😐A single person spends $1,730 per month in Budapest vs $1,279 in Siofok, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,693 per month in Budapest vs $2,052 in Siofok, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,657 per month in Budapest vs $2,825 in Siofok, rent included.
😐Budapest costs about 35% more than Siofok, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Budapest sits 25% above the global median, while Siofok is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
Siofok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.32Ft 4,486
$19.10Ft 5,984
-25.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2Ft 19.8K
$54.6Ft 17.1K
15.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.22Ft 3,515
$7.86Ft 2,461
42.75%
Cappuccino
$3.42Ft 1,070
$2.64Ft 828
29.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17Ft 680
$2.43Ft 760
-10.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00Ft 626
$1.80Ft 563
11.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.90Ft 1,222
$3.34Ft 1,047
16.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81Ft 1,193
$3.98Ft 1,247
-4.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
Siofok
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Ft 383
$1.40Ft 439
-12.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.99Ft 624
$1.38Ft 431
44.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.54Ft 794
$2.27Ft 712
11.89%
Eggs
$4.22Ft 1,320
$3.70Ft 1,160
14.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.13Ft 3,800
$9.10Ft 2,850
33.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.06Ft 2,211
$6.11Ft 1,913
15.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.32Ft 4,799
$17.65Ft 5,528
-13.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.03Ft 636
$1.79Ft 560
13.41%
Banana(1kg)
$2.22Ft 695
$2.27Ft 712
-2.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.44Ft 765
$2.11Ft 662
15.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.05Ft 1,268
$3.03Ft 949
33.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03Ft 323
$2.11Ft 662
-51.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.05Ft 330
$1.30Ft 409
-19.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.70Ft 533
$1.23Ft 386
38.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65Ft 205
$0.58Ft 182
12.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.36Ft 2,619
$7.41Ft 2,322
12.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.36Ft 1,994
$5.02Ft 1,573
26.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35Ft 421
$1.10Ft 345
22.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22Ft 695
$1.43Ft 449
55.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
Siofok
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.64Ft 514
$1.30Ft 408
26.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.37Ft 9,201
$28.73Ft 9,000
2.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.44Ft 1,078
$3.07Ft 961
12.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.43Ft 448
$1.49Ft 466
-4.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.27Ft 6,664
$22.05Ft 6,906
-3.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.93Ft 605
$1.99Ft 622
-3.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KFt 10.0M
$29.1KFt 9.1M
9.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3KFt 11.1M
$35.1KFt 11.0M
0.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
Siofok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$174Ft 54.6K
$160Ft 50.0K
9.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.65Ft 8,036
$25.75Ft 8,065
-0.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.58Ft 7,700
$21.92Ft 6,865
12.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
Siofok
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$71.2Ft 22.3K
$49.38Ft 15.5K
44.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.93Ft 6,243
$18.69Ft 5,854
6.63%
Cinema Ticket
$10.18Ft 3,188
$8.75Ft 2,740
16.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
Siofok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$563Ft 176.4K
$265Ft 82.9K
112.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.3KFt 5.4M
$7,960Ft 2.5M
117.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
Siofok
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110Ft 34.3K
$93.5Ft 29.3K
17.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.47Ft 14.2K
$31.90Ft 9,992
42.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$119Ft 37.2K
$81.1Ft 25.4K
46.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125Ft 39.1K
$109Ft 34.0K
14.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
Siofok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$846Ft 265.1K
$399Ft 125.1K
111.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$658Ft 206.2K
$321Ft 100.6K
105.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,673Ft 524.0K
$775Ft 242.9K
115.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,292Ft 404.8K
$673Ft 210.8K
92.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,932Ft 1.9M
$3,437Ft 1.1M
72.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,104Ft 1.3M
$2,706Ft 847.6K
51.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
Siofok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,734Ft 543.0K
$1,194Ft 374.0K
45.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.56
9
-27.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Budapest: September 6, 2026
Last update for Siofok: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $846 in Budapest versus $399 in Siofok. 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 45% 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 $55.0 in Siofok. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $248 – making Siofok 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 Siofok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Siofok cheaper than Budapest?
Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,919 in Siofok. 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 Siofok, 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 2% less in Siofok. 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 $265 in Siofok. 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 Siofok?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Siofok, where all-in costs run around $1,279, than in Budapest at $1,730. In Siofok it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Budapest or Siofok more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Siofok – 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 Siofok?
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 Siofok. 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.