Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and North Korea
For one person, living is cheaper in North Korea: $836 a month against $1,621 in Budapest, rent and utilities included – about $9,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
-
Budapest Living Index79Cost of Living Index in BudapestLearn more -
North Korea Living Index41Cost of Living Index in North KoreaLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Budapest is 16.8% more expensive than North Korea without rent, and 93.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Budapest is 33.4% more expensive than North Korea without rent, and 95.3% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
North Korea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.99 Ft 4,551
$2.75 $2.75
408.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.3 Ft 19.6K
$22.54 $22.54
167.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.96 Ft 3,241
$19.33 $19.33
-48.47%
Cappuccino
$3.38 Ft 1,100
$1.09 $1.09
210.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 Ft 692
$2.25 $2.25
-5.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 Ft 608
$1.28 $1.28
46.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.75 Ft 1,221
$13.50 $13.50
-72.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57 Ft 1,162
$3.46 $3.46
3.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
North Korea
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 Ft 368
$0.90 $0.90
25.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 Ft 599
$2.52 $2.52
-26.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.39 Ft 777
$1.56 $1.56
53.21%
Eggs
$3.83 Ft 1,245
$2.89 $2.89
32.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.33 Ft 3,686
$4.91 $4.91
130.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.74 Ft 2,192
$3.86 $3.86
74.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.69 Ft 4,780
$5.50 $5.50
167.09%
Apples (1kg)
$1.84 Ft 597
$6.12 $6.12
-69.93%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 Ft 653
$5.13 $5.13
-60.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 Ft 767
$2.28 $2.28
3.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.77 Ft 1,226
$2.18 $2.18
72.94%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 Ft 313
$4.53 $4.53
-78.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 Ft 334
$4.53 $4.53
-77.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.56 Ft 509
$2.26 $2.26
-30.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 Ft 216
$0.46 $0.46
43.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.96 Ft 2,591
$4.52 $4.52
76.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.01 Ft 1,954
$7.94 $7.94
-24.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 Ft 421
$1.15 $1.15
13.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 Ft 676
$2.18 $2.18
-4.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
North Korea
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.50 Ft 489
$1.00 $1.00
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.61 Ft 8,982
$38.72 $38.72
-28.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 Ft 1,074
$1.52 $1.52
117.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 Ft 424
$2.25 $2.25
-42.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.78 Ft 6,436
$39.80 $39.80
-50.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 Ft 591
$0.71 $0.71
154.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K Ft 9.5M
$22.2K $22.2K
32.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K Ft 11.1M
$27.9K $27.9K
22.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
North Korea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 Ft 55.3K
$33.64 $33.64
405.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.98 Ft 7,802
$11.23 $11.23
113.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.42 Ft 7,621
$45.44 $45.44
-48.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
North Korea
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.2 Ft 21.6K
$59.4 $59.4
11.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.18 Ft 6,239
$14.41 $14.41
33.10%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 Ft 3,098
$7.78 $7.78
22.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
North Korea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$537 Ft 174.6K
$106 $106
408.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K Ft 5.4M
$2,149 $2,149
672.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
North Korea
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 Ft 33.0K
$22.12 $22.12
358.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.99 Ft 14.0K
$28.19 $28.19
52.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 Ft 36.7K
$62.9 $62.9
79.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 Ft 38.6K
$84.7 $84.7
40.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
North Korea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$805 Ft 262.0K
$97.2 $97.2
728.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$629 Ft 204.7K
$104 $104
507.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,549 Ft 504.1K
$1,399 $1,399
10.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,167 Ft 379.7K
$208 $208
460.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,618 Ft 1.8M
$1,684 $1,684
233.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,968 Ft 1.3M
$1,392 $1,392
184.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
North Korea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,626 Ft 529.0K
$232 $232
601.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
7.11
-9.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Budapest: October 5, 2026
Last update for North Korea: October 6, 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%
North Korea $104 12.3% 83.5% $526
Groceries & Markets
Budapest $258 15.8%
North Korea $247 29.4% 4.1% $10
Eating Out
Budapest $224 13.8%
North Korea $182 21.6% 19% $43
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest $217 13.4%
North Korea $90 10.7% 58.4% $127
Clothing & Footwear
Budapest $169 10.4%
North Korea $89 10.6% 47.3% $80
Sport & Entertainment
Budapest $85 5.2%
North Korea $75 8.9% 12.1% $10
Getting Around
Budapest $43 2.7%
North Korea $56 6.6% 27.8% $12
Accommodation & Living
Budapest $1.2K 34.1%
North Korea $208 11.6% 82.2% $959
Groceries & Markets
Budapest $607 17.7%
North Korea $588 32.6% 3.3% $20
Eating Out
Budapest $753 22%
North Korea $428 23.8% 43.1% $325
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest $241 7.1%
North Korea $102 5.6% 57.9% $140
Clothing & Footwear
Budapest $376 11%
North Korea $198 11% 47.3% $178
Sport & Entertainment
Budapest $190 5.5%
North Korea $164 9.1% 13.4% $25
Getting Around
Budapest $90 2.6%
North Korea $113 6.3% 25.7% $23
Good to know
🇭🇺 Budapest
🇰🇵 North Korea
Weather
Population
1,686,222 Capital
26,418,204
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Budapest North Korea 7,980 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
- Budapest
- North Korea
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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