🙂A single person spends $1,463 per month in Budapest vs $1,465 in Herceg Novi, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,209 per month in Budapest vs $2,156 in Herceg Novi, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,955 per month in Budapest vs $2,848 in Herceg Novi, rent included.
🙂Budapest and Herceg Novi have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.
📊Both Budapest and Herceg Novi sit above the global median – Budapest by 10%, Herceg Novi by 10%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
Herceg Novi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.48Ft 3,648
$11.53€10.08
-0.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.4Ft 17.9K
$37.39€32.72
50.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.73Ft 2,775
$10.47€9.16
-16.62%
Cappuccino
$2.85Ft 906
$2.61€2.29
9.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74Ft 552
$2.82€2.46
-38.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31Ft 416
$1.94€1.70
-32.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.80Ft 888
$2.93€2.57
-4.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93Ft 932
$2.98€2.60
-1.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
Herceg Novi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27Ft 403
$1.39€1.21
-8.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75Ft 556
$0.93€0.81
88.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.11Ft 672
$2.53€2.22
-16.60%
Eggs
$3.16Ft 1,004
$3.18€2.78
-0.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.91Ft 3,148
$8.94€7.82
10.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.32Ft 2,008
$7.63€6.67
-17.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.58Ft 4,315
$11.69€10.22
16.17%
Apples(1kg)
$1.91Ft 606
$1.32€1.16
44.70%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00Ft 635
$1.69€1.48
18.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15Ft 684
$1.63€1.43
31.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.59Ft 1,140
$3.00€2.62
19.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.12Ft 357
$1.09€0.96
2.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21Ft 383
$1.40€1.23
-13.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.54Ft 490
$1.55€1.36
-0.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55Ft 173
$0.82€0.71
-32.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79Ft 2,158
$3.66€3.21
85.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78Ft 1,837
$4.66€4.08
24.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20Ft 381
$1.23€1.08
-2.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65Ft 525
$1.77€1.55
-6.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
Herceg Novi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.27Ft 404
$1.15€1.00
10.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.94Ft 8,244
$58.1€50.8
-55.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26Ft 1,035
$2.28€1.99
42.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.12Ft 356
$0.74€0.65
51.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.21Ft 6,105
$17.59€15.39
9.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76Ft 560
$1.79€1.57
-1.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3KFt 8.4M
$34.1K€29.8K
-22.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7KFt 9.7M
$22.1K€19.4K
38.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
Herceg Novi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$144Ft 45.6K
$139€121
3.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.33Ft 8,367
$16.73€14.63
57.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.06Ft 6,375
$31.83€27.85
-36.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
Herceg Novi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.2Ft 20.1K
$58.0€50.7
9.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.87Ft 6,949
$11.58€10.14
88.86%
Cinema Ticket
$8.90Ft 2,828
$8.24€7.21
8.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
Herceg Novi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$450Ft 143.1K
$521€456
-13.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.1KFt 3.9M
$7,796€6,821
55.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
Herceg Novi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.6Ft 26.9K
$87.2€76.3
-3.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.60Ft 13.5K
$35.17€30.77
21.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.2Ft 31.2K
$75.7€66.2
29.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104Ft 32.9K
$96.4€84.4
7.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
Herceg Novi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$715Ft 227.2K
$741€649
-3.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$560Ft 178.0K
$564€493
-0.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,339Ft 425.4K
$1,392€1,218
-3.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$971Ft 308.5K
$974€852
-0.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,062Ft 1.9M
$3,656€3,198
65.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,298Ft 1.4M
$2,513€2,198
71.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
Herceg Novi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,751Ft 556.4K
$1,059€927
65.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.03
5
40.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Budapest: July 13, 2026
Last update for Herceg Novi: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $715 in Budapest versus $741 in Herceg Novi. 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 65% higher in Budapest. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $56.0 in Budapest versus $37.00 in Herceg Novi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $225 – making Herceg Novi 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 Herceg Novi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,194 per month in Budapest and $2,197 in Herceg Novi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Budapest, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Budapest or in Herceg Novi?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $56.0 in Budapest and $37.00 in Herceg Novi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 124% less in Budapest. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Budapest or in Herceg Novi?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Budapest, where all-in costs run around $1,463, than in Herceg Novi at $1,465. In Budapest it covers expenses comfortably, while in Herceg Novi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Budapest or Herceg Novi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Budapest – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Budapest or Herceg Novi?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Budapest. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Herceg Novi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.