🙂A single person spends $1,403 per month in Cheonan vs $1,721 in Budapest, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,204 per month in Cheonan vs $2,708 in Budapest, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,005 per month in Cheonan vs $3,695 in Budapest, rent included.
🙂Cheonan is about 18% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Cheonan and Budapest sit above the global median – Cheonan by 2%, Budapest by 25%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cheonan
Budapest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.36₩9,982
$14.35Ft 4,465
-48.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.53₩29.2K
$63.4Ft 19.7K
-66.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.20₩5,692
$11.23Ft 3,493
-62.60%
Cappuccino
$1.47₩1,994
$3.40Ft 1,058
-56.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14₩1,544
$2.14Ft 667
-46.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35₩1,830
$2.03Ft 632
-33.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.20₩2,986
$3.74Ft 1,162
-41.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21₩5,704
$3.79Ft 1,179
11.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cheonan
Budapest
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55₩2,104
$1.23Ft 381
26.02%
White Bread(500g)
$3.16₩4,285
$1.91Ft 593
65.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.98₩4,042
$2.58Ft 803
15.50%
Eggs
$2.59₩3,516
$4.14Ft 1,287
-37.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.71₩14.5K
$12.43Ft 3,868
-13.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11₩13.7K
$6.90Ft 2,146
46.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.13₩32.7K
$15.36Ft 4,777
57.10%
Apples(1kg)
$10.67₩14.5K
$2.07Ft 645
415.46%
Banana(1kg)
$3.51₩4,757
$2.17Ft 676
61.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.99₩10.8K
$2.49Ft 776
220.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.60₩7,586
$4.11Ft 1,278
36.25%
Potato(1kg)
$5.71₩7,741
$1.03Ft 322
454.37%
Onion(1kg)
$3.14₩4,263
$1.00Ft 310
214.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.79₩3,780
$1.59Ft 494
75.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31₩1,771
$0.68Ft 212
92.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.26₩4,425
$8.39Ft 2,609
-61.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.74₩24.1K
$6.38Ft 1,984
178.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39₩3,242
$1.33Ft 414
79.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37₩4,570
$2.25Ft 701
49.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Cheonan
Budapest
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.10₩1,485
$1.58Ft 491
-30.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.78Ft 8,954
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.88₩3,904
$3.57Ft 1,110
-19.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75₩1,017
$1.43Ft 445
-47.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.10₩21.8K
$20.58Ft 6,405
-21.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18₩1,604
$1.87Ft 582
-36.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K₩39.2M
$31.8KFt 9.9M
-9.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K₩44.5M
$35.9KFt 11.2M
-8.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cheonan
Budapest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191₩259.2K
$173Ft 54.0K
10.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.82₩47.2K
$25.97Ft 8,080
34.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.91₩35.1K
$25.25Ft 7,855
2.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cheonan
Budapest
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.9₩74.5K
$71.7Ft 22.3K
-23.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.69₩15.8K
$19.20Ft 5,975
-39.11%
Cinema Ticket
$11.64₩15.8K
$9.76Ft 3,038
19.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cheonan
Budapest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$611₩828.3K
$577Ft 179.5K
5.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.7K₩28.1M
$17.7KFt 5.5M
17.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cheonan
Budapest
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.4₩90.0K
$107Ft 33.2K
-37.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.2₩78.9K
$44.23Ft 13.8K
31.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.6₩122.8K
$116Ft 36.2K
-22.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125₩169.9K
$120Ft 37.5K
4.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cheonan
Budapest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$426₩577.5K
$858Ft 267.1K
-50.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$341₩462.6K
$671Ft 208.8K
-49.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,111₩1.5M
$1,672Ft 520.1K
-33.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$704₩954.6K
$1,295Ft 403.1K
-45.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,494₩10.2M
$6,081Ft 1.9M
23.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,453₩7.4M
$4,164Ft 1.3M
30.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cheonan
Budapest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,755₩2.4M
$1,709Ft 531.6K
2.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.22
6.68
-36.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cheonan: August 29, 2026
Last update for Budapest: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $426 in Cheonan versus $858 in Budapest. 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 3% higher in Cheonan, 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 $22.00 in Cheonan versus $63.0 in Budapest. Groceries tell a different story – $463 in Cheonan vs $274 in Budapest – 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
Cheonan vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Budapest cheaper than Cheonan?
Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 23%, 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 $2,104 per month in Cheonan and $2,581 in Budapest. 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 Cheonan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Cheonan or in Budapest?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Cheonan and $63.0 in Budapest. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Cheonan and in Budapest?
Interestingly, groceries are about 69% cheaper in Budapest – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Cheonan or in Budapest?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cheonan, where all-in costs run around $1,403, than in Budapest at $1,721. In Cheonan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cheonan or Budapest more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cheonan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Cheonan or Budapest?
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 Cheonan. 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.