Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Malaysia
For one person, living is cheaper in Malaysia: $908 a month against $1,621 in Budapest, rent and utilities included – about $8,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
-
Budapest Living Index79Cost of Living Index in BudapestLearn more -
Malaysia Living Index44Cost of Living Index in MalaysiaLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Budapest is 43.5% more expensive than Malaysia without rent, and 78.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Budapest is 58.2% more expensive than Malaysia without rent, and 90.6% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
Malaysia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.99 Ft 4,551
$3.68 MYR 15.03
280.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.3 Ft 19.6K
$19.24 MYR 78.5
213.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.96 Ft 3,241
$4.82 MYR 19.69
106.64%
Cappuccino
$3.38 Ft 1,100
$2.87 MYR 11.70
17.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 Ft 692
$0.81 MYR 3.30
162.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 Ft 608
$0.41 MYR 1.67
356.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.75 Ft 1,221
$3.75 MYR 15.32
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57 Ft 1,162
$4.76 MYR 19.45
-25.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
Malaysia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 Ft 368
$1.90 MYR 7.74
-40.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 Ft 599
$1.06 MYR 4.32
73.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.39 Ft 777
$1.48 MYR 6.05
61.49%
Eggs
$3.83 Ft 1,245
$2.16 MYR 8.83
77.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.33 Ft 3,686
$13.27 MYR 54.2
-14.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.74 Ft 2,192
$4.07 MYR 16.60
65.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.69 Ft 4,780
$8.71 MYR 35.56
68.66%
Apples (1kg)
$1.84 Ft 597
$3.04 MYR 12.40
-39.47%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 Ft 653
$1.66 MYR 6.80
21.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 Ft 767
$2.59 MYR 10.59
-8.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.77 Ft 1,226
$1.58 MYR 6.46
138.61%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 Ft 313
$1.22 MYR 4.99
-21.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 Ft 334
$1.28 MYR 5.23
-19.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.56 Ft 509
$1.17 MYR 4.77
33.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 Ft 216
$0.56 MYR 2.27
17.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.96 Ft 2,591
$4.51 MYR 18.41
76.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.01 Ft 1,954
$19.23 MYR 78.5
-68.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 Ft 421
$2.97 MYR 12.13
-56.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 Ft 676
$4.04 MYR 16.51
-48.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
Malaysia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.50 Ft 489
$0.72 MYR 2.94
108.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.61 Ft 8,982
$12.43 MYR 50.8
122.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 Ft 1,074
$1.19 MYR 4.86
177.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 Ft 424
$0.95 MYR 3.88
36.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.78 Ft 6,436
$6.10 MYR 24.92
224.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 Ft 591
$0.66 MYR 2.69
174.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K Ft 9.5M
$41.1K MYR 167.7K
-28.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K Ft 11.1M
$34.5K MYR 141.0K
-1.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
Malaysia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 Ft 55.3K
$55.4 MYR 226
207.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.98 Ft 7,802
$10.14 MYR 41.40
136.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.42 Ft 7,621
$27.39 MYR 112
-14.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
Malaysia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.2 Ft 21.6K
$37.46 MYR 153
76.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.18 Ft 6,239
$7.20 MYR 29.39
166.39%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 Ft 3,098
$5.01 MYR 20.44
90.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
Malaysia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$537 Ft 174.6K
$191 MYR 778
181.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K Ft 5.4M
$8,217 MYR 33.5K
102.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
Malaysia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 Ft 33.0K
$63.2 MYR 258
60.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.99 Ft 14.0K
$33.41 MYR 136
28.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 Ft 36.7K
$80.0 MYR 327
40.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 Ft 38.6K
$71.9 MYR 294
65.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
Malaysia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$805 Ft 262.0K
$401 MYR 1,636
100.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$629 Ft 204.7K
$272 MYR 1,112
130.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,549 Ft 504.1K
$705 MYR 2,880
119.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,167 Ft 379.7K
$467 MYR 1,909
149.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,618 Ft 1.8M
$2,042 MYR 8,337
175.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,968 Ft 1.3M
$1,181 MYR 4,822
236.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
Malaysia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,626 Ft 529.0K
$917 MYR 3,745
77.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
4.23
52.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Budapest: October 5, 2026
Last update for Malaysia: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Budapest $629 38.7%
Malaysia $272 29.9% 56.7% $357
Groceries & Markets
Budapest $258 15.8%
Malaysia $253 27.8% 1.9% $4.8
Eating Out
Budapest $224 13.8%
Malaysia $111 12.3% 50.3% $113
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest $217 13.4%
Malaysia $93 10.2% 57.3% $124
Clothing & Footwear
Budapest $169 10.4%
Malaysia $112 12.3% 33.9% $57
Sport & Entertainment
Budapest $85 5.2%
Malaysia $47 5.2% 44.3% $38
Getting Around
Budapest $43 2.7%
Malaysia $21 2.3% 51.1% $22
Accommodation & Living
Budapest $1.2K 34.1%
Malaysia $467 25.5% 59.9% $700
Groceries & Markets
Budapest $607 17.7%
Malaysia $559 30.5% 8% $48
Eating Out
Budapest $753 22%
Malaysia $312 17% 58.6% $441
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest $241 7.1%
Malaysia $103 5.6% 57.3% $138
Clothing & Footwear
Budapest $376 11%
Malaysia $249 13.5% 33.9% $127
Sport & Entertainment
Budapest $190 5.5%
Malaysia $102 5.6% 46.2% $88
Getting Around
Budapest $90 2.6%
Malaysia $44 2.4% 51.1% $46
Good to know
🇭🇺 Budapest
🇲🇾 Malaysia
Weather
Population
1,686,222 Capital
32,447,385
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Budapest Malaysia 9,200 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
- Budapest
- Malaysia
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 other spots: cost of living compared
Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,621
/mo nomad
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$855
/mo nomad
Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,621
/mo nomad
Krakow
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,811
/mo nomad
Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,621
/mo nomad
Prague
🇨🇿 Czech Republic
$2,097
/mo nomad
Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,621
/mo nomad
Debrecen
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,358
/mo nomad
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