

24.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 Ft 381

$1.01 Ft 318

19.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.76 Ft 555

$1.57 Ft 496

12.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 Ft 655

$1.92 Ft 605

8.33%

Eggs

$3.06 Ft 965

$2.72 Ft 857

12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.19 Ft 3,212

$9.42 Ft 2,968

8.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.06 Ft 1,909

$6.03 Ft 1,900

0.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.38 Ft 4,215

$12.33 Ft 3,884

8.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.92 Ft 605

$1.72 Ft 543

11.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 Ft 598

$1.98 Ft 625

-4.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 Ft 688

$1.85 Ft 582

17.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.47 Ft 1,094

$3.33 Ft 1,049

4.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 Ft 352

$1.10 Ft 346

1.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 Ft 393

$1.42 Ft 448

-11.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 Ft 493

$1.68 Ft 529

-7.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 Ft 182

$0.54 Ft 170

7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.81 Ft 2,145

$6.90 Ft 2,173

-1.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.26 Ft 1,973

$6.30 Ft 1,984

-0.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 Ft 380

$1.15 Ft 362

5.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 Ft 527

$1.71 Ft 537

-2.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.33 Ft 419

$1.14 Ft 358

16.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.93 Ft 8,171

$25.30 Ft 7,972

2.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 Ft 972

$2.57 Ft 809

19.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 Ft 351

$1.11 Ft 348

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.67 Ft 5,881

$13.60 Ft 4,284

37.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.85 Ft 584

$1.75 Ft 551

5.71%

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

$25.4K Ft 8.0M

$24.8K Ft 7.8M

2.52%

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

$31.5K Ft 9.9M

$34.8K Ft 11.0M

-9.50%

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

$148 Ft 46.6K

$196 Ft 61.8K

-24.61%

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

$25.98 Ft 8,186

$26.80 Ft 8,444

-3.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 Ft 6,371

$20.03 Ft 6,310

0.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.0 Ft 19.8K

$45.91 Ft 14.5K

37.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.23 Ft 7,005

$16.63 Ft 5,239

33.67%

Cinema Ticket

$8.90 Ft 2,803

$7.15 Ft 2,253

24.48%

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

$464 Ft 146.2K

$327 Ft 103.0K

41.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.4K Ft 3.9M

$3,465 Ft 1.1M

257.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.1 Ft 26.8K

$56.3 Ft 17.8K

51.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.25 Ft 13.6K

$27.47 Ft 8,656

57.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 Ft 30.1K

$62.1 Ft 19.6K

53.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 Ft 32.7K

$66.0 Ft 20.8K

57.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 Ft 232.5K

$445 Ft 140.2K

65.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 Ft 176.0K

$349 Ft 109.9K

60.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,337 Ft 421.2K

$629 Ft 198.1K

112.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$965 Ft 304.1K

$538 Ft 169.6K

79.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 Ft 1.9M

$2,665 Ft 839.6K

122.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,265 Ft 1.3M

$2,411 Ft 759.6K

76.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,732 Ft 545.6K

$1,202 Ft 378.8K

44.04%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Esztergom: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Budapest versus $445 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 $58.0 in Budapest versus $43.00 in Esztergom. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $239 vs $225 – 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 $2,152 per month in Budapest and $1,735 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 2% less in Esztergom. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $464 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 $1,157, than in Budapest at $1,435. 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.