Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Negombo

For one person, living is cheaper in Negombo: $405 a month against $1,647 in Budapest, rent and utilities included – about $14,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Budapest, Hungary
Negombo, Sri Lanka
Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,647
/mo nomad
Negombo
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
$405
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Budapest and in Negombo

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

A single person spends $1,647 per month in Budapest vs $405 in Negombo, rent included.

  • Budapest $1,647
  • Negombo $405

A couple spends around $2,567 per month in Budapest vs $650 in Negombo, rent included.

  • Budapest $2,567
  • Negombo $650

A family of three spends $3,488 per month in Budapest vs $895 in Negombo, rent included.

  • Budapest $3,488
  • Negombo $895

Budapest costs about 307% more than Negombo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Budapest sits 22% above the global median, while Negombo is 70% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
Negombo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.63 Ft 4,407
$3.90 LKR 1,298
249.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.7 Ft 19.6K
$14.85 LKR 4,938
308.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.02 Ft 3,239
$7.44 LKR 2,473
34.68%
Cappuccino
$3.33 Ft 1,075
$1.47 LKR 487
126.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 Ft 684
$0.63 LKR 209
236.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 Ft 581
$0.27 LKR 89.8
566.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.61 Ft 1,166
$2.19 LKR 728
64.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 Ft 1,160
$3.03 LKR 1,009
18.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
Negombo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 Ft 361
$1.62 LKR 540
-30.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.93 Ft 623
$0.58 LKR 192
232.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.49 Ft 804
$0.81 LKR 270
207.41%
Eggs
$3.94 Ft 1,275
$1.69 LKR 563
133.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.28 Ft 3,646
$15.17 LKR 5,045
-25.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.73 Ft 2,177
$4.29 LKR 1,425
56.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.44 Ft 4,670
$5.98 LKR 1,989
141.47%
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 Ft 601
$1.86 LKR 618
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.04 Ft 658
$0.64 LKR 212
218.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.29 Ft 740
$2.19 LKR 730
4.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.99 Ft 1,290
$1.15 LKR 383
246.96%
Potato (1kg)
$0.94 Ft 304
$0.73 LKR 243
28.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 Ft 330
$0.79 LKR 261
29.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.65 Ft 534
$0.94 LKR 311
75.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 Ft 221
$0.46 LKR 152
47.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.81 Ft 2,526
$10.12 LKR 3,366
-22.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.02 Ft 1,946
$13.40 LKR 4,456
-55.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 Ft 418
$1.98 LKR 657
-34.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 Ft 655
$2.87 LKR 955
-29.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
Negombo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.50 Ft 484
$0.29 LKR 96.0
417.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.13 Ft 8,769
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.36 Ft 1,085
$0.40 LKR 134
740.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 Ft 444
$0.33 LKR 111
315.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.96 Ft 6,451
$0.93 LKR 310
2046.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.86 Ft 603
$0.99 LKR 329
87.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K Ft 9.2M
$43.0K LKR 14.3M
-33.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K Ft 10.8M
$46.5K LKR 15.5M
-28.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
Negombo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 Ft 57.6K
$25.87 LKR 8,601
588.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.58 Ft 7,623
$4.24 LKR 1,410
456.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.12 Ft 7,797
$20.84 LKR 6,929
15.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
Negombo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.7 Ft 22.5K
$15.24 LKR 5,067
357.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.03 Ft 5,505
$8.93 LKR 2,969
90.71%
Cinema Ticket
$10.48 Ft 3,388
$2.39 LKR 795
338.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
Negombo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$625 Ft 202.1K
$40.29 LKR 13.4K
1451.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.6K Ft 6.4M
$445 LKR 148.0K
4312.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
Negombo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 Ft 33.0K
$8.91 LKR 2,963
1045.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41 Ft 14.0K
$17.26 LKR 5,740
151.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 Ft 35.5K
$36.08 LKR 12.0K
204.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 Ft 39.0K
$23.91 LKR 7,952
404.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
Negombo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 Ft 273.3K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$638 Ft 206.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,609 Ft 520.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,217 Ft 393.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,555 Ft 1.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,898 Ft 1.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
Negombo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,724 Ft 557.5K
$180 LKR 60.0K
855.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.34
12.5
-49.28%

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

Last update for Budapest: November 1, 2026

Last update for Negombo: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Budapest
$638
Negombo
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Budapest
$260
Negombo
$200 23% $60
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
$226
Negombo
$51 77.4% $175
Eating Out
Budapest
$220
Negombo
$92 58.3% $128
Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
$169
Negombo
$39 77.1% $130
Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
$91
Negombo
$20 77.9% $71
Getting Around
Budapest
$43
Negombo
$3.2 * 92.5% $40

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

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Budapest are about 9.6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61 in Budapest versus $15 in Negombo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $200 – making Negombo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇭🇺 Budapest
🇱🇰 Negombo
🕒 Local time
01:44 1:44 AM
06:14 6:14 AM
4 h 30 min ahead of Budapest
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,686,222 Capital
142,449
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

LKR, USD, EUR to HUF – Hungarian Forint Converter

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 323 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.09 USD). 1 EUR = 363 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.76 EUR).

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 333 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD). 1 EUR = 373 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.68 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Budapest Negombo 7,250 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Budapest
  • Negombo

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 Negombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Negombo cheaper than Budapest?
Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 307%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,471 per month in Budapest and $607 in Negombo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Budapest or in Negombo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61 in Budapest and $15 in Negombo. 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 Negombo?
Groceries cost about 30% more in Budapest, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $800 a realistic budget for living in Budapest or in Negombo?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Negombo, where all-in costs run around $405, than in Budapest at $1,647. In Negombo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Budapest or in Negombo?
It depends on your priorities. Budapest has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $405 in Negombo to $1,647 in Budapest. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Budapest or Negombo?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Negombo. If higher salaries 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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