Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Lake Balaton Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Lake Balaton

😐 Solo nomad: Budapest is 23.7% more expensive than Lake Balaton without rent, and 33.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Budapest is 18.5% more expensive than Lake Balaton without rent, and 33.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.56 Ft 3,792

$8.88 Ft 2,912

30.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.1 Ft 19K

$45.51 Ft 14.9K

27.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 Ft 2,869

$8.61 Ft 2,823

1.63%

Cappuccino

$2.85 Ft 935

$1.99 Ft 654

43.22%

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

$1.8 Ft 591

$1.35 Ft 444

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 Ft 421

$0.99 Ft 325

29.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.83 Ft 928

$1.91 Ft 627

48.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.8 Ft 919

$2.14 Ft 703

30.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 Ft 397

$1.11 Ft 363

9.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.66 Ft 546

$1.48 Ft 485

12.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 Ft 681

$1.82 Ft 598

14.29%

Eggs

$2.99 Ft 982

$2.7 Ft 885

10.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.14 Ft 3,326

$9.13 Ft 2,993

11.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.25 Ft 2,048

$5.74 Ft 1,882

8.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 Ft 4,438

$11.85 Ft 3,886

14.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 Ft 636

$1.72 Ft 565

12.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 Ft 633

$1.9 Ft 625

1.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 Ft 710

$1.97 Ft 646

9.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.51 Ft 1,152

$2.94 Ft 964

19.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 Ft 368

$1.1 Ft 361

1.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 Ft 398

$1.22 Ft 401

-0.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 Ft 495

$1.5 Ft 493

0.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 Ft 190

$0.55 Ft 181

5.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.6 Ft 2,166

$6.57 Ft 2,154

0.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.95 Ft 1,952

$5.77 Ft 1,891

3.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.2 Ft 395

$1.03 Ft 336

16.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 Ft 550

$1.42 Ft 465

18.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 Ft 422

$1.18 Ft 386

9.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.83 Ft 8,471

$24.58 Ft 8,060

5.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 Ft 1,034

$2.8 Ft 918

12.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 Ft 366

$1.11 Ft 365

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.02 Ft 6,237

$17.44 Ft 5,719

9.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.78 Ft 584

$1.75 Ft 572

1.71%

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

$25.7K Ft 8.4M

$26.1K Ft 8.6M

-1.59%

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

$30.7K Ft 10.1M

$30.6K Ft 10M

0.61%

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

$149 Ft 48.9K

$144 Ft 47.3K

3.58%

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

$25.89 Ft 8,490

$26.94 Ft 8,834

-3.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.86 Ft 6,512

$19.38 Ft 6,356

2.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 Ft 20.6K

$46.53 Ft 15.3K

34.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.89 Ft 7,179

$17 Ft 5,574

28.76%

Cinema Ticket

$9.08 Ft 2,978

$7.23 Ft 2,372

25.59%

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

$463 Ft 152K

$295 Ft 96.7K

57.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.3K Ft 4M

$6,627 Ft 2.2M

86.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.6 Ft 28.1K

$72.1 Ft 23.7K

18.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.73 Ft 14K

$27.66 Ft 9,070

54.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 Ft 32.1K

$71.3 Ft 23.4K

37.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 Ft 34.1K

$80 Ft 26.2K

30.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 Ft 240K

$449 Ft 147.2K

63.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$558 Ft 183.1K

$352 Ft 115.4K

58.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,362 Ft 446.7K

$626 Ft 205.2K

117.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$950 Ft 311.6K

$543 Ft 178.1K

74.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,276 Ft 1.7M

$2,971 Ft 974.3K

77.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,870 Ft 1.3M

$2,320 Ft 760.7K

66.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,616 Ft 530K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.03

7.4

-5.00%

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

Last update for Budapest: December 1, 2025

Last update for Lake Balaton: December 1, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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