🙂A single person spends $1,450 per month in Budapest vs $1,837 in Matosinhos, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,221 per month in Budapest vs $2,670 in Matosinhos, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,991 per month in Budapest vs $3,503 in Matosinhos, rent included.
🙂Budapest is about 21% cheaper than Matosinhos, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Budapest and Matosinhos sit above the global median – Budapest by 8%, Matosinhos by 37%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
Matosinhos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.49Ft 3,520
$11.78€10.15
-2.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.8Ft 17.4K
$46.85€40.34
21.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.66Ft 2,653
$9.11€7.84
-4.94%
Cappuccino
$2.77Ft 848
$2.31€1.99
19.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80Ft 551
$1.97€1.70
-8.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33Ft 409
$1.42€1.22
-6.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.81Ft 862
$2.85€2.45
-1.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79Ft 856
$3.40€2.93
-17.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
Matosinhos
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21Ft 370
$1.07€0.92
13.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74Ft 532
$1.76€1.51
-1.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.08Ft 639
$1.63€1.40
27.61%
Eggs
$3.10Ft 951
$3.03€2.61
2.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.95Ft 3,049
$11.45€9.86
-13.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.33Ft 1,939
$7.06€6.08
-10.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.33Ft 4,085
$14.13€12.17
-5.66%
Apples(1kg)
$1.85Ft 568
$2.13€1.83
-13.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.91Ft 585
$1.47€1.26
29.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.17Ft 665
$1.82€1.57
19.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.67Ft 1,124
$2.47€2.13
48.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13Ft 346
$1.32€1.14
-14.39%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22Ft 373
$1.81€1.56
-32.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55Ft 474
$1.49€1.29
4.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53Ft 163
$0.83€0.72
-36.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79Ft 2,082
$6.21€5.35
9.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.87Ft 1,799
$5.67€4.88
3.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22Ft 372
$1.14€0.98
7.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73Ft 530
$2.27€1.96
-23.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
Matosinhos
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.28Ft 393
$1.81€1.56
-29.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.14Ft 8,010
$35.25€30.35
-25.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26Ft 999
$4.12€3.55
-20.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.13Ft 346
$0.79€0.68
43.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.23Ft 5,892
$14.49€12.47
32.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75Ft 536
$1.96€1.69
-10.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9KFt 7.9M
$34.4K€29.6K
-24.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8KFt 9.4M
$39.3K€33.8K
-21.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
Matosinhos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145Ft 44.5K
$137€118
6.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.21Ft 8,032
$21.23€18.28
23.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.23Ft 6,199
$42.22€36.35
-52.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
Matosinhos
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.1Ft 19.0K
$46.85€40.34
32.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.11Ft 6,776
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.15Ft 2,804
$8.54€7.36
7.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
Matosinhos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$454Ft 139.0K
$353€304
28.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.1KFt 3.7M
$8,368€7,206
44.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
Matosinhos
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.6Ft 25.9K
$74.8€64.4
13.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.84Ft 12.8K
$33.85€29.15
23.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.9Ft 29.4K
$91.4€78.7
4.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107Ft 32.7K
$110€95.1
-3.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
Matosinhos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$719Ft 220.2K
$1,157€996
-37.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$553Ft 169.4K
$938€808
-41.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,356Ft 415.3K
$1,926€1,658
-29.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$984Ft 301.4K
$1,625€1,399
-39.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,041Ft 1.9M
$4,543€3,912
32.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,470Ft 1.4M
$4,003€3,447
11.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
Matosinhos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,834Ft 562.0K
$1,247€1,074
47.03%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Matosinhos: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $719 in Budapest versus $1,157 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 $57.0 in Budapest versus $47.00 in Matosinhos. Groceries tell a different story – $239 in Budapest vs $243 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 27%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $2,175 per month in Budapest and $2,755 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 35% less in Budapest. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $454 per month in Budapest and $353 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 Budapest or Matosinhos?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Budapest, where all-in costs run around $1,450, than in Matosinhos at $1,837. 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.