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

😐 Solo nomad: Budapest is 16.7% more expensive than Lake Balaton without rent, and 26.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Budapest is 23% more expensive than Lake Balaton without rent, and 38.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.55 Ft 3,832

$8.78 Ft 2,915

31.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.4 Ft 19.1K

$45.77 Ft 15.2K

25.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 Ft 2,918

$8.89 Ft 2,950

-1.12%

Cappuccino

$2.88 Ft 957

$2.02 Ft 670

42.57%

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

$1.80 Ft 598

$1.35 Ft 448

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 Ft 450

$0.99 Ft 330

37.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.85 Ft 946

$1.85 Ft 613

54.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 Ft 983

$2.15 Ft 713

37.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 Ft 418

$1.10 Ft 364

14.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.69 Ft 560

$1.49 Ft 495

13.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 Ft 705

$1.89 Ft 626

12.70%

Eggs

$3.17 Ft 1,052

$2.68 Ft 890

18.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.17 Ft 3,376

$9.36 Ft 3,107

8.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 Ft 2,108

$5.76 Ft 1,912

10.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.21 Ft 4,384

$11.79 Ft 3,914

12.04%

Apples (1kg)

$1.86 Ft 618

$1.72 Ft 572

8.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 Ft 642

$1.96 Ft 650

-1.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 Ft 714

$1.97 Ft 652

9.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.50 Ft 1,162

$2.93 Ft 972

19.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 Ft 376

$1.11 Ft 368

1.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 Ft 416

$1.17 Ft 388

6.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 Ft 518

$1.45 Ft 481

7.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 Ft 192

$0.56 Ft 184

3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.92 Ft 2,298

$6.82 Ft 2,263

1.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.06 Ft 2,010

$5.88 Ft 1,951

3.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 Ft 398

$1.08 Ft 358

11.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 Ft 550

$1.41 Ft 467

17.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 Ft 425

$1.12 Ft 371

14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.05 Ft 8,648

$25.14 Ft 8,344

3.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 Ft 1,027

$2.93 Ft 971

5.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 Ft 369

$1.15 Ft 382

-3.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.15 Ft 6,356

$17.08 Ft 5,671

12.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.77 Ft 589

$1.75 Ft 580

1.14%

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

$25.4K Ft 8.4M

$25.9K Ft 8.6M

-1.79%

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

$31.1K Ft 10.3M

$30.7K Ft 10.2M

1.16%

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

$145 Ft 48.1K

$145 Ft 48.2K

-0.39%

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

$25.64 Ft 8,509

$26.62 Ft 8,837

-3.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 Ft 6,618

$19.53 Ft 6,482

2.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.3 Ft 21.3K

$46.02 Ft 15.3K

39.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.96 Ft 7,289

$16.66 Ft 5,530

31.81%

Cinema Ticket

$8.97 Ft 2,977

$7.58 Ft 2,516

18.34%

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

$460 Ft 152.8K

$295 Ft 97.9K

56.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.3K Ft 4.1M

$6,558 Ft 2.2M

87.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.8 Ft 28.5K

$72.3 Ft 24.0K

18.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.12 Ft 14.0K

$27.45 Ft 9,110

53.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.0 Ft 32.2K

$71.0 Ft 23.6K

36.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 Ft 34.9K

$78.8 Ft 26.2K

33.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$722 Ft 239.6K

$452 Ft 150.0K

59.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 Ft 183.9K

$339 Ft 112.5K

63.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,332 Ft 442.2K

$634 Ft 210.5K

110.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$969 Ft 321.5K

$538 Ft 178.5K

80.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,420 Ft 1.8M

$2,968 Ft 985.1K

82.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,858 Ft 1.3M

$2,320 Ft 770.1K

66.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,645 Ft 545.9K

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: January 13, 2026

Last update for Lake Balaton: January 13, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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