Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Goma

For one person, living is cheaper in Goma: $431 a month against $1,647 in Budapest, rent and utilities included – about $14,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Budapest, Hungary
Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,647
/mo nomad
Goma
🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
$431
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Budapest and in Goma

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

A single person spends $1,647 per month in Budapest vs $431 in Goma, rent included.

  • Budapest $1,647
  • Goma $431

A couple spends around $2,567 per month in Budapest vs $753 in Goma, rent included.

  • Budapest $2,567
  • Goma $753

A family of three spends $3,488 per month in Budapest vs $1,075 in Goma, rent included.

  • Budapest $3,488
  • Goma $1,075

Budapest costs about 282% more than Goma, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Budapest sits 22% above the global median, while Goma is 68% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
Goma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.63 Ft 4,407
$15.09 CDF 34.2K
-9.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.7 Ft 19.6K
$45.86 CDF 104.0K
32.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.02 Ft 3,239
$10.14 CDF 23.0K
-1.18%
Cappuccino
$3.33 Ft 1,075
$3.41 CDF 7,740
-2.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 Ft 684
$0.97 CDF 2,208
118.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 Ft 581
$1.02 CDF 2,323
76.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.61 Ft 1,166
$1.18 CDF 2,683
205.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 Ft 1,160
$5.06 CDF 11.5K
-29.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
Goma
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 Ft 361
$1.02 CDF 2,308
9.80%
White Bread (500g)
$1.93 Ft 623
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.49 Ft 804
$1.22 CDF 2,769
104.10%
Eggs
$3.94 Ft 1,275
$1.52 CDF 3,438
159.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.28 Ft 3,646
$5.97 CDF 13.5K
88.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.73 Ft 2,177
$2.54 CDF 5,754
164.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.44 Ft 4,670
$4.98 CDF 11.3K
189.96%
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 Ft 601
$2.04 CDF 4,616
-8.82%
Banana (1kg)
$2.04 Ft 658
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.29 Ft 740
$1.53 CDF 3,475
49.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.99 Ft 1,290
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.94 Ft 304
$0.52 CDF 1,180
80.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 Ft 330
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.65 Ft 534
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 Ft 221
$0.72 CDF 1,623
-5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.81 Ft 2,526
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$6.02 Ft 1,946
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 Ft 418
$2.04 CDF 4,632
-36.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 Ft 655
$2.52 CDF 5,707
-19.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
Goma
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.50 Ft 484
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.13 Ft 8,769
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.36 Ft 1,085
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 Ft 444
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.96 Ft 6,451
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.86 Ft 603
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K Ft 9.2M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K Ft 10.8M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
Goma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 Ft 57.6K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.58 Ft 7,623
$15.29 CDF 34.7K
54.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.12 Ft 7,797
$60.8 CDF 137.9K
-60.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
Goma
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.7 Ft 22.5K
$30.44 CDF 69.0K
128.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.03 Ft 5,505
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.48 Ft 3,388
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
Goma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$625 Ft 202.1K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.6K Ft 6.4M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
Goma
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 Ft 33.0K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41 Ft 14.0K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 Ft 35.5K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 Ft 39.0K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
Goma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 Ft 273.3K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$638 Ft 206.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,609 Ft 520.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,217 Ft 393.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,555 Ft 1.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,898 Ft 1.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
Goma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,724 Ft 557.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.34
0
-

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

Last update for Budapest: November 1, 2026

Last update for Goma: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Budapest
$638
Goma
–
Groceries & Markets
Budapest
$260
Goma
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
$226
Goma
–
Eating Out
Budapest
$220
Goma
–
Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
$169
Goma
–
Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
$91
Goma
–
Getting Around
Budapest
$43
Goma
–

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61 in Budapest versus $46 in Goma. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $108 – making Goma the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇭🇺 Budapest
🇨🇩 Goma
🕒 Local time
04:27 4:27 AM
05:27 5:27 AM
1 h ahead of Budapest
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,686,222 Capital
2,000,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CDF, USD, EUR to HUF – Hungarian Forint Converter

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 323 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.09 USD). 1 EUR = 363 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.76 EUR).

Congolese Franc exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 2,267 CDF (10,000 CDF = 4.41 USD). 1 EUR = 2,545 CDF (10,000 CDF = 3.93 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Budapest Goma 5,560 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Budapest
  • Goma

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 Goma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Goma cheaper than Budapest?
Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 282%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,471 per month in Budapest and $647 in Goma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do food prices compare in Budapest and in Goma?
Groceries cost about 140% more in Budapest, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is eating out cheaper in Budapest or in Goma?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61 in Budapest and $46 in Goma. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $800 a realistic budget for living in Budapest or in Goma?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Goma, where all-in costs run around $431, than in Budapest at $1,647. In Goma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Budapest or in Goma?
It depends on your priorities. Budapest has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $431 in Goma to $1,647 in Budapest. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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