Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Zalaegerszeg Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Zalaegerszeg

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,435 per month in Budapest vs $964 in Zalaegerszeg, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,204 per month in Budapest vs $1,458 in Zalaegerszeg, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,972 per month in Budapest vs $1,952 in Zalaegerszeg, rent included.

Budapest costs about 49% more than Zalaegerszeg, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Budapest sits 8% above the global median, while Zalaegerszeg is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.54 Ft 3,635

$11.32 Ft 3,567

1.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.0 Ft 18.3K

$58.7 Ft 18.5K

-1.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.89 Ft 2,800

$8.43 Ft 2,657

5.46%

Cappuccino

$2.73 Ft 860

$2.21 Ft 697

23.53%

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

$1.71 Ft 539

$1.62 Ft 512

5.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 Ft 404

$1.25 Ft 395

2.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Ft 923

$1.82 Ft 573

60.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 Ft 903

$1.89 Ft 594

51.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 Ft 381

$1.04 Ft 326

16.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.76 Ft 555

$1.42 Ft 447

23.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 Ft 655

$2.07 Ft 652

0.48%

Eggs

$3.06 Ft 965

$3.10 Ft 977

-1.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.19 Ft 3,212

$9.67 Ft 3,046

5.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.06 Ft 1,909

$4.67 Ft 1,470

29.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.38 Ft 4,215

$7.14 Ft 2,250

87.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.92 Ft 605

$1.40 Ft 441

37.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 Ft 598

$1.92 Ft 604

-1.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 Ft 688

$1.82 Ft 573

19.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.47 Ft 1,094

$3.48 Ft 1,097

-0.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 Ft 352

$1.18 Ft 372

-5.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 Ft 393

$1.26 Ft 398

-0.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 Ft 493

$1.16 Ft 366

34.48%

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

$6.66 Ft 2,097

2.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.26 Ft 1,973

$6.27 Ft 1,975

-0.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 Ft 380

$0.90 Ft 284

34.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 Ft 527

$1.46 Ft 459

14.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.33 Ft 419

$1.09 Ft 342

22.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.93 Ft 8,171

$17.44 Ft 5,494

48.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 Ft 972

$3.22 Ft 1,015

-4.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 Ft 351

$1.02 Ft 321

8.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.67 Ft 5,881

$18.83 Ft 5,931

-0.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.85 Ft 584

$1.82 Ft 572

1.65%

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

$25.4K Ft 8.0M

$26.2K Ft 8.3M

-3.05%

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

$31.5K Ft 9.9M

$31.6K Ft 10.0M

-0.43%

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

$148 Ft 46.6K

$135 Ft 42.4K

9.81%

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

$25.98 Ft 8,186

$26.61 Ft 8,383

-2.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 Ft 6,371

$20.00 Ft 6,300

1.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.0 Ft 19.8K

$36.31 Ft 11.4K

73.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.23 Ft 7,005

$34.25 Ft 10.8K

-35.09%

Cinema Ticket

$8.90 Ft 2,803

$7.07 Ft 2,228

25.88%

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

$464 Ft 146.2K

$200 Ft 63.0K

132.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.4K Ft 3.9M

$6,237 Ft 2.0M

98.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.1 Ft 26.8K

$29.12 Ft 9,174

192.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.25 Ft 13.6K

$22.62 Ft 7,127

91.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 Ft 30.1K

$47.89 Ft 15.1K

99.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 Ft 32.7K

$51.0 Ft 16.1K

103.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 Ft 232.5K

$317 Ft 99.9K

132.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 Ft 176.0K

$272 Ft 85.8K

105.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,337 Ft 421.2K

$425 Ft 133.8K

214.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$965 Ft 304.1K

$286 Ft 90.1K

237.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 Ft 1.9M

$1,887 Ft 594.4K

214.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,265 Ft 1.3M

$1,589 Ft 500.7K

168.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,732 Ft 545.6K

$784 Ft 246.9K

120.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.03

0.43%

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

Last update for Budapest: July 27, 2026

Last update for Zalaegerszeg: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Budapest versus $317 in Zalaegerszeg. 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 121% 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 $59.0 in Zalaegerszeg. Groceries tell a different story – $239 in Budapest vs $199 in Zalaegerszeg – so Zalaegerszeg 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 Zalaegerszeg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 49%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,446 in Zalaegerszeg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 49% less in Zalaegerszeg. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $464 per month in Budapest and $200 in Zalaegerszeg. 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 Zalaegerszeg, where all-in costs run around $964, than in Budapest at $1,435. In Zalaegerszeg it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zalaegerszeg – 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 Zalaegerszeg. 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.