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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,666 per month in Budapest vs $1,131 in Zalaegerszeg, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,657 per month in Budapest vs $1,704 in Zalaegerszeg, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,649 per month in Budapest vs $2,277 in Zalaegerszeg, rent included.

Budapest costs about 47% more than Zalaegerszeg, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Budapest sits 22% above the global median, while Zalaegerszeg is 17% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.41 Ft 4,583

$14.38 Ft 4,575

0.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.2 Ft 20.1K

$62.8 Ft 20.0K

0.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.21 Ft 3,567

$9.28 Ft 2,952

20.80%

Cappuccino

$3.56 Ft 1,131

$2.95 Ft 937

20.68%

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

$2.16 Ft 687

$2.17 Ft 691

-0.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 Ft 639

$1.30 Ft 415

54.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.85 Ft 1,223

$2.01 Ft 640

91.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 Ft 1,220

$2.15 Ft 684

78.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 Ft 397

$1.21 Ft 385

3.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.87 Ft 595

$1.49 Ft 474

25.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.55 Ft 811

$2.58 Ft 819

-1.16%

Eggs

$4.10 Ft 1,305

$3.58 Ft 1,139

14.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.93 Ft 3,796

$12.10 Ft 3,849

-1.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.88 Ft 2,188

$6.29 Ft 2,001

9.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.30 Ft 4,868

$12.74 Ft 4,052

20.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 Ft 635

$1.88 Ft 597

6.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 Ft 696

$2.15 Ft 684

1.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.52 Ft 802

$2.11 Ft 671

19.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.14 Ft 1,317

$3.98 Ft 1,266

4.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 Ft 318

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 Ft 327

$0.98 Ft 312

5.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.67 Ft 532

$1.43 Ft 456

16.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 Ft 222

$0.57 Ft 181

22.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.18 Ft 2,602

$8.14 Ft 2,590

0.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.31 Ft 2,006

$6.29 Ft 2,001

0.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 Ft 417

$1.17 Ft 371

11.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 Ft 670

$2.12 Ft 675

-0.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.57 Ft 498

$1.15 Ft 367

36.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.14 Ft 8,951

$19.21 Ft 6,110

46.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 Ft 1,113

$3.57 Ft 1,135

-1.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 Ft 431

$1.23 Ft 390

9.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.69 Ft 6,581

$20.44 Ft 6,501

1.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.94 Ft 617

$1.92 Ft 610

1.04%

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

$31.6K Ft 10.0M

$30.2K Ft 9.6M

4.41%

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

$34.6K Ft 11.0M

$34.3K Ft 10.9M

0.98%

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

$174 Ft 55.4K

$149 Ft 47.3K

17.00%

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

$25.89 Ft 8,235

$25.30 Ft 8,048

2.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.46 Ft 7,781

$24.96 Ft 7,942

-2.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.3 Ft 22.3K

$40.70 Ft 12.9K

72.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.50 Ft 6,204

$38.61 Ft 12.3K

-49.49%

Cinema Ticket

$9.59 Ft 3,051

$7.68 Ft 2,442

24.87%

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

$555 Ft 176.5K

$219 Ft 69.6K

153.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.5K Ft 5.6M

$16.9K Ft 5.4M

3.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 Ft 33.4K

$31.38 Ft 9,982

234.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.79 Ft 13.9K

$25.16 Ft 8,003

74.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 Ft 37.3K

$51.1 Ft 16.3K

129.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 Ft 38.6K

$57.9 Ft 18.4K

109.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$860 Ft 273.6K

$351 Ft 111.7K

144.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$655 Ft 208.4K

$298 Ft 95.0K

119.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 Ft 537.7K

$474 Ft 150.8K

256.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,262 Ft 401.5K

$313 Ft 99.5K

303.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 Ft 1.9M

$1,886 Ft 600.1K

210.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,017 Ft 1.3M

$1,550 Ft 493.2K

159.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,735 Ft 551.8K

$794 Ft 252.6K

118.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

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

Last update for Budapest: September 13, 2026

Last update for Zalaegerszeg: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $860 in Budapest versus $351 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 118% 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 $63.0 in Budapest versus $63.0 in Zalaegerszeg. Groceries tell a different story – $271 in Budapest vs $248 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 47%, 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 $2,499 per month in Budapest and $1,696 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 46% less in Zalaegerszeg. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $555 per month in Budapest and $219 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 $1,131, than in Budapest at $1,666. 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.