Cost of Living Comparison Between Hua-lien and Budapest Cost of Living Comparison Between Hua-lien and Budapest

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,120 per month in Hua-lien vs $1,463 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,858 per month in Hua-lien vs $2,209 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,597 per month in Hua-lien vs $2,955 in Budapest, rent included.

Hua-lien is about 23% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Hua-lien sits 16% below the global median, while Budapest is 10% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.16 NT$135

$11.48 Ft 3,611

-63.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.92 NT$1,098

$56.4 Ft 17.8K

-39.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.68 NT$151

$8.73 Ft 2,747

-46.39%

Cappuccino

$3.55 NT$115

$2.85 Ft 896

24.56%

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

$0.97 NT$31.47

$1.74 Ft 546

-44.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 NT$20.74

$1.31 Ft 412

-51.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.28 NT$41.40

$2.80 Ft 879

-54.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 NT$63.7

$2.93 Ft 922

-32.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.26 NT$105

$1.27 Ft 399

156.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 NT$59.2

$1.75 Ft 550

4.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.53 NT$147

$2.11 Ft 665

114.69%

Eggs

$2.54 NT$82.1

$3.16 Ft 994

-19.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.05 NT$455

$9.91 Ft 3,116

41.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.72 NT$153

$6.32 Ft 1,987

-25.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.79 NT$511

$13.58 Ft 4,272

16.27%

Apples (1kg)

$4.45 NT$144

$1.91 Ft 600

132.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.44 NT$78.9

$2.00 Ft 629

22.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.29 NT$139

$2.15 Ft 677

99.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.92 NT$127

$3.59 Ft 1,129

9.19%

Potato (1kg)

$4.59 NT$149

$1.12 Ft 353

309.82%

Onion (1kg)

$4.16 NT$135

$1.21 Ft 379

243.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.63 NT$85.0

$1.54 Ft 485

70.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 NT$42.89

$0.55 Ft 172

141.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.93 NT$160

$6.79 Ft 2,136

-27.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.15 NT$458

$5.78 Ft 1,818

144.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 NT$72.9

$1.20 Ft 377

87.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 NT$93.3

$1.65 Ft 519

74.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 NT$27.06

$1.27 Ft 400

-33.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.30 NT$1,272

$25.94 Ft 8,161

51.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 NT$111

$3.26 Ft 1,024

4.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 NT$25.68

$1.12 Ft 353

-29.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.61 NT$408

$19.21 Ft 6,043

-34.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 NT$34.41

$1.76 Ft 555

-39.77%

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

$42.3K NT$1.4M

$26.3K Ft 8.3M

60.92%

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

$28.7K NT$928.9K

$30.7K Ft 9.6M

-6.41%

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

$76.1 NT$2,462

$144 Ft 45.2K

-47.02%

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

$33.70 NT$1,091

$26.33 Ft 8,282

27.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.26 NT$818

$20.06 Ft 6,310

25.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.01 NT$1,198

$63.2 Ft 19.9K

-41.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.46 NT$500

$21.87 Ft 6,878

-29.31%

Cinema Ticket

$9.06 NT$293

$8.90 Ft 2,800

1.80%

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

$787 NT$25.5K

$450 Ft 141.6K

74.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K NT$506.9K

$12.1K Ft 3.8M

29.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.95 NT$872

$84.6 Ft 26.6K

-68.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.29 NT$1,530

$42.60 Ft 13.4K

11.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.4 NT$2,279

$98.2 Ft 30.9K

-28.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 NT$4,096

$104 Ft 32.6K

22.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 NT$14.1K

$715 Ft 224.9K

-38.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$283 NT$9,174

$560 Ft 176.2K

-49.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,023 NT$33.1K

$1,339 Ft 421.1K

-23.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$728 NT$23.6K

$971 Ft 305.4K

-25.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,062 Ft 1.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,298 Ft 1.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,897 NT$93.8K

$1,751 Ft 550.8K

65.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.57

7.03

-77.67%

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

Last update for Hua-lien: July 13, 2026

Last update for Budapest: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $437 in Hua-lien versus $715 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 65% higher in Hua-lien, 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 $34.00 in Hua-lien versus $56.0 in Budapest. Groceries tell a different story – $360 in Hua-lien vs $241 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

Hua-lien vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,680 per month in Hua-lien and $2,194 in Budapest. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 52% less in Hua-lien. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Hua-lien and $450 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 Hua-lien, where all-in costs run around $1,120, than in Budapest at $1,463. In Hua-lien it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hua-lien – 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 Hua-lien. 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.