😐A single person spends $1,451 per month in Budapest vs $1,316 in Jurmala, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,210 per month in Budapest vs $1,999 in Jurmala, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,969 per month in Budapest vs $2,683 in Jurmala, rent included.
😐Budapest costs about 10% more than Jurmala, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Budapest sits 8% above the global median, while Jurmala is 2% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
Jurmala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.64Ft 3,521
$12.56€10.82
-7.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.5Ft 17.7K
$67.8€58.4
-13.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.61Ft 2,604
$7.44€6.41
15.73%
Cappuccino
$2.83Ft 857
$3.64€3.13
-22.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81Ft 547
$1.78€1.53
1.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35Ft 410
$1.32€1.13
2.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96Ft 897
$5.10€4.39
-41.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92Ft 884
$3.78€3.26
-22.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
Jurmala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27Ft 385
$1.35€1.16
-5.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.66Ft 504
$1.71€1.47
-2.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.04Ft 618
$2.29€1.98
-10.92%
Eggs
$3.16Ft 955
$3.23€2.79
-2.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.88Ft 2,988
$7.90€6.81
25.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.17Ft 1,868
$7.06€6.08
-12.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.46Ft 4,072
$12.05€10.39
11.70%
Apples(1kg)
$1.86Ft 562
$1.40€1.21
32.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.91Ft 578
$1.94€1.67
-1.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08Ft 628
$2.66€2.29
-21.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.61Ft 1,092
$3.58€3.09
0.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14Ft 344
$1.03€0.89
10.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22Ft 368
$1.05€0.91
16.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.54Ft 467
$1.78€1.53
-13.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53Ft 162
$0.81€0.70
-34.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.88Ft 2,081
$5.22€4.50
31.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.98Ft 1,808
$7.98€6.88
-25.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20Ft 362
$1.81€1.56
-33.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65Ft 501
$2.18€1.87
-24.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
Jurmala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.31Ft 398
$0.85€0.73
54.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.92Ft 7,843
$20.62€17.77
25.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23Ft 978
$2.38€2.05
35.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.13Ft 341
$0.76€0.65
48.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.91Ft 5,722
$11.43€9.85
65.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75Ft 528
$1.81€1.56
-3.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5KFt 7.7M
$25.7K€22.2K
-0.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6KFt 9.6M
$24.8K€21.3K
27.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
Jurmala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145Ft 44.0K
$323€278
-54.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.44Ft 8,001
$11.49€9.90
130.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.87Ft 6,012
$19.69€16.97
0.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
Jurmala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.7Ft 19.3K
$35.86€30.89
77.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.23Ft 6,724
$25.16€21.68
-11.65%
Cinema Ticket
$9.09Ft 2,750
$11.74€10.11
-22.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
Jurmala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$460Ft 139.3K
$541€466
-14.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.2KFt 3.7M
$15.7K€13.5K
-21.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
Jurmala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.3Ft 26.4K
$88.8€76.5
-1.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.04Ft 12.7K
$46.45€40.02
-9.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.7Ft 29.6K
$94.0€81.0
3.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104Ft 31.4K
$133€115
-21.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
Jurmala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$743Ft 224.8K
$362€312
105.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$543Ft 164.3K
$250€215
117.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353Ft 409.4K
$1,114€959
21.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$977Ft 295.5K
$455€392
114.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,134Ft 1.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,404Ft 1.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
Jurmala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,800Ft 544.5K
$1,167€1,005
54.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.03
3.35
109.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Budapest: June 9, 2026
Last update for Jurmala: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $743 in Budapest versus $362 in Jurmala. 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 54% 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 $59.0 in Budapest versus $68.0 in Jurmala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $246 – making Budapest 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 Jurmala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jurmala cheaper than Budapest?
Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,177 per month in Budapest and $1,974 in Jurmala. 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 Jurmala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 26% less in Jurmala. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $460 per month in Budapest and $541 in Jurmala. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Budapest or Jurmala?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jurmala, where all-in costs run around $1,316, than in Budapest at $1,451. In Jurmala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Budapest or Jurmala more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Jurmala – 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 Jurmala?
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 Jurmala. 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.