Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Tsushima Island

For one person, living is cheaper in Tsushima Island: $1,243 a month against $1,619 in Budapest, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,619
/mo nomad
Tsushima Island
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,243
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Budapest and in Tsushima Island

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

A single person spends $1,619 per month in Budapest vs $1,243 in Tsushima Island, rent included.

  • Budapest $1,619
  • Tsushima Island $1,243

A couple spends around $2,524 per month in Budapest vs $1,932 in Tsushima Island, rent included.

  • Budapest $2,524
  • Tsushima Island $1,932

A family of three spends $3,429 per month in Budapest vs $2,621 in Tsushima Island, rent included.

  • Budapest $3,429
  • Tsushima Island $2,621

Budapest costs about 30% more than Tsushima Island, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Budapest sits 20% above the global median, while Tsushima Island is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
Tsushima Island
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.94 Ft 4,503
$7.05 ¥1,115
97.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 Ft 19.8K
$34.88 ¥5,511
75.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.19 Ft 3,291
$5.41 ¥855
88.35%
Cappuccino
$3.26 Ft 1,055
$3.10 ¥489
5.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 Ft 690
$1.09 ¥172
96.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 Ft 577
$0.76 ¥121
134.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.71 Ft 1,198
$2.14 ¥338
73.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77 Ft 1,217
$3.04 ¥480
24.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
Tsushima Island
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 Ft 371
$1.51 ¥239
-23.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 Ft 578
$1.65 ¥261
8.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.49 Ft 804
$4.90 ¥774
-49.18%
Eggs
$3.90 Ft 1,261
$2.32 ¥366
68.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.10 Ft 3,587
$10.15 ¥1,604
9.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.62 Ft 2,139
$6.14 ¥970
7.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.69 Ft 4,745
$15.73 ¥2,485
-6.61%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 Ft 591
$5.23 ¥826
-65.01%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 Ft 661
$2.55 ¥402
-19.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.37 Ft 765
$4.07 ¥644
-41.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.90 Ft 1,260
$4.65 ¥735
-16.13%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 Ft 320
$3.31 ¥523
-70.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 Ft 322
$2.68 ¥424
-62.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.58 Ft 511
$1.38 ¥218
14.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 Ft 216
$0.88 ¥139
-23.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.96 Ft 2,572
$4.21 ¥665
89.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.22 Ft 2,009
$6.52 ¥1,031
-4.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 Ft 411
$2.01 ¥317
-36.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 Ft 654
$2.30 ¥364
-11.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
Tsushima Island
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 Ft 490
$1.67 ¥264
-8.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.02 Ft 9,053
$55.2 ¥8,717
-49.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.31 Ft 1,070
$3.45 ¥546
-4.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 Ft 442
$2.91 ¥460
-52.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.83 Ft 6,406
$21.07 ¥3,329
-5.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 Ft 589
$1.24 ¥196
46.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K Ft 9.6M
$23.1K ¥3.6M
29.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K Ft 10.9M
$17.2K ¥2.7M
96.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
Tsushima Island
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 Ft 55.3K
$139 ¥21.9K
23.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.51 Ft 7,596
$26.86 ¥4,244
-12.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.29 Ft 7,526
$34.31 ¥5,420
-32.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
Tsushima Island
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.5 Ft 21.8K
$58.7 ¥9,269
15.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.89 Ft 6,104
$13.77 ¥2,176
37.18%
Cinema Ticket
$9.30 Ft 3,004
$13.36 ¥2,111
-30.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
Tsushima Island
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$533 Ft 172.3K
$283 ¥44.7K
88.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.8K Ft 5.4M
$13.3K ¥2.1M
25.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
Tsushima Island
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.6 Ft 32.2K
$42.68 ¥6,742
133.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.49 Ft 14.0K
$29.86 ¥4,717
45.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 Ft 35.7K
$59.3 ¥9,365
86.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 Ft 38.4K
$90.5 ¥14.3K
31.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
Tsushima Island
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$830 Ft 268.3K
$463 ¥73.1K
79.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$622 Ft 200.9K
$334 ¥52.8K
85.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,594 Ft 514.9K
$877 ¥138.6K
81.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,170 Ft 378.1K
$657 ¥103.8K
78.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,832 Ft 1.9M
$2,841 ¥448.8K
105.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,889 Ft 1.3M
$1,775 ¥280.5K
119.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
Tsushima Island
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,651 Ft 533.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
1.81
256.35%

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

Last update for Budapest: October 13, 2026

Last update for Tsushima Island: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Budapest
$622
Tsushima Island
$334 46.2% $287
Groceries & Markets
Budapest
$258
Tsushima Island
$309 19.7% $51
Eating Out
Budapest
$223
Tsushima Island
$134 39.9% $89
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
$218
Tsushima Island
$200 8.2% $18
Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
$168
Tsushima Island
$100 40.3% $68
Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
$86
Tsushima Island
$85 0.8% $0.7
Getting Around
Budapest
$44
Tsushima Island
$80 80.5% $36

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $830 in Budapest versus $463 in Tsushima Island. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Budapest versus $35.00 in Tsushima Island. Groceries tell a different story – $258 in Budapest vs $309 in Tsushima Island – so Budapest wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇭🇺 Budapest
🇯🇵 Tsushima Island
🕒 Local time
11:25 11:25 AM
18:25 6:25 PM
7 h ahead of Budapest
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,686,222 Capital
28,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD, EUR to HUF – Hungarian Forint Converter

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 323 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 363 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.75 EUR).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Budapest Tsushima Island 8,590 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Budapest
  • Tsushima Island

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 Tsushima Island: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tsushima Island cheaper than Budapest?
Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 30%, 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 $1,864 in Tsushima Island. 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 Tsushima Island, 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 97% less in Tsushima Island. 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 $283 in Tsushima Island. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Budapest or in Tsushima Island?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tsushima Island, where all-in costs run around $1,243, than in Budapest at $1,619. In Tsushima Island it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Budapest or Tsushima Island more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tsushima Island – 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 Tsushima Island?
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 Tsushima Island. 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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