😐A single person spends $1,438 per month in Budapest vs $980 in Zalaegerszeg, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,208 per month in Budapest vs $1,468 in Zalaegerszeg, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,979 per month in Budapest vs $1,955 in Zalaegerszeg, rent included.
😐Budapest costs about 47% more than Zalaegerszeg, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Budapest sits 7% above the global median, while Zalaegerszeg is 27% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Budapest
Zalaegerszeg
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.49Ft 3,584
$11.61Ft 3,622
-1.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.2Ft 18.2K
$56.8Ft 17.7K
2.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.61Ft 2,688
$8.38Ft 2,614
2.74%
Cappuccino
$2.78Ft 866
$2.26Ft 707
23.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73Ft 540
$1.67Ft 522
3.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Ft 417
$1.24Ft 387
8.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.82Ft 879
$1.82Ft 567
54.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86Ft 891
$1.91Ft 596
49.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budapest
Zalaegerszeg
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23Ft 383
$0.99Ft 307
24.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.67Ft 521
$1.40Ft 436
19.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.04Ft 636
$2.06Ft 644
-0.97%
Eggs
$3.06Ft 955
$3.06Ft 955
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.23Ft 3,191
$9.83Ft 3,066
4.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.35Ft 1,980
$4.58Ft 1,430
38.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.39Ft 4,179
$7.38Ft 2,301
81.44%
Apples(1kg)
$1.91Ft 595
$1.46Ft 455
30.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.92Ft 599
$1.97Ft 615
-2.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.18Ft 680
$1.92Ft 598
13.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.62Ft 1,130
$3.65Ft 1,137
-0.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.12Ft 351
$1.17Ft 364
-4.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21Ft 377
$1.20Ft 376
0.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48Ft 462
$1.16Ft 363
27.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58Ft 180
$0.58Ft 180
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56Ft 2,046
$6.65Ft 2,075
-1.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.74Ft 1,791
$5.80Ft 1,808
-1.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15Ft 357
$0.82Ft 255
40.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66Ft 517
$1.41Ft 439
17.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Budapest
Zalaegerszeg
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.27Ft 397
$1.04Ft 325
22.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.28Ft 8,201
$17.23Ft 5,375
52.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13Ft 977
$3.21Ft 1,002
-2.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.11Ft 346
$1.06Ft 331
4.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94Ft 5,910
$18.67Ft 5,826
1.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.78Ft 556
$1.76Ft 549
1.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7KFt 8.0M
$26.1KFt 8.1M
-1.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4KFt 9.5M
$31.0KFt 9.7M
-2.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budapest
Zalaegerszeg
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148Ft 46.2K
$135Ft 42.2K
9.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.66Ft 8,317
$25.97Ft 8,104
2.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.96Ft 6,229
$19.75Ft 6,161
1.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budapest
Zalaegerszeg
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.9Ft 19.9K
$37.15Ft 11.6K
71.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.92Ft 6,840
$34.09Ft 10.6K
-35.70%
Cinema Ticket
$8.74Ft 2,726
$7.24Ft 2,260
20.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budapest
Zalaegerszeg
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$463Ft 144.6K
$204Ft 63.7K
127.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.2KFt 3.8M
$12.3KFt 3.8M
-0.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budapest
Zalaegerszeg
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.9Ft 26.8K
$29.35Ft 9,158
192.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.25Ft 13.5K
$22.77Ft 7,104
89.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7Ft 29.9K
$47.44Ft 14.8K
101.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104Ft 32.4K
$52.3Ft 16.3K
98.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budapest
Zalaegerszeg
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$736Ft 229.5K
$316Ft 98.6K
132.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$560Ft 174.6K
$273Ft 85.3K
104.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,355Ft 422.7K
$436Ft 136.1K
210.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$972Ft 303.4K
$292Ft 91.3K
232.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,938Ft 1.9M
$1,932Ft 602.9K
207.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,194Ft 1.3M
$1,592Ft 496.7K
163.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budapest
Zalaegerszeg
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,737Ft 541.8K
$805Ft 251.1K
115.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.03
7
0.43%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Budapest: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Zalaegerszeg: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $736 in Budapest versus $316 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 116% 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 $57.0 in Zalaegerszeg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $239 vs $200 – making Zalaegerszeg the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Budapest vs Zalaegerszeg: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Zalaegerszeg cheaper than Budapest?
Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 47%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $2,157 per month in Budapest and $1,470 in Zalaegerszeg. 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 Zalaegerszeg, 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 53% less in Zalaegerszeg. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $463 per month in Budapest and $204 in Zalaegerszeg. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Budapest or Zalaegerszeg?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zalaegerszeg, where all-in costs run around $980, than in Budapest at $1,438. In Zalaegerszeg it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Budapest or Zalaegerszeg more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Budapest or Zalaegerszeg?
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 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.
Budapest vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado