Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bulgaria and Budapest

For one person, living is cheaper in Bulgaria: $1,158 a month against $1,621 in Budapest, rent and utilities included – about $5,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Jump to prices
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$1,158
/mo nomad
Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,621
/mo nomad
🙂 Solo nomad: Bulgaria is 19.4% cheaper than Budapest without rent, and 28.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Bulgaria is 16.7% cheaper than Budapest without rent, and 30.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bulgaria
Budapest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.46 BGN 20.06
$13.99 Ft 4,551
-18.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.27 BGN 79.2
$60.3 Ft 19.6K
-24.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.46 BGN 18.30
$9.96 Ft 3,241
5.02%
Cappuccino
$2.50 BGN 4.37
$3.38 Ft 1,100
-26.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 BGN 2.85
$2.13 Ft 692
-23.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 BGN 2.18
$1.87 Ft 608
-33.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.26 BGN 3.96
$3.75 Ft 1,221
-39.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 BGN 6.02
$3.57 Ft 1,162
-3.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bulgaria
Budapest
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.86 BGN 3.26
$1.13 Ft 368
64.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 BGN 1.95
$1.84 Ft 599
-39.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.29 BGN 4.01
$2.39 Ft 777
-4.18%
Eggs
$3.57 BGN 6.25
$3.83 Ft 1,245
-6.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.41 BGN 18.21
$11.33 Ft 3,686
-8.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.75 BGN 13.56
$6.74 Ft 2,192
14.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.23 BGN 23.15
$14.69 Ft 4,780
-9.94%
Apples (1kg)
$1.70 BGN 2.98
$1.84 Ft 597
-7.61%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 BGN 3.51
$2.01 Ft 653
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 BGN 3.32
$2.36 Ft 767
-19.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.72 BGN 4.77
$3.77 Ft 1,226
-27.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 BGN 1.94
$0.96 Ft 313
15.63%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 BGN 1.86
$1.03 Ft 334
2.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 BGN 1.86
$1.56 Ft 509
-32.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 BGN 1.31
$0.66 Ft 216
13.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.94 BGN 6.89
$7.96 Ft 2,591
-50.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.93 BGN 12.12
$6.01 Ft 1,954
15.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 BGN 1.87
$1.30 Ft 421
-17.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 BGN 2.96
$2.08 Ft 676
-18.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Bulgaria
Budapest
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 BGN 1.55
$1.50 Ft 489
-40.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.55 BGN 49.96
$27.61 Ft 8,982
3.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 BGN 2.57
$3.30 Ft 1,074
-55.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.72 BGN 1.25
$1.30 Ft 424
-44.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.22 BGN 21.39
$19.78 Ft 6,436
-38.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.61 BGN 2.83
$1.81 Ft 591
-11.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K BGN 53.5K
$29.3K Ft 9.5M
4.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K BGN 43.6K
$34.1K Ft 11.1M
-27.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bulgaria
Budapest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$127 BGN 222
$170 Ft 55.3K
-25.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.66 BGN 32.66
$23.98 Ft 7,802
-22.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.78 BGN 24.12
$23.42 Ft 7,621
-41.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bulgaria
Budapest
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.58 BGN 60.5
$66.2 Ft 21.6K
-47.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.25 BGN 31.94
$19.18 Ft 6,239
-4.85%
Cinema Ticket
$8.40 BGN 14.70
$9.52 Ft 3,098
-11.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bulgaria
Budapest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$551 BGN 964
$537 Ft 174.6K
2.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,645 BGN 16.9K
$16.6K Ft 5.4M
-41.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bulgaria
Budapest
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 BGN 101
$101 Ft 33.0K
-42.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.45 BGN 58.5
$42.99 Ft 14.0K
-22.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.8 BGN 155
$113 Ft 36.7K
-21.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 BGN 155
$119 Ft 38.6K
-25.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bulgaria
Budapest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$470 BGN 823
$805 Ft 262.0K
-41.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$363 BGN 634
$629 Ft 204.7K
-42.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$807 BGN 1,413
$1,549 Ft 504.1K
-47.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$581 BGN 1,017
$1,167 Ft 379.7K
-50.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,326 BGN 4,071
$5,618 Ft 1.8M
-58.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,611 BGN 2,819
$3,968 Ft 1.3M
-59.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bulgaria
Budapest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,160 BGN 2,030
$1,626 Ft 529.0K
-28.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.12
6.43
-51.48%

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

Last update for Bulgaria: October 5, 2026

Last update for Budapest: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bulgaria
$363
Budapest
$629 73.6% $267
Groceries & Markets
Bulgaria
$246
Budapest
$258 4.8% $12
Eating Out
Bulgaria
$183
Budapest
$224 22.7% $41
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bulgaria
$159
Budapest
$217 36.5% $58
Clothing & Footwear
Bulgaria
$121
Budapest
$169 39.9% $48
Sport & Entertainment
Bulgaria
$51
Budapest
$85 66% $34
Getting Around
Bulgaria
$37
Budapest
$43 16.9% $6.3
Good to know
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
🇭🇺 Budapest
🕒 Local time
06:24 6:24 AM
05:24 5:24 AM
1 h behind Bulgaria
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,795,803
1,686,222 Capital
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Hungarian Forint HUF Ft
📈 Exchange rate
1 BGN = 0.571 USD
1 BGN = 0.509 EUR
1,000 HUF = 3.07 USD
1,000 HUF = 2.74 EUR
Exchange rates and currency converter

HUF, USD, EUR to BGN – Bulgarian Lev Converter

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.75 BGN (1 BGN = 0.571 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BGN (1 BGN = 0.509 EUR).

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 325 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.07 USD). 1 EUR = 365 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.74 EUR).

USD to BGN in detail →
On the map
Between locations
  • Bulgaria Budapest 630 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Bulgaria
  • Budapest

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

Bulgaria vs other spots: cost of living compared

🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$1,158
/mo nomad
🇺🇸 United States
$2,785
/mo nomad
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$1,158
/mo nomad
🇪🇸 Spain
$1,783
/mo nomad
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$1,158
/mo nomad
🇮🇳 India
$380
/mo nomad
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$1,158
/mo nomad
🇩🇪 Germany
$2,099
/mo nomad
Show more

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