Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Kozani

For one person, living is cheaper in Kozani: $1,284 a month against $1,619 in Budapest, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,619
/mo nomad
Kozani
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,284
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Budapest and in Kozani

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

A single person spends $1,619 per month in Budapest vs $1,284 in Kozani, rent included.

  • Budapest $1,619
  • Kozani $1,284

A couple spends around $2,524 per month in Budapest vs $1,879 in Kozani, rent included.

  • Budapest $2,524
  • Kozani $1,879

A family of three spends $3,429 per month in Budapest vs $2,474 in Kozani, rent included.

  • Budapest $3,429
  • Kozani $2,474

Budapest costs about 26% more than Kozani, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Budapest sits 20% above the global median, while Kozani is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
Kozani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.94 Ft 4,517
$11.21 €10.00
24.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 Ft 19.8K
$44.18 €39.39
38.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.19 Ft 3,302
$10.96 €9.77
-7.03%
Cappuccino
$3.26 Ft 1,058
$2.84 €2.53
14.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 Ft 693
$1.64 €1.46
30.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 Ft 578
$0.54 €0.48
229.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.71 Ft 1,202
$4.56 €4.06
-18.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77 Ft 1,221
$4.84 €4.32
-22.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
Kozani
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 Ft 372
$1.64 €1.46
-29.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 Ft 579
$1.71 €1.53
4.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.49 Ft 806
$1.94 €1.73
28.35%
Eggs
$3.90 Ft 1,265
$3.33 €2.97
17.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.10 Ft 3,599
$13.16 €11.73
-15.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.62 Ft 2,146
$8.38 €7.47
-21.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.69 Ft 4,761
$12.61 €11.24
16.49%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 Ft 593
$1.65 €1.47
10.91%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 Ft 663
$1.64 €1.46
25.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.37 Ft 768
$1.54 €1.38
53.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.90 Ft 1,264
$1.62 €1.44
140.74%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 Ft 321
$1.01 €0.90
-1.98%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 Ft 323
$0.85 €0.76
17.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.58 Ft 513
$1.27 €1.13
24.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 Ft 217
$0.89 €0.79
-24.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.96 Ft 2,580
$5.12 €4.57
55.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.22 Ft 2,015
$8.81 €7.85
-29.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 Ft 412
$1.99 €1.77
-36.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 Ft 657
$3.13 €2.80
-35.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
Kozani
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 Ft 492
$1.65 €1.47
-7.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.02 Ft 9,082
$41.77 €37.24
-32.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.31 Ft 1,073
$4.15 €3.70
-20.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 Ft 444
$1.11 €0.99
23.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.83 Ft 6,427
$16.64 €14.84
19.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 Ft 590
$1.97 €1.76
-7.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K Ft 9.7M
$28.3K €25.2K
5.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K Ft 11.0M
$31.1K €27.8K
8.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
Kozani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 Ft 55.5K
$217 €193
-21.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.51 Ft 7,620
$23.22 €20.70
1.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.29 Ft 7,550
$29.90 €26.66
-22.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
Kozani
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.5 Ft 21.9K
$43.48 €38.77
55.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.89 Ft 6,124
$23.90 €21.31
-20.96%
Cinema Ticket
$9.30 Ft 3,013
$8.70 €7.75
6.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
Kozani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$533 Ft 172.9K
$401 €358
32.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.8K Ft 5.4M
$9,068 €8,085
84.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
Kozani
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.6 Ft 32.3K
$84.6 €75.4
17.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.49 Ft 14.1K
$45.09 €40.20
-3.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 Ft 35.8K
$82.5 €73.6
33.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 Ft 38.6K
$61.2 €54.6
94.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
Kozani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$830 Ft 269.2K
$387 €345
114.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$622 Ft 201.6K
$314 €280
97.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,594 Ft 516.5K
$511 €455
212.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,170 Ft 379.3K
$428 €381
173.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,832 Ft 1.9M
$2,180 €1,944
167.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,889 Ft 1.3M
$1,867 €1,665
108.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
Kozani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,651 Ft 535.2K
$1,086 €968
52.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
4.26
51.41%

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

Last update for Budapest: October 13, 2026

Last update for Kozani: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Budapest
$622
Kozani
$314 49.5% $308
Groceries & Markets
Budapest
$258
Kozani
$260 1% $2.6
Eating Out
Budapest
$223
Kozani
$198 11.3% $25
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
$218
Kozani
$270 23.8% $52
Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
$168
Kozani
$123 26.6% $45
Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
$86
Kozani
$61 29.3% $25
Getting Around
Budapest
$44
Kozani
$58 31.2% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $830 in Budapest versus $387 in Kozani. 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 52% 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 $61.0 in Budapest versus $44.00 in Kozani. Groceries tell a different story – $258 in Budapest vs $260 in Kozani – so Budapest wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇭🇺 Budapest
🇬🇷 Kozani
🕒 Local time
11:57 11:57 AM
12:57 12:57 PM
1 h ahead of Budapest
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,686,222 Capital
35,242
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to HUF – Hungarian Forint Converter

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 16, 2026: 1 USD = 324 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.09 USD). 1 EUR = 364 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.75 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 16, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Budapest Kozani 830 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Budapest
  • Kozani

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 Kozani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kozani cheaper than Budapest?
Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 26%, 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 $2,428 per month in Budapest and $1,927 in Kozani. 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 Kozani, 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 49% less in Kozani. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $533 per month in Budapest and $401 in Kozani. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Budapest or in Kozani?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kozani, where all-in costs run around $1,284, than in Budapest at $1,619. In Kozani it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Budapest or Kozani more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kozani – 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 Kozani?
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 Kozani. 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.

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