Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hai Phong and Budapest

For one person, living is cheaper in Hai Phong: $688 a month against $1,621 in Budapest, rent and utilities included – about $11,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Hai Phong
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$688
/mo nomad
Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,621
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hai Phong 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 Hai Phong and in Budapest actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $688 per month in Hai Phong vs $1,621 in Budapest, rent included.

  • Hai Phong $688
  • Budapest $1,621

A couple spends around $1,162 per month in Hai Phong vs $2,555 in Budapest, rent included.

  • Hai Phong $1,162
  • Budapest $2,555

A family of three spends $1,635 per month in Hai Phong vs $3,489 in Budapest, rent included.

  • Hai Phong $1,635
  • Budapest $3,489

Hai Phong is about 58% cheaper than Budapest, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Hai Phong sits 49% below the global median, while Budapest is 21% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hai Phong
Budapest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.57 ₫40.7K
$13.99 Ft 4,570
-88.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.94 ₫491.3K
$60.3 Ft 19.7K
-68.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.26 ₫110.6K
$9.96 Ft 3,255
-57.23%
Cappuccino
$1.82 ₫47.2K
$3.38 Ft 1,105
-46.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ₫12.3K
$2.13 Ft 696
-77.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ₫7,732
$1.87 Ft 611
-83.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.80 ₫20.8K
$3.75 Ft 1,226
-78.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 ₫41.1K
$3.57 Ft 1,167
-55.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hai Phong
Budapest
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 ₫40.3K
$1.13 Ft 370
37.17%
White Bread (500g)
$0.51 ₫13.3K
$1.84 Ft 602
-72.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.82 ₫21.2K
$2.39 Ft 780
-65.69%
Eggs
$1.45 ₫37.6K
$3.83 Ft 1,250
-62.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.46 ₫271.3K
$11.33 Ft 3,702
-7.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.79 ₫98.4K
$6.74 Ft 2,201
-43.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.96 ₫258.2K
$14.69 Ft 4,800
-32.20%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ₫87.9K
$1.84 Ft 600
84.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 ₫27.9K
$2.01 Ft 656
-46.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 ₫34.5K
$2.36 Ft 770
-43.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 ₫29.5K
$3.77 Ft 1,232
-69.76%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 ₫24.9K
$0.96 Ft 315
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ₫28.4K
$1.03 Ft 336
6.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 ₫14.1K
$1.56 Ft 511
-64.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ₫14.4K
$0.66 Ft 217
-16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.16 ₫30.0K
$7.96 Ft 2,602
-85.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.41 ₫321.8K
$6.01 Ft 1,963
106.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₫19.2K
$1.30 Ft 423
-43.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 ₫43.2K
$2.08 Ft 679
-19.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Hai Phong
Budapest
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 ₫10.0K
$1.50 Ft 491
-74.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.66 ₫146.7K
$27.61 Ft 9,021
-79.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.80 ₫20.8K
$3.30 Ft 1,079
-75.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ₫14.7K
$1.30 Ft 426
-56.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.90 ₫49.2K
$19.78 Ft 6,465
-90.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 ₫23.1K
$1.81 Ft 593
-50.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K ₫793.5M
$29.3K Ft 9.6M
4.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K ₫779.8M
$34.1K Ft 11.1M
-11.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hai Phong
Budapest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.54 ₫1.2M
$170 Ft 55.5K
-73.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.21 ₫135.0K
$23.98 Ft 7,836
-78.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.69 ₫225.3K
$23.42 Ft 7,654
-62.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hai Phong
Budapest
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.88 ₫593.4K
$66.2 Ft 21.6K
-65.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.79 ₫202.0K
$19.18 Ft 6,266
-59.38%
Cinema Ticket
$4.14 ₫107.4K
$9.52 Ft 3,112
-56.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hai Phong
Budapest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$154 ₫4.0M
$537 Ft 175.4K
-71.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,579 ₫118.8M
$16.6K Ft 5.4M
-72.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hai Phong
Budapest
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.45 ₫1.2M
$101 Ft 33.1K
-55.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.39 ₫554.6K
$42.99 Ft 14.0K
-50.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.3 ₫2.2M
$113 Ft 36.8K
-25.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.0 ₫2.0M
$119 Ft 38.8K
-35.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hai Phong
Budapest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$246 ₫6.4M
$805 Ft 263.1K
-69.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$245 ₫6.4M
$629 Ft 205.6K
-61.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,018 ₫26.4M
$1,549 Ft 506.3K
-34.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$627 ₫16.3M
$1,167 Ft 381.4K
-46.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,324 ₫34.3M
$5,618 Ft 1.8M
-76.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$977 ₫25.3M
$3,968 Ft 1.3M
-75.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hai Phong
Budapest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 ₫13.0M
$1,626 Ft 531.3K
-69.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
6.43
8.86%

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

Last update for Hai Phong: 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
Hai Phong
$245
Budapest
$629 157% $384
Groceries & Markets
Hai Phong
$190
Budapest
$258 35.5% $67
Clothing & Footwear
Hai Phong
$103
Budapest
$169 64.7% $66
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hai Phong
$58
Budapest
$217 272% $159
Eating Out
Hai Phong
$57
Budapest
$224 290% $167
Sport & Entertainment
Hai Phong
$31
Budapest
$85 174% $54
Getting Around
Hai Phong
$11
Budapest
$43 301% $33

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $246 in Hai Phong versus $805 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 225% 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 $19.00 in Hai Phong versus $60.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $258 – making Hai Phong the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇻🇳 Hai Phong
🇭🇺 Budapest
🕒 Local time
07:31 7:31 AM
02:31 2:31 AM
5 h behind Hai Phong
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,105,000
1,686,222 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

HUF, USD, EUR to VND – Vietnamese Dong Converter

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 25,934 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,064 VND (100,000 VND = 3.44 EUR).

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 327 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.06 USD). 1 EUR = 366 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.73 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hai Phong Budapest 8,140 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Hai Phong
  • 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
Hai Phong vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Budapest cheaper than Hai Phong?
Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 136%, 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 $1,031 per month in Hai Phong and $2,432 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 Hai Phong, 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 388% less in Hai Phong. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $154 per month in Hai Phong and $537 in Budapest. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Hai Phong or in Budapest?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hai Phong, where all-in costs run around $688, than in Budapest at $1,621. In Hai Phong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Hai Phong or Budapest more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Hai Phong – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Hai Phong 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 Hai Phong. 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.

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