Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Matosinhos Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Matosinhos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,463 per month in Budapest vs $1,821 in Matosinhos, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,209 per month in Budapest vs $2,664 in Matosinhos, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,955 per month in Budapest vs $3,507 in Matosinhos, rent included.

Budapest is about 20% cheaper than Matosinhos, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Budapest and Matosinhos sit above the global median – Budapest by 10%, Matosinhos by 36%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
Matosinhos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.48 Ft 3,648
$11.46 €10.03
0.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.4 Ft 17.9K
$45.40 €39.72
24.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.73 Ft 2,775
$9.14 €7.99
-4.49%
Cappuccino
$2.85 Ft 906
$2.29 €2.00
24.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 Ft 552
$2.05 €1.79
-15.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 Ft 416
$1.42 €1.24
-7.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.80 Ft 888
$2.85 €2.50
-1.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 Ft 932
$3.43 €3.00
-14.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
Matosinhos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 Ft 403
$1.10 €0.96
15.45%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 Ft 556
$1.75 €1.53
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.11 Ft 672
$1.62 €1.42
30.25%
Eggs
$3.16 Ft 1,004
$3.02 €2.64
4.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.91 Ft 3,148
$11.30 €9.89
-12.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.32 Ft 2,008
$7.39 €6.47
-14.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.58 Ft 4,315
$13.93 €12.18
-2.51%
Apples (1kg)
$1.91 Ft 606
$2.10 €1.83
-9.05%
Banana (1kg)
$2.00 Ft 635
$1.41 €1.24
41.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 Ft 684
$1.82 €1.59
18.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.59 Ft 1,140
$2.37 €2.07
51.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 Ft 357
$1.30 €1.14
-13.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 Ft 383
$1.84 €1.61
-34.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.54 Ft 490
$1.49 €1.31
3.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Ft 173
$0.80 €0.70
-31.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 Ft 2,158
$6.23 €5.45
8.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 Ft 1,837
$5.56 €4.87
3.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 Ft 381
$1.09 €0.95
10.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 Ft 525
$2.35 €2.06
-29.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
Matosinhos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.27 Ft 404
$1.88 €1.64
-32.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.94 Ft 8,244
$34.87 €30.50
-25.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 Ft 1,035
$3.93 €3.44
-17.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.12 Ft 356
$0.74 €0.65
51.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.21 Ft 6,105
$14.44 €12.63
33.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 Ft 560
$2.00 €1.75
-12.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K Ft 8.4M
$34.2K €29.9K
-23.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7K Ft 9.7M
$38.6K €33.7K
-20.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
Matosinhos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$144 Ft 45.6K
$138 €120
4.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.33 Ft 8,367
$21.56 €18.87
22.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.06 Ft 6,375
$42.00 €36.75
-52.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
Matosinhos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.2 Ft 20.1K
$46.39 €40.59
36.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.87 Ft 6,949
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.90 Ft 2,828
$8.16 €7.14
9.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
Matosinhos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$450 Ft 143.1K
$346 €302
30.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K Ft 3.9M
$8,424 €7,370
43.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
Matosinhos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.6 Ft 26.9K
$74.3 €65.0
13.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.60 Ft 13.5K
$34.98 €30.60
21.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.2 Ft 31.2K
$92.9 €81.3
5.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 Ft 32.9K
$111 €97.0
-6.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
Matosinhos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$715 Ft 227.2K
$1,134 €992
-36.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$560 Ft 178.0K
$947 €829
-40.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,339 Ft 425.4K
$1,963 €1,717
-31.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$971 Ft 308.5K
$1,651 €1,445
-41.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,062 Ft 1.9M
$4,311 €3,772
40.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,298 Ft 1.4M
$3,936 €3,444
9.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
Matosinhos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,751 Ft 556.4K
$1,191 €1,042
46.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.03
5.29
32.89%

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

Last update for Budapest: July 13, 2026

Last update for Matosinhos: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $715 in Budapest versus $1,134 in Matosinhos. 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 47% higher in Budapest, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $56.0 in Budapest versus $45.00 in Matosinhos. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Budapest vs $242 in Matosinhos – so Budapest wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Matosinhos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Matosinhos cheaper than Budapest?
Yes – Matosinhos is pricier by about 24%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,194 per month in Budapest and $2,732 in Matosinhos. 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 Budapest, 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 34% less in Budapest. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $450 per month in Budapest and $346 in Matosinhos. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Budapest or in Matosinhos?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Budapest, where all-in costs run around $1,463, than in Matosinhos at $1,821. In Budapest it covers expenses comfortably, while in Matosinhos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Budapest or Matosinhos more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Budapest – 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 Matosinhos?
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 Budapest. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Matosinhos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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