Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Sivas

For one person, living is cheaper in Sivas: $972 a month against $1,619 in Budapest, rent and utilities included – about $7,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,619
/mo nomad
Sivas
🇹🇷 Turkey
$972
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Budapest and in Sivas

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

A single person spends $1,619 per month in Budapest vs $972 in Sivas, rent included.

  • Budapest $1,619
  • Sivas $972

A couple spends around $2,524 per month in Budapest vs $1,456 in Sivas, rent included.

  • Budapest $2,524
  • Sivas $1,456

A family of three spends $3,429 per month in Budapest vs $1,939 in Sivas, rent included.

  • Budapest $3,429
  • Sivas $1,939

Budapest costs about 66% more than Sivas, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Budapest sits 20% above the global median, while Sivas is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
Sivas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.94 Ft 4,503
$10.24 ₺507
36.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 Ft 19.8K
$60.9 ₺3,016
0.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.19 Ft 3,291
$10.58 ₺524
-3.69%
Cappuccino
$3.26 Ft 1,055
$4.13 ₺205
-21.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 Ft 690
$0.82 ₺40.64
160.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 Ft 577
$0.31 ₺15.38
474.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.71 Ft 1,198
$1.79 ₺88.8
107.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77 Ft 1,217
$2.06 ₺102
83.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
Sivas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 Ft 371
$0.98 ₺48.34
17.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 Ft 578
$0.77 ₺38.24
132.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.49 Ft 804
$2.51 ₺124
-0.80%
Eggs
$3.90 Ft 1,261
$2.44 ₺121
59.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.10 Ft 3,587
$8.32 ₺412
33.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.62 Ft 2,139
$2.80 ₺139
136.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.69 Ft 4,745
$20.22 ₺1,001
-27.35%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 Ft 591
$2.00 ₺99.1
-8.50%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 Ft 661
$1.65 ₺81.6
24.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.37 Ft 765
$0.83 ₺41.23
185.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.90 Ft 1,260
$1.03 ₺51.2
278.64%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 Ft 320
$0.42 ₺20.90
135.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 Ft 322
$0.29 ₺14.52
244.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.58 Ft 511
$0.75 ₺36.91
110.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 Ft 216
$0.67 ₺32.93
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.96 Ft 2,572
$2.19 ₺108
263.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.22 Ft 2,009
$9.05 ₺448
-31.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 Ft 411
$1.60 ₺79.1
-20.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 Ft 654
$2.30 ₺114
-11.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
Sivas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 Ft 490
$0.50 ₺24.62
204.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.02 Ft 9,053
$15.33 ₺759
82.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.31 Ft 1,070
$1.98 ₺98.2
67.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 Ft 442
$0.60 ₺29.66
128.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.83 Ft 6,406
$6.65 ₺329
198.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 Ft 589
$1.34 ₺66.5
35.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K Ft 9.6M
$41.4K ₺2.0M
-27.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K Ft 10.9M
$39.8K ₺2.0M
-15.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
Sivas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 Ft 55.3K
$89.3 ₺4,420
91.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.51 Ft 7,596
$12.44 ₺616
88.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.29 Ft 7,526
$12.73 ₺630
82.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
Sivas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.5 Ft 21.8K
$30.24 ₺1,497
123.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.89 Ft 6,104
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.30 Ft 3,004
$4.16 ₺206
123.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
Sivas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$533 Ft 172.3K
$253 ₺12.5K
110.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.8K Ft 5.4M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
Sivas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.6 Ft 32.2K
$30.61 ₺1,515
225.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.49 Ft 14.0K
$61.5 ₺3,046
-29.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 Ft 35.7K
$81.1 ₺4,013
36.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 Ft 38.4K
$60.2 ₺2,980
97.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
Sivas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$830 Ft 268.3K
$457 ₺22.6K
81.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$622 Ft 200.9K
$302 ₺15.0K
105.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,594 Ft 514.9K
$513 ₺25.4K
210.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,170 Ft 378.1K
$300 ₺14.8K
290.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,832 Ft 1.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,889 Ft 1.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
Sivas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,651 Ft 533.4K
$896 ₺44.4K
84.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
36
-82.08%

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

Last update for Budapest: October 13, 2026

Last update for Sivas: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Budapest
$622
Sivas
$302 51.4% $320
Groceries & Markets
Budapest
$258
Sivas
$209 19.1% $49
Eating Out
Budapest
$223
Sivas
$181 18.9% $42
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
$218
Sivas
$114 47.5% $103
Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
$168
Sivas
$105 37.3% $63
Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
$86
Sivas
$39 55.2% $48
Getting Around
Budapest
$44
Sivas
$22 49.6% $22

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $830 in Budapest versus $457 in Sivas. 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 84% 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 $61.0 in Sivas. Groceries tell a different story – $258 in Budapest vs $209 in Sivas – so Sivas wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇭🇺 Budapest
🇹🇷 Sivas
🕒 Local time
21:48 9:48 PM
22:48 10:48 PM
1 h ahead of Budapest
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,686,222 Capital
621,224
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, 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).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.67 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Budapest Sivas 1,680 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Budapest
  • Sivas

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 Sivas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sivas cheaper than Budapest?
Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 66%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,428 per month in Budapest and $1,459 in Sivas. 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 Sivas, 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 83% less in Sivas. 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 $253 in Sivas. 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 Sivas?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sivas, where all-in costs run around $972, than in Budapest at $1,619. In Sivas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Budapest or Sivas more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sivas – 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 Sivas?
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 Sivas. 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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