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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,730 per month in Budapest vs $1,232 in Kecskemet, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,693 per month in Budapest vs $1,800 in Kecskemet, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,657 per month in Budapest vs $2,367 in Kecskemet, rent included.

Budapest costs about 40% more than Kecskemet, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Budapest sits 25% above the global median, while Kecskemet is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.32 Ft 4,486

$10.17 Ft 3,186

40.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.2 Ft 19.8K

$31.71 Ft 9,932

99.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.22 Ft 3,515

$7.98 Ft 2,501

40.60%

Cappuccino

$3.42 Ft 1,070

$1.82 Ft 571

87.91%

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

$2.17 Ft 680

$1.52 Ft 478

42.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 Ft 626

$0.98 Ft 307

104.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.90 Ft 1,222

$2.28 Ft 715

71.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 Ft 1,193

$2.43 Ft 762

56.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 Ft 383

$1.22 Ft 381

White Bread (500g)

$1.99 Ft 624

$1.35 Ft 422

47.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.54 Ft 794

$2.63 Ft 824

-3.42%

Eggs

$4.22 Ft 1,320

$3.88 Ft 1,215

8.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.13 Ft 3,800

$10.36 Ft 3,245

17.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.06 Ft 2,211

$6.99 Ft 2,190

1.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.32 Ft 4,799

$14.75 Ft 4,622

3.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 Ft 636

$1.83 Ft 572

10.93%

Banana (1kg)

$2.22 Ft 695

$1.68 Ft 526

32.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.44 Ft 765

$1.87 Ft 586

30.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.05 Ft 1,268

$3.33 Ft 1,044

21.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 Ft 323

$1.06 Ft 333

-2.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 Ft 330

$1.19 Ft 374

-11.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.70 Ft 533

$1.25 Ft 393

36.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 Ft 205

$0.53 Ft 165

22.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.36 Ft 2,619

$7.52 Ft 2,356

11.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.36 Ft 1,994

$3.80 Ft 1,190

67.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 Ft 421

$1.31 Ft 411

3.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 Ft 695

$2.08 Ft 650

6.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 Ft 514

$1.23 Ft 384

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.37 Ft 9,201

$19.49 Ft 6,106

50.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 Ft 1,078

$1.29 Ft 404

166.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 Ft 448

$1.74 Ft 545

-17.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.27 Ft 6,664

$19.47 Ft 6,098

9.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.93 Ft 605

$1.85 Ft 581

4.32%

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

$32.0K Ft 10.0M

$28.6K Ft 9.0M

11.86%

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

$35.3K Ft 11.1M

$34.6K Ft 10.8M

2.05%

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

$174 Ft 54.6K

$133 Ft 41.6K

31.25%

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

$25.65 Ft 8,036

$33.73 Ft 10.6K

-23.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.58 Ft 7,700

$19.98 Ft 6,258

23.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.2 Ft 22.3K

$63.3 Ft 19.8K

12.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.93 Ft 6,243

$28.58 Ft 8,952

-30.27%

Cinema Ticket

$10.18 Ft 3,188

$8.55 Ft 2,677

19.06%

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

$563 Ft 176.4K

$262 Ft 82.0K

115.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.3K Ft 5.4M

$6,937 Ft 2.2M

149.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$110 Ft 34.3K

$109 Ft 34.3K

0.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.47 Ft 14.2K

$15.94 Ft 4,994

185.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 Ft 37.2K

$47.92 Ft 15.0K

148.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 Ft 39.1K

$79.9 Ft 25.0K

56.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$846 Ft 265.1K

$519 Ft 162.7K

62.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Ft 206.2K

$418 Ft 131.0K

57.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,673 Ft 524.0K

$740 Ft 231.9K

125.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,292 Ft 404.8K

$616 Ft 192.9K

109.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,932 Ft 1.9M

$2,416 Ft 756.9K

145.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,104 Ft 1.3M

$2,075 Ft 650.0K

97.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,734 Ft 543.0K

$1,159 Ft 363.2K

49.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.67

-1.65%

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

Last update for Budapest: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kecskemet: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $846 in Budapest versus $519 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 50% 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 $63.0 in Budapest versus $32.00 in Kecskemet. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $241 – 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 40%, 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 $2,594 per month in Budapest and $1,848 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 51% less in Kecskemet. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $563 per month in Budapest and $262 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 $1,232, than in Budapest at $1,730. 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.