Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Paks Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Paks

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,438 per month in Budapest vs $1,143 in Paks, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,208 per month in Budapest vs $1,672 in Paks, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,979 per month in Budapest vs $2,201 in Paks, rent included.

Budapest costs about 26% more than Paks, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Budapest sits 7% above the global median, while Paks is 15% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.49 Ft 3,571

$8.40 Ft 2,613

36.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.2 Ft 18.1K

$28.60 Ft 8,892

103.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 Ft 2,678

$7.03 Ft 2,185

22.48%

Cappuccino

$2.78 Ft 863

$0.87 Ft 271

219.54%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 Ft 538

$1.08 Ft 336

60.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 Ft 415

$0.71 Ft 222

88.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.82 Ft 876

$1.12 Ft 350

151.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Ft 888

$1.32 Ft 410

116.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 Ft 381

$1.08 Ft 337

13.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 Ft 519

$1.53 Ft 475

9.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 Ft 634

$1.80 Ft 559

13.33%

Eggs

$3.06 Ft 952

$2.86 Ft 889

6.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.23 Ft 3,180

$9.48 Ft 2,947

7.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 Ft 1,973

$5.61 Ft 1,744

13.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.39 Ft 4,164

$11.22 Ft 3,488

19.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.91 Ft 593

$2.03 Ft 632

-5.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 Ft 597

$1.97 Ft 611

-2.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 Ft 677

$2.12 Ft 658

2.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.62 Ft 1,126

$4.21 Ft 1,310

-14.01%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 Ft 350

$1.38 Ft 430

-18.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 Ft 376

$1.29 Ft 401

-6.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 Ft 460

$1.48 Ft 461

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 Ft 180

$0.53 Ft 166

9.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.56 Ft 2,038

$7.41 Ft 2,305

-11.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.74 Ft 1,784

$6.46 Ft 2,008

-11.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 Ft 356

$1.14 Ft 353

0.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 Ft 515

$1.23 Ft 383

34.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 Ft 396

$1.12 Ft 347

13.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.28 Ft 8,171

$25.08 Ft 7,796

4.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 Ft 973

$2.92 Ft 907

7.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 Ft 345

$1.26 Ft 393

-11.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.94 Ft 5,888

$17.33 Ft 5,386

9.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.78 Ft 554

$1.77 Ft 549

0.56%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.7K Ft 8.0M

$32.2K Ft 10.0M

-20.21%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$30.4K Ft 9.5M

$36.8K Ft 11.4M

-17.38%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$148 Ft 46.0K

$145 Ft 45.1K

1.96%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.66 Ft 8,287

$29.97 Ft 9,317

-11.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.96 Ft 6,206

$24.24 Ft 7,537

-17.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.9 Ft 19.9K

$46.58 Ft 14.5K

37.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.92 Ft 6,815

$16.77 Ft 5,212

30.71%

Cinema Ticket

$8.74 Ft 2,716

$7.86 Ft 2,444

11.20%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$463 Ft 144.0K

$460 Ft 143.1K

0.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.2K Ft 3.8M

$6,679 Ft 2.1M

82.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.9 Ft 26.7K

$88.1 Ft 27.4K

-2.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.25 Ft 13.4K

$25.56 Ft 7,945

69.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.7 Ft 29.7K

$94.7 Ft 29.4K

1.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 Ft 32.3K

$108 Ft 33.4K

-3.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$736 Ft 228.6K

$442 Ft 137.3K

66.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$560 Ft 174.0K

$347 Ft 107.9K

61.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,355 Ft 421.1K

$623 Ft 193.7K

117.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$972 Ft 302.3K

$533 Ft 165.6K

82.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,938 Ft 1.8M

$3,198 Ft 994.1K

85.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,194 Ft 1.3M

$2,436 Ft 757.1K

72.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,737 Ft 539.8K

$1,370 Ft 426.0K

26.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.03

-12.12%

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

Last update for Budapest: April 26, 2026

Last update for Paks: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $736 in Budapest versus $442 in Paks. 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 27% 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 $58.0 in Budapest versus $29.00 in Paks. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $239 vs $227 – making Paks 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 Paks: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 26%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,157 per month in Budapest and $1,714 in Paks. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Paks, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 5% less in Paks. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $463 per month in Budapest and $460 in Paks. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Paks, where all-in costs run around $1,143, than in Budapest at $1,438. In Paks it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Paks – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Paks. 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.