Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Puerto Princesa

For one person, living is cheaper in Puerto Princesa: $705 a month against $1,619 in Budapest, rent and utilities included – about $11,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,619
/mo nomad
Puerto Princesa
🇵🇭 Philippines
$705
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Budapest and in Puerto Princesa

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

A single person spends $1,619 per month in Budapest vs $705 in Puerto Princesa, rent included.

  • Budapest $1,619
  • Puerto Princesa $705

A couple spends around $2,524 per month in Budapest vs $1,050 in Puerto Princesa, rent included.

  • Budapest $2,524
  • Puerto Princesa $1,050

A family of three spends $3,429 per month in Budapest vs $1,396 in Puerto Princesa, rent included.

  • Budapest $3,429
  • Puerto Princesa $1,396

Budapest costs about 130% more than Puerto Princesa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Budapest sits 20% above the global median, while Puerto Princesa is 48% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
Puerto Princesa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.94 Ft 4,503
$4.28 ₱269
225.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 Ft 19.8K
$16.84 ₱1,061
263.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.19 Ft 3,291
$4.59 ₱289
122.00%
Cappuccino
$3.26 Ft 1,055
$2.34 ₱147
39.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 Ft 690
$0.88 ₱55.2
143.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 Ft 577
$0.52 ₱32.92
242.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.71 Ft 1,198
$1.26 ₱79.5
194.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77 Ft 1,217
$2.37 ₱150
59.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
Puerto Princesa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 Ft 371
$1.75 ₱110
-34.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 Ft 578
$1.02 ₱64.4
75.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.49 Ft 804
$0.82 ₱51.9
203.66%
Eggs
$3.90 Ft 1,261
$1.75 ₱111
122.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.10 Ft 3,587
$5.52 ₱348
101.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.62 Ft 2,139
$5.43 ₱342
21.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.69 Ft 4,745
$6.59 ₱415
122.91%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 Ft 591
$2.37 ₱149
-22.78%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 Ft 661
$0.85 ₱53.3
141.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.37 Ft 765
$2.40 ₱151
-1.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.90 Ft 1,260
$1.14 ₱71.7
242.11%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 Ft 320
$1.53 ₱96.5
-35.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 Ft 322
$1.35 ₱84.8
-25.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.58 Ft 511
$0.94 ₱59.4
68.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 Ft 216
$0.70 ₱43.94
-4.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.96 Ft 2,572
$2.86 ₱180
178.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.22 Ft 2,009
$7.28 ₱459
-14.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 Ft 411
$1.06 ₱66.6
19.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 Ft 654
$1.35 ₱84.9
50.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
Puerto Princesa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 Ft 490
$0.25 ₱15.72
508.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.02 Ft 9,053
$11.06 ₱697
153.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.31 Ft 1,070
$0.74 ₱46.39
347.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 Ft 442
$0.21 ₱13.18
552.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.83 Ft 6,406
$1.95 ₱123
916.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 Ft 589
$1.01 ₱63.8
80.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K Ft 9.6M
$17.1K ₱1.1M
74.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K Ft 10.9M
$19.1K ₱1.2M
77.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
Puerto Princesa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 Ft 55.3K
$62.2 ₱3,917
175.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.51 Ft 7,596
$10.94 ₱689
114.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.29 Ft 7,526
$24.60 ₱1,549
-5.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
Puerto Princesa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.5 Ft 21.8K
$32.60 ₱2,053
107.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.89 Ft 6,104
$4.75 ₱299
297.68%
Cinema Ticket
$9.30 Ft 3,004
$5.05 ₱318
84.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
Puerto Princesa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$533 Ft 172.3K
$133 ₱8,361
301.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.8K Ft 5.4M
$8,060 ₱507.7K
107.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
Puerto Princesa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.6 Ft 32.2K
$33.45 ₱2,107
197.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.49 Ft 14.0K
$19.50 ₱1,228
123.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 Ft 35.7K
$71.1 ₱4,480
55.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 Ft 38.4K
$56.2 ₱3,542
111.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
Puerto Princesa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$830 Ft 268.3K
$283 ₱17.8K
193.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$622 Ft 200.9K
$201 ₱12.7K
209.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,594 Ft 514.9K
$519 ₱32.7K
206.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,170 Ft 378.1K
$313 ₱19.7K
273.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,832 Ft 1.9M
$2,404 ₱151.5K
142.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,889 Ft 1.3M
$1,008 ₱63.5K
285.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
Puerto Princesa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,651 Ft 533.4K
$223 ₱14.1K
639.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
8.12
-20.57%

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

Last update for Budapest: October 13, 2026

Last update for Puerto Princesa: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Budapest
$622
Puerto Princesa
$201 67.7% $421
Groceries & Markets
Budapest
$258
Puerto Princesa
$176 31.9% $82
Eating Out
Budapest
$223
Puerto Princesa
$93 58.4% $130
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
$218
Puerto Princesa
$98 55.2% $120
Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
$168
Puerto Princesa
$81 51.6% $86
Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
$86
Puerto Princesa
$43 50.4% $43
Getting Around
Budapest
$44
Puerto Princesa
$14 68.7% $30

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $830 in Budapest versus $283 in Puerto Princesa. 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 640% 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 $17.00 in Puerto Princesa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $176 – making Puerto Princesa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇭🇺 Budapest
🇵🇭 Puerto Princesa
🕒 Local time
19:45 7:45 PM
01:45 1:45 AM
6 h ahead of Budapest
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,686,222 Capital
307,079
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to HUF – Hungarian Forint Converter

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 323 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 363 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.75 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.99 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.82 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Budapest Puerto Princesa 9,930 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Budapest
  • Puerto Princesa

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 Puerto Princesa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Puerto Princesa cheaper than Budapest?
Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 130%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,428 per month in Budapest and $1,057 in Puerto Princesa. 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 Puerto Princesa, 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 153% less in Puerto Princesa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $533 per month in Budapest and $133 in Puerto Princesa. 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 Puerto Princesa?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Puerto Princesa, where all-in costs run around $705, than in Budapest at $1,619. In Puerto Princesa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Budapest or Puerto Princesa more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Puerto Princesa – 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 Puerto Princesa?
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 Puerto Princesa. 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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