Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Kecskemet Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Kecskemet

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,463 per month in Budapest vs $1,013 in Kecskemet, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,209 per month in Budapest vs $1,522 in Kecskemet, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,955 per month in Budapest vs $2,031 in Kecskemet, rent included.

Budapest costs about 44% more than Kecskemet, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Budapest sits 10% above the global median, while Kecskemet is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.48 Ft 3,637

$7.57 Ft 2,398

51.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.4 Ft 17.9K

$28.59 Ft 9,059

97.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.73 Ft 2,767

$4.89 Ft 1,551

78.53%

Cappuccino

$2.85 Ft 903

$1.38 Ft 438

106.52%

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

$1.74 Ft 550

$1.22 Ft 387

42.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 Ft 415

$0.69 Ft 218

89.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.80 Ft 886

$2.04 Ft 648

37.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 Ft 929

$2.18 Ft 690

34.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 Ft 401

$1.12 Ft 354

13.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 Ft 554

$1.18 Ft 375

48.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 Ft 670

$2.06 Ft 653

2.43%

Eggs

$3.16 Ft 1,002

$2.87 Ft 911

10.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.91 Ft 3,139

$8.04 Ft 2,548

23.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.32 Ft 2,002

$6.04 Ft 1,913

4.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.58 Ft 4,303

$10.35 Ft 3,280

31.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.91 Ft 604

$1.20 Ft 381

59.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 Ft 633

$1.32 Ft 418

51.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 Ft 682

$1.75 Ft 553

22.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.59 Ft 1,137

$2.40 Ft 760

49.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 Ft 356

$0.97 Ft 308

15.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 Ft 382

$1.10 Ft 349

10.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 Ft 488

$1.03 Ft 328

49.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Ft 173

$0.48 Ft 151

14.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.79 Ft 2,152

$5.85 Ft 1,854

16.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.78 Ft 1,831

$3.73 Ft 1,182

54.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 Ft 380

$0.94 Ft 298

27.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 Ft 523

$1.47 Ft 464

12.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 Ft 403

$1.02 Ft 324

24.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.94 Ft 8,220

$17.37 Ft 5,502

49.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 Ft 1,032

$1.15 Ft 364

183.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.12 Ft 355

$1.31 Ft 415

-14.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.21 Ft 6,087

$17.46 Ft 5,533

10.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.76 Ft 559

$1.68 Ft 531

4.76%

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

$26.3K Ft 8.3M

$26.5K Ft 8.4M

-0.84%

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

$30.7K Ft 9.7M

$28.4K Ft 9.0M

7.87%

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

$144 Ft 45.5K

$106 Ft 33.6K

35.52%

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

$26.33 Ft 8,343

$26.10 Ft 8,270

0.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.06 Ft 6,357

$18.36 Ft 5,818

9.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.2 Ft 20.0K

$47.51 Ft 15.1K

33.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.87 Ft 6,929

$17.03 Ft 5,397

28.42%

Cinema Ticket

$8.90 Ft 2,820

$8.43 Ft 2,670

5.58%

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

$450 Ft 142.7K

$220 Ft 69.8K

104.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.1K Ft 3.8M

$6,241 Ft 2.0M

94.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.6 Ft 26.8K

$107 Ft 34.0K

-21.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.60 Ft 13.5K

$14.44 Ft 4,576

195.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.2 Ft 31.1K

$42.92 Ft 13.6K

128.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 Ft 32.8K

$73.0 Ft 23.1K

41.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$715 Ft 226.6K

$467 Ft 148.0K

53.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$560 Ft 177.5K

$378 Ft 119.8K

48.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,339 Ft 424.2K

$658 Ft 208.5K

103.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$971 Ft 307.6K

$565 Ft 179.0K

71.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,062 Ft 1.9M

$2,407 Ft 762.5K

151.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,298 Ft 1.4M

$2,050 Ft 649.7K

109.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,751 Ft 554.8K

$1,132 Ft 358.5K

54.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.03

5.85

20.17%

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

Last update for Budapest: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kecskemet: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $715 in Budapest versus $467 in Kecskemet. 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 55% 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 $56.0 in Budapest versus $29.00 in Kecskemet. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $191 – making Kecskemet 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 Kecskemet: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 44%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,194 per month in Budapest and $1,520 in Kecskemet. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kecskemet, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 49% less in Kecskemet. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $450 per month in Budapest and $220 in Kecskemet. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kecskemet, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Budapest at $1,463. In Kecskemet it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kecskemet – 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 Kecskemet. 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.