Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Sopron Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Sopron

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,435 per month in Budapest vs $1,246 in Sopron, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,204 per month in Budapest vs $1,822 in Sopron, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,972 per month in Budapest vs $2,398 in Sopron, rent included.

Budapest costs about 15% more than Sopron, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Budapest sits 8% above the global median, while Sopron is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.54 Ft 3,635

$8.84 Ft 2,786

30.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.0 Ft 18.3K

$43.40 Ft 13.7K

33.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.89 Ft 2,800

$8.45 Ft 2,661

5.21%

Cappuccino

$2.73 Ft 860

$2.11 Ft 664

29.38%

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

$1.71 Ft 539

$1.14 Ft 360

50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 Ft 404

$0.98 Ft 310

30.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Ft 923

$1.61 Ft 507

81.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 Ft 903

$2.20 Ft 693

30.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 Ft 381

$1.10 Ft 347

10.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.76 Ft 555

$1.57 Ft 496

12.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 Ft 655

$1.67 Ft 527

24.55%

Eggs

$3.06 Ft 965

$2.44 Ft 768

25.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.19 Ft 3,212

$9.46 Ft 2,980

7.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.06 Ft 1,909

$5.43 Ft 1,712

11.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.38 Ft 4,215

$7.13 Ft 2,248

87.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.92 Ft 605

$1.47 Ft 464

30.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 Ft 598

$2.11 Ft 665

-9.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 Ft 688

$2.21 Ft 695

-1.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.47 Ft 1,094

$1.98 Ft 623

75.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 Ft 352

$1.03 Ft 325

8.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 Ft 393

$0.98 Ft 309

27.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 Ft 493

$1.81 Ft 569

-13.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 Ft 182

$0.54 Ft 169

7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.81 Ft 2,145

$7.22 Ft 2,275

-5.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.26 Ft 1,973

$4.60 Ft 1,449

36.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 Ft 380

$1.21 Ft 382

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 Ft 527

$1.66 Ft 522

0.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.33 Ft 419

$1.09 Ft 344

22.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.93 Ft 8,171

$51.1 Ft 16.1K

-49.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 Ft 972

$3.14 Ft 990

-1.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 Ft 351

$1.06 Ft 334

4.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.67 Ft 5,881

$22.88 Ft 7,208

-18.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.85 Ft 584

$1.76 Ft 554

5.11%

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

$25.4K Ft 8.0M

$27.7K Ft 8.7M

-7.98%

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

$31.5K Ft 9.9M

$31.7K Ft 10.0M

-0.68%

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

$148 Ft 46.6K

$168 Ft 52.8K

-11.86%

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

$25.98 Ft 8,186

$27.10 Ft 8,537

-4.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 Ft 6,371

$20.02 Ft 6,309

1.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.0 Ft 19.8K

$47.54 Ft 15.0K

32.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.23 Ft 7,005

$19.59 Ft 6,172

13.48%

Cinema Ticket

$8.90 Ft 2,803

$7.78 Ft 2,452

14.40%

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

$464 Ft 146.2K

$170 Ft 53.5K

173.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.4K Ft 3.9M

$7,326 Ft 2.3M

69.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.1 Ft 26.8K

$60.9 Ft 19.2K

39.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.25 Ft 13.6K

$33.73 Ft 10.6K

28.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 Ft 30.1K

$72.5 Ft 22.9K

31.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 Ft 32.7K

$71.6 Ft 22.5K

45.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 Ft 232.5K

$599 Ft 188.9K

23.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 Ft 176.0K

$447 Ft 140.9K

24.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,337 Ft 421.2K

$980 Ft 308.8K

36.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$965 Ft 304.1K

$694 Ft 218.6K

39.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 Ft 1.9M

$3,135 Ft 987.8K

89.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,265 Ft 1.3M

$3,047 Ft 959.9K

40.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,732 Ft 545.6K

$1,454 Ft 458.2K

19.08%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Sopron: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Budapest versus $599 in Sopron. 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 19% 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 $43.00 in Sopron. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $239 vs $196 – making Sopron 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 Sopron: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,152 per month in Budapest and $1,869 in Sopron. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 97% less in Sopron. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $464 per month in Budapest and $170 in Sopron. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sopron, where all-in costs run around $1,246, than in Budapest at $1,435. In Sopron it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sopron – 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 Sopron. 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.