Cost of Living Comparison Between Esztergom and Budapest Cost of Living Comparison Between Esztergom and Budapest

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,315 per month in Esztergom vs $1,666 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,061 per month in Esztergom vs $2,657 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,807 per month in Esztergom vs $3,649 in Budapest, rent included.

Esztergom is about 21% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Esztergom sits 4% below the global median, while Budapest is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.66 Ft 3,999

$14.41 Ft 4,552

-12.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.1 Ft 16.8K

$63.2 Ft 20.0K

-16.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.62 Ft 3,040

$11.21 Ft 3,543

-14.18%

Cappuccino

$2.70 Ft 852

$3.56 Ft 1,124

-24.16%

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

$2.03 Ft 643

$2.16 Ft 682

-6.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 Ft 383

$2.01 Ft 634

-39.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.08 Ft 974

$3.85 Ft 1,215

-20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 Ft 906

$3.84 Ft 1,212

-25.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 Ft 397

$1.25 Ft 395

0.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 Ft 491

$1.87 Ft 591

-16.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 Ft 773

$2.55 Ft 805

-3.92%

Eggs

$3.31 Ft 1,045

$4.10 Ft 1,296

-19.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.24 Ft 3,553

$11.93 Ft 3,770

-5.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 Ft 2,068

$6.88 Ft 2,173

-4.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.14 Ft 4,466

$15.30 Ft 4,835

-7.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.44 Ft 771

$2.00 Ft 631

22.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 Ft 670

$2.19 Ft 691

-3.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 Ft 694

$2.52 Ft 796

-12.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.05 Ft 1,281

$4.14 Ft 1,308

-2.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 Ft 373

$1.00 Ft 316

18.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 Ft 429

$1.03 Ft 325

32.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.80 Ft 569

$1.67 Ft 529

7.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 Ft 158

$0.70 Ft 221

-28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.16 Ft 2,580

$8.18 Ft 2,584

-0.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.46 Ft 2,041

$6.31 Ft 1,992

2.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 Ft 408

$1.31 Ft 414

-1.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 Ft 537

$2.11 Ft 665

-19.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.30 Ft 409

$1.57 Ft 495

-17.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.08 Ft 9,505

$28.14 Ft 8,890

6.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 Ft 1,013

$3.50 Ft 1,105

-8.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 Ft 495

$1.35 Ft 428

16.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.25 Ft 6,083

$20.69 Ft 6,536

-6.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.92 Ft 606

$1.94 Ft 613

-1.03%

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

$33.7K Ft 10.6M

$31.6K Ft 10.0M

6.76%

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

$38.0K Ft 12.0M

$34.6K Ft 10.9M

9.79%

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

$156 Ft 49.3K

$174 Ft 55.0K

-10.40%

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

$34.10 Ft 10.8K

$25.89 Ft 8,179

31.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.34 Ft 8,954

$24.46 Ft 7,727

15.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.74 Ft 15.7K

$70.3 Ft 22.2K

-29.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.71 Ft 5,596

$19.50 Ft 6,161

-9.18%

Cinema Ticket

$8.08 Ft 2,554

$9.59 Ft 3,030

-15.75%

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

$514 Ft 162.5K

$555 Ft 175.3K

-7.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,025 Ft 2.2M

$17.5K Ft 5.5M

-59.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.6 Ft 29.2K

$105 Ft 33.2K

-11.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.78 Ft 9,092

$43.79 Ft 13.8K

-34.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 Ft 32.2K

$117 Ft 37.1K

-13.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 Ft 35.4K

$121 Ft 38.4K

-7.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$530 Ft 167.3K

$860 Ft 271.7K

-38.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$404 Ft 127.6K

$655 Ft 207.0K

-38.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$824 Ft 260.3K

$1,690 Ft 534.0K

-51.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$588 Ft 185.7K

$1,262 Ft 398.7K

-53.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,872 Ft 907.5K

$5,865 Ft 1.9M

-51.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 Ft 865.5K

$4,017 Ft 1.3M

-31.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,202 Ft 379.8K

$1,735 Ft 548.0K

-30.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.25

6.56

25.76%

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

Last update for Esztergom: September 12, 2026

Last update for Budapest: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $530 in Esztergom versus $860 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 44% 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 $53.0 in Esztergom versus $63.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $256 vs $271 – making Esztergom the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Esztergom vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,972 per month in Esztergom and $2,499 in Budapest. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Esztergom, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 7% less in Esztergom. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $514 per month in Esztergom and $555 in Budapest. 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 Esztergom, where all-in costs run around $1,315, than in Budapest at $1,666. In Esztergom it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Esztergom – 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 Esztergom. 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.