😐A single person spends $1,730 per month in Budapest vs $1,456 in Osijek, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,693 per month in Budapest vs $2,297 in Osijek, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,657 per month in Budapest vs $3,139 in Osijek, rent included.
😐Budapest costs about 19% more than Osijek, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Budapest and Osijek sit above the global median – Budapest by 25%, Osijek by 6%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
Osijek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.32Ft 4,486
$11.60€10.00
23.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2Ft 19.8K
$58.8€50.7
7.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.22Ft 3,515
$9.35€8.06
20.00%
Cappuccino
$3.42Ft 1,070
$2.79€2.41
22.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17Ft 680
$3.42€2.95
-36.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00Ft 626
$2.90€2.50
-31.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.90Ft 1,222
$5.83€5.02
-33.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81Ft 1,193
$5.86€5.05
-34.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
Osijek
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Ft 383
$1.20€1.03
1.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.99Ft 624
$1.55€1.33
28.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.54Ft 794
$3.02€2.60
-15.89%
Eggs
$4.22Ft 1,320
$3.73€3.22
13.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.13Ft 3,800
$12.21€10.53
-0.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.06Ft 2,211
$8.73€7.52
-19.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.32Ft 4,799
$12.40€10.68
23.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.03Ft 636
$1.75€1.51
16.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.22Ft 695
$1.74€1.50
27.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.44Ft 765
$1.97€1.69
23.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.05Ft 1,268
$2.73€2.35
48.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03Ft 323
$1.30€1.12
-20.77%
Onion(1kg)
$1.05Ft 330
$1.23€1.06
-14.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.70Ft 533
$1.26€1.09
34.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65Ft 205
$1.20€1.03
-45.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.36Ft 2,619
$5.92€5.10
41.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.36Ft 1,994
$8.54€7.36
-25.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35Ft 421
$1.64€1.42
-17.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22Ft 695
$2.06€1.78
7.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
Osijek
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.64Ft 514
$1.68€1.45
-2.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.37Ft 9,201
$38.19€32.92
-23.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.44Ft 1,078
$2.28€1.97
50.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.43Ft 448
$1.13€0.97
26.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.27Ft 6,664
$15.10€13.02
40.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.93Ft 605
$1.86€1.60
3.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KFt 10.0M
$27.2K€23.4K
17.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3KFt 11.1M
$26.0K€22.4K
35.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
Osijek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$174Ft 54.6K
$203€175
-14.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.65Ft 8,036
$22.46€19.36
14.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.58Ft 7,700
$44.98€38.77
-45.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
Osijek
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$71.2Ft 22.3K
$49.22€42.43
44.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.93Ft 6,243
$8.59€7.40
132.01%
Cinema Ticket
$10.18Ft 3,188
$10.37€8.94
-1.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
Osijek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$563Ft 176.4K
$417€359
35.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.3KFt 5.4M
$4,366€3,764
296.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
Osijek
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110Ft 34.3K
$109€93.7
0.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.47Ft 14.2K
$40.85€35.21
11.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$119Ft 37.2K
$107€92.6
10.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125Ft 39.1K
$113€97.0
10.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
Osijek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$846Ft 265.1K
$660€569
28.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$658Ft 206.2K
$432€373
52.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,673Ft 524.0K
$1,253€1,080
33.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,292Ft 404.8K
$871€751
48.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,932Ft 1.9M
$2,813€2,425
110.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,104Ft 1.3M
$2,215€1,909
85.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
Osijek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,734Ft 543.0K
$1,396€1,203
24.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.56
3.72
76.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Budapest: September 6, 2026
Last update for Osijek: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $846 in Budapest versus $660 in Osijek. 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 24% 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 $63.0 in Budapest versus $59.0 in Osijek. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $268 – making Osijek the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Osijek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Osijek cheaper than Budapest?
Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 19%, 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 $2,594 per month in Budapest and $2,184 in Osijek. 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 Osijek, 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 30% less in Osijek. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $563 per month in Budapest and $417 in Osijek. 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 Osijek?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Osijek, where all-in costs run around $1,456, than in Budapest at $1,730. In Osijek it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Budapest or Osijek more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Osijek – 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 Osijek?
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 Osijek. 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.