Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Liuzhou

For one person, living is cheaper in Liuzhou: $770 a month against $1,619 in Budapest, rent and utilities included – about $10,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,619
/mo nomad
Liuzhou
🇨🇳 China
$770
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Budapest and in Liuzhou

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

A single person spends $1,619 per month in Budapest vs $770 in Liuzhou, rent included.

  • Budapest $1,619
  • Liuzhou $770

A couple spends around $2,524 per month in Budapest vs $1,196 in Liuzhou, rent included.

  • Budapest $2,524
  • Liuzhou $1,196

A family of three spends $3,429 per month in Budapest vs $1,621 in Liuzhou, rent included.

  • Budapest $3,429
  • Liuzhou $1,621

Budapest costs about 110% more than Liuzhou, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Budapest sits 20% above the global median, while Liuzhou is 43% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
Liuzhou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.94 Ft 4,503
$2.79 ¥18.65
399.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 Ft 19.8K
$22.22 ¥149
175.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.19 Ft 3,291
$5.17 ¥34.55
97.10%
Cappuccino
$3.26 Ft 1,055
$2.79 ¥18.68
16.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 Ft 690
$0.51 ¥3.42
319.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 Ft 577
$0.31 ¥2.10
474.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.71 Ft 1,198
$1.06 ¥7.10
250.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77 Ft 1,217
$2.12 ¥14.16
77.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
Liuzhou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 Ft 371
$1.81 ¥12.08
-36.46%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 Ft 578
$1.61 ¥10.75
11.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.49 Ft 804
$0.99 ¥6.62
151.52%
Eggs
$3.90 Ft 1,261
$1.66 ¥11.10
134.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.10 Ft 3,587
$13.17 ¥88.1
-15.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.62 Ft 2,139
$3.31 ¥22.14
100.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.69 Ft 4,745
$10.98 ¥73.4
33.79%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 Ft 591
$1.47 ¥9.85
24.49%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 Ft 661
$0.88 ¥5.87
132.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.37 Ft 765
$1.49 ¥9.94
59.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.90 Ft 1,260
$1.27 ¥8.51
207.09%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 Ft 320
$0.74 ¥4.92
33.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 Ft 322
$0.96 ¥6.40
4.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.58 Ft 511
$0.63 ¥4.20
150.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 Ft 216
$0.56 ¥3.75
19.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.96 Ft 2,572
$3.85 ¥25.74
106.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.22 Ft 2,009
$11.99 ¥80.2
-48.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 Ft 411
$0.87 ¥5.82
45.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 Ft 654
$1.56 ¥10.42
30.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
Liuzhou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 Ft 490
$0.29 ¥1.93
424.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.02 Ft 9,053
$17.81 ¥119
57.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.31 Ft 1,070
$1.52 ¥10.18
117.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 Ft 442
$0.33 ¥2.19
315.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.83 Ft 6,406
$6.96 ¥46.54
184.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 Ft 589
$1.35 ¥9.02
34.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K Ft 9.6M
$19.7K ¥132.0K
50.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K Ft 10.9M
$17.7K ¥118.3K
91.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
Liuzhou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 Ft 55.3K
$57.1 ¥382
199.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.51 Ft 7,596
$8.60 ¥57.5
173.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.29 Ft 7,526
$11.23 ¥75.1
107.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
Liuzhou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.5 Ft 21.8K
$82.2 ¥550
-17.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.89 Ft 6,104
$15.17 ¥101
24.52%
Cinema Ticket
$9.30 Ft 3,004
$6.25 ¥41.77
48.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
Liuzhou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$533 Ft 172.3K
$425 ¥2,842
25.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.8K Ft 5.4M
$17.7K ¥118.2K
-5.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
Liuzhou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.6 Ft 32.2K
$43.51 ¥291
128.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.49 Ft 14.0K
$33.03 ¥221
31.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 Ft 35.7K
$73.9 ¥494
49.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 Ft 38.4K
$73.6 ¥492
61.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
Liuzhou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$830 Ft 268.3K
$240 ¥1,603
246.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$622 Ft 200.9K
$188 ¥1,257
230.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,594 Ft 514.9K
$423 ¥2,827
276.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,170 Ft 378.1K
$319 ¥2,133
266.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,832 Ft 1.9M
$3,425 ¥22.9K
70.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,889 Ft 1.3M
$1,957 ¥13.1K
98.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
Liuzhou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,651 Ft 533.4K
$594 ¥3,970
178.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
3.36
91.96%

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

Last update for Budapest: October 13, 2026

Last update for Liuzhou: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Budapest
$622
Liuzhou
$188 69.8% $434
Groceries & Markets
Budapest
$258
Liuzhou
$204 21.1% $54
Eating Out
Budapest
$223
Liuzhou
$84 62.2% $139
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
$218
Liuzhou
$77 64.7% $141
Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
$168
Liuzhou
$101 39.8% $67
Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
$86
Liuzhou
$95 10% $8.6
Getting Around
Budapest
$44
Liuzhou
$22 50% $22

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $830 in Budapest versus $240 in Liuzhou. 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 178% 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 $22.00 in Liuzhou. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $204 – making Liuzhou the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇭🇺 Budapest
🇨🇳 Liuzhou
🕒 Local time
11:12 11:12 AM
17:12 5:12 PM
6 h ahead of Budapest
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,686,222 Capital
4,157,934
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD, EUR to HUF – Hungarian Forint Converter

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 323 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 363 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.75 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Budapest Liuzhou 8,070 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Budapest
  • Liuzhou

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 Liuzhou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Liuzhou cheaper than Budapest?
Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 110%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,428 per month in Budapest and $1,156 in Liuzhou. 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 Liuzhou, 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 57% less in Liuzhou. 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 $425 in Liuzhou. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Budapest or in Liuzhou?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Liuzhou, where all-in costs run around $770, than in Budapest at $1,619. In Liuzhou it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Budapest or Liuzhou more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Liuzhou – 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 Liuzhou?
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 Liuzhou. 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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