Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Eilat and Budapest

For one person, living is cheaper in Budapest: $1,619 a month against $2,978 in Eilat, rent and utilities included – about $16,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Eilat
🇮🇱 Israel
$2,978
/mo nomad
Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,619
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Eilat and in Budapest

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Eilat and in Budapest actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,978 per month in Eilat vs $1,619 in Budapest, rent included.

  • Eilat $2,978
  • Budapest $1,619

A couple spends around $4,437 per month in Eilat vs $2,524 in Budapest, rent included.

  • Eilat $4,437
  • Budapest $2,524

A family of three spends $5,895 per month in Eilat vs $3,429 in Budapest, rent included.

  • Eilat $5,895
  • Budapest $3,429

Eilat costs about 84% more than Budapest, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Eilat and Budapest sit above the global median – Eilat by 121%, Budapest by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eilat
Budapest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.88 ₪80.5
$13.94 Ft 4,503
85.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$132 ₪409
$61.2 Ft 19.8K
114.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$20.47 ₪63.7
$10.19 Ft 3,291
100.88%
Cappuccino
$5.55 ₪17.25
$3.26 Ft 1,055
70.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 ₪12.55
$2.14 Ft 690
88.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ₪9.89
$1.78 Ft 577
78.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.28 ₪35.09
$3.71 Ft 1,198
204.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.79 ₪33.56
$3.77 Ft 1,217
186.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eilat
Budapest
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.53 ₪7.86
$1.15 Ft 371
120.00%
White Bread (500g)
$4.42 ₪13.75
$1.79 Ft 578
146.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.83 ₪11.91
$2.49 Ft 804
53.82%
Eggs
$4.17 ₪12.96
$3.90 Ft 1,261
6.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.94 ₪68.3
$11.10 Ft 3,587
97.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.98 ₪49.72
$6.62 Ft 2,139
141.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.51 ₪79.4
$14.69 Ft 4,745
73.66%
Apples (1kg)
$3.53 ₪10.99
$1.83 Ft 591
92.90%
Banana (1kg)
$2.00 ₪6.21
$2.05 Ft 661
-2.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.59 ₪4.96
$2.37 Ft 765
-32.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 ₪5.95
$3.90 Ft 1,260
-51.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.60 ₪4.97
$0.99 Ft 320
61.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.61 ₪5.00
$1.00 Ft 322
61.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.71 ₪8.45
$1.58 Ft 511
71.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 ₪8.22
$0.67 Ft 216
294.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.46 ₪44.99
$7.96 Ft 2,572
81.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.29 ₪35.13
$6.22 Ft 2,009
81.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 ₪7.05
$1.27 Ft 411
78.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 ₪4.13
$2.03 Ft 654
-34.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Eilat
Budapest
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 ₪7.22
$1.52 Ft 490
52.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.8 ₪267
$28.02 Ft 9,053
206.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.40 ₪13.68
$3.31 Ft 1,070
32.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 ₪3.42
$1.37 Ft 442
-19.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.62 ₪61.0
$19.83 Ft 6,406
-1.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.60 ₪8.10
$1.82 Ft 589
42.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$56.1K ₪174.6K
$29.8K Ft 9.6M
88.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$56.7K ₪176.4K
$33.8K Ft 10.9M
67.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eilat
Budapest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$438 ₪1,363
$171 Ft 55.3K
155.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ₪35.10
$23.51 Ft 7,596
-52.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.45 ₪110
$23.29 Ft 7,526
52.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eilat
Budapest
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$82.6 ₪257
$67.5 Ft 21.8K
22.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.89 Ft 6,104
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.55 ₪48.38
$9.30 Ft 3,004
67.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eilat
Budapest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,677 ₪5,216
$533 Ft 172.3K
214.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.3K ₪97.5K
$16.8K Ft 5.4M
87.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eilat
Budapest
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$124 ₪387
$99.6 Ft 32.2K
24.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$85.4 ₪266
$43.49 Ft 14.0K
96.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ₪352
$110 Ft 35.7K
2.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$193 ₪601
$119 Ft 38.4K
62.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eilat
Budapest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,490 ₪4,634
$830 Ft 268.3K
79.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,144 ₪3,560
$622 Ft 200.9K
84.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,317 ₪7,208
$1,594 Ft 514.9K
45.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,850 ₪5,755
$1,170 Ft 378.1K
58.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.6K ₪32.9K
$5,832 Ft 1.9M
81.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,075 ₪28.2K
$3,889 Ft 1.3M
133.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eilat
Budapest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,804 ₪8,725
$1,651 Ft 533.4K
69.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.03
6.45
-22.02%

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

Last update for Eilat: October 10, 2026

Last update for Budapest: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Eilat
$1.1K
Budapest
$622 45.7% $522
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eilat
$485
Budapest
$218 55% $267
Groceries & Markets
Eilat
$456
Budapest
$258 43.5% $198
Eating Out
Eilat
$442
Budapest
$223 49.5% $219
Clothing & Footwear
Eilat
$232
Budapest
$168 27.8% $65
Sport & Entertainment
Eilat
$114
Budapest
$86 24.2% $28
Getting Around
Eilat
$105
Budapest
$44 57.9% $61

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,490 in Eilat versus $830 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 70% higher in Eilat, 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 $132 in Eilat versus $61.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $456 vs $258 – making Budapest the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇱 Eilat
🇭🇺 Budapest
🕒 Local time
20:17 8:17 PM
19:17 7:17 PM
1 h behind Eilat
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
66,618
1,686,222 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

HUF, USD, EUR to ILS – Israeli New Shekel Converter

Israeli New Shekel exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 3.11 ILS (1 ILS = 0.321 USD). 1 EUR = 3.5 ILS (1 ILS = 0.286 EUR).

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 323 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 363 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.75 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Eilat Budapest 2,420 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Eilat
  • 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
Eilat vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Budapest cheaper than Eilat?
Yes – Eilat is pricier by about 84%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,467 per month in Eilat and $2,428 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 Budapest, 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 206% less in Budapest. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,677 per month in Eilat and $533 in Budapest. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Eilat or in Budapest?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Budapest, where all-in costs run around $1,619, than in Eilat at $2,978. In Budapest it covers expenses comfortably, while in Eilat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Eilat or Budapest more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Budapest – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Eilat 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 Budapest. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Eilat makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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