Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and VicCost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Vic
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,721 per month in Budapest vs $1,430 in Vic, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,708 per month in Budapest vs $2,256 in Vic, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,695 per month in Budapest vs $3,083 in Vic, rent included.
😐Budapest costs about 20% more than Vic, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Budapest and Vic sit above the global median – Budapest by 25%, Vic by 4%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
Vic
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.35Ft 4,465
$17.24€14.82
-16.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4Ft 19.7K
$40.64€34.94
56.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.23Ft 3,493
$11.47€9.86
-2.09%
Cappuccino
$3.40Ft 1,058
$2.17€1.86
56.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14Ft 667
$2.46€2.12
-13.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03Ft 632
$1.54€1.32
31.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.74Ft 1,162
$2.37€2.04
57.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79Ft 1,179
$3.59€3.09
5.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
Vic
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23Ft 381
$1.07€0.92
14.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91Ft 593
$2.07€1.78
-7.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.58Ft 803
$1.33€1.15
93.98%
Eggs
$4.14Ft 1,287
$2.91€2.51
42.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.43Ft 3,868
$12.04€10.35
3.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.90Ft 2,146
$9.50€8.17
-27.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.36Ft 4,777
$27.97€24.04
-45.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.07Ft 645
$2.63€2.26
-21.29%
Banana(1kg)
$2.17Ft 676
$2.33€2.01
-6.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.49Ft 776
$1.83€1.57
36.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.11Ft 1,278
$2.09€1.80
96.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03Ft 322
$1.49€1.28
-30.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00Ft 310
$1.48€1.27
-32.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.59Ft 494
$1.53€1.32
3.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68Ft 212
$1.17€1.01
-41.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.39Ft 2,609
$6.28€5.40
33.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.38Ft 1,984
$6.82€5.87
-6.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33Ft 414
$0.98€0.84
35.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25Ft 701
$1.89€1.62
19.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
Vic
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.58Ft 491
$2.59€2.22
-39.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.78Ft 8,954
$24.19€20.80
18.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.57Ft 1,110
$2.49€2.14
43.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.43Ft 445
$1.07€0.92
33.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.58Ft 6,405
$30.44€26.17
-32.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87Ft 582
$1.68€1.44
11.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8KFt 9.9M
$36.6K€31.5K
-13.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9KFt 11.2M
$30.7K€26.4K
17.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
Vic
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173Ft 54.0K
$114€97.9
52.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.97Ft 8,080
$11.85€10.18
119.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.25Ft 7,855
$21.64€18.60
16.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
Vic
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$71.7Ft 22.3K
$53.1€45.68
34.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.20Ft 5,975
$58.5€50.3
-67.18%
Cinema Ticket
$9.76Ft 3,038
$9.07€7.80
7.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
Vic
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$577Ft 179.5K
$465€400
24.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.7KFt 5.5M
$8,308€7,142
112.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
Vic
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107Ft 33.2K
$62.9€54.1
69.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.23Ft 13.8K
$38.22€32.86
15.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116Ft 36.2K
$100€86.2
16.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120Ft 37.5K
$115€99.0
4.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
Vic
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$858Ft 267.1K
$590€507
45.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$671Ft 208.8K
$484€416
38.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,672Ft 520.1K
$1,121€964
49.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,295Ft 403.1K
$831€714
55.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,081Ft 1.9M
$2,659€2,286
128.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,164Ft 1.3M
$2,303€1,980
80.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
Vic
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,709Ft 531.6K
$2,182€1,876
-21.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.68
2.5
167.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Budapest: August 29, 2026
Last update for Vic: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $858 in Budapest versus $590 in Vic. 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 28% higher in Vic, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Budapest versus $41.00 in Vic. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Budapest vs $311 in Vic – so Budapest wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Vic: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vic cheaper than Budapest?
Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,581 per month in Budapest and $2,145 in Vic. 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 Vic, 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 19% less in Vic. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $577 per month in Budapest and $465 in Vic. 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 Vic?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Vic, where all-in costs run around $1,430, than in Budapest at $1,721. In Vic it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Budapest or Vic more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Vic – 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 Vic?
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 Vic. 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.