Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Mugla

For one person, living is cheaper in Mugla: $920 a month against $1,619 in Budapest, rent and utilities included – about $8,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,619
/mo nomad
Mugla
🇹🇷 Turkey
$920
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Budapest and in Mugla

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

A single person spends $1,619 per month in Budapest vs $920 in Mugla, rent included.

  • Budapest $1,619
  • Mugla $920

A couple spends around $2,524 per month in Budapest vs $1,424 in Mugla, rent included.

  • Budapest $2,524
  • Mugla $1,424

A family of three spends $3,429 per month in Budapest vs $1,928 in Mugla, rent included.

  • Budapest $3,429
  • Mugla $1,928

Budapest costs about 76% more than Mugla, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Budapest sits 20% above the global median, while Mugla is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
Mugla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.94 Ft 4,503
$6.51 ₺322
114.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 Ft 19.8K
$36.60 ₺1,812
67.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.19 Ft 3,291
$7.46 ₺369
36.60%
Cappuccino
$3.26 Ft 1,055
$4.08 ₺202
-20.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 Ft 690
$1.83 ₺90.5
16.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 Ft 577
$0.51 ₺25.44
249.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.71 Ft 1,198
$3.09 ₺153
20.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77 Ft 1,217
$3.69 ₺183
2.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
Mugla
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 Ft 371
$1.02 ₺50.7
12.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 Ft 578
$1.01 ₺49.94
77.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.49 Ft 804
$1.93 ₺95.4
29.02%
Eggs
$3.90 Ft 1,261
$2.51 ₺125
55.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.10 Ft 3,587
$9.05 ₺448
22.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.62 Ft 2,139
$4.26 ₺211
55.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.69 Ft 4,745
$19.51 ₺966
-24.71%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 Ft 591
$1.75 ₺86.9
4.57%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 Ft 661
$1.84 ₺91.2
11.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.37 Ft 765
$0.97 ₺47.85
144.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.90 Ft 1,260
$1.49 ₺73.8
161.74%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 Ft 320
$0.42 ₺20.58
135.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 Ft 322
$0.33 ₺16.56
203.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.58 Ft 511
$0.75 ₺36.96
110.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 Ft 216
$0.69 ₺34.38
-2.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.96 Ft 2,572
$2.30 ₺114
246.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.22 Ft 2,009
$9.36 ₺464
-33.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 Ft 411
$2.10 ₺104
-39.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 Ft 654
$2.14 ₺106
-5.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
Mugla
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 Ft 490
$1.26 ₺62.4
20.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.02 Ft 9,053
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.31 Ft 1,070
$1.02 ₺50.5
224.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 Ft 442
$0.78 ₺38.38
75.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.83 Ft 6,406
$7.87 ₺390
151.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 Ft 589
$1.41 ₺69.7
29.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K Ft 9.6M
$42.3K ₺2.1M
-29.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K Ft 10.9M
$39.7K ₺2.0M
-14.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
Mugla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 Ft 55.3K
$72.5 ₺3,590
136.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.51 Ft 7,596
$11.74 ₺581
100.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.29 Ft 7,526
$15.53 ₺769
49.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
Mugla
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.5 Ft 21.8K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.89 Ft 6,104
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.30 Ft 3,004
$6.91 ₺342
34.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
Mugla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$533 Ft 172.3K
$698 ₺34.6K
-23.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.8K Ft 5.4M
$17.8K ₺882.5K
-5.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
Mugla
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.6 Ft 32.2K
$45.95 ₺2,275
116.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.49 Ft 14.0K
$32.61 ₺1,614
33.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 Ft 35.7K
$90.4 ₺4,477
22.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 Ft 38.4K
$78.1 ₺3,864
52.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
Mugla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$830 Ft 268.3K
$411 ₺20.3K
102.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$622 Ft 200.9K
$307 ₺15.2K
102.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,594 Ft 514.9K
$796 ₺39.4K
100.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,170 Ft 378.1K
$514 ₺25.5K
127.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,832 Ft 1.9M
$1,394 ₺69.0K
318.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,889 Ft 1.3M
$824 ₺40.8K
372.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
Mugla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,651 Ft 533.4K
$1,527 ₺75.6K
8.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
38
-83.03%

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

Last update for Budapest: October 13, 2026

Last update for Mugla: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Budapest
$622
Mugla
$307 50.7% $315
Groceries & Markets
Budapest
$258
Mugla
$223 13.6% $35
Eating Out
Budapest
$223
Mugla
$156 30.2% $67
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
$218
Mugla
$100 54.2% $118
Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
$168
Mugla
$111 33.7% $56
Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
$86
Mugla
$14 * 84% $72
Getting Around
Budapest
$44
Mugla
$9.9 * 77.6% $34

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $830 in Budapest versus $411 in Mugla. 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 8% 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 $37.00 in Mugla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $223 – making Mugla the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇭🇺 Budapest
🇹🇷 Mugla
🕒 Local time
17:53 5:53 PM
18:53 6:53 PM
1 h ahead of Budapest
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,686,222 Capital
82,717
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to HUF – Hungarian Forint Converter

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 323 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 363 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.75 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Budapest Mugla 1,370 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Budapest
  • Mugla

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 Mugla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mugla cheaper than Budapest?
Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 76%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in leisure.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,428 per month in Budapest and $1,380 in Mugla. 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 Mugla, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Budapest or in Mugla?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Budapest and $37.00 in Mugla. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Budapest and in Mugla?
Groceries cost about 16% more in Budapest, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Budapest or in Mugla?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mugla, where all-in costs run around $920, than in Budapest at $1,619. In Mugla it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Budapest or Mugla more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mugla – 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 Mugla?
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 Mugla. 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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