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 $1,067 per month in Hua-lien vs $1,721 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,822 per month in Hua-lien vs $2,708 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,578 per month in Hua-lien vs $3,695 in Budapest, rent included.

Hua-lien is about 38% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Hua-lien sits 22% below the global median, while Budapest is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.12 NT$131

$14.35 Ft 4,551

-71.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.83 NT$883

$63.4 Ft 20.1K

-56.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.21 NT$133

$11.23 Ft 3,560

-62.51%

Cappuccino

$2.74 NT$87.1

$3.40 Ft 1,078

-19.41%

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

$0.82 NT$26.15

$2.14 Ft 680

-61.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 NT$16.36

$2.03 Ft 644

-74.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.28 NT$40.47

$3.74 Ft 1,185

-65.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 NT$55.8

$3.79 Ft 1,202

-53.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.82 NT$89.4

$1.23 Ft 389

129.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.71 NT$54.3

$1.91 Ft 605

-10.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.53 NT$144

$2.58 Ft 819

75.58%

Eggs

$1.97 NT$62.5

$4.14 Ft 1,311

-52.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.03 NT$604

$12.43 Ft 3,942

53.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.16 NT$196

$6.90 Ft 2,187

-10.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.32 NT$803

$15.36 Ft 4,869

64.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 NT$84.2

$2.07 Ft 657

28.02%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 NT$81.1

$2.17 Ft 689

17.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.38 NT$107

$2.49 Ft 791

35.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.16 NT$100

$4.11 Ft 1,302

-23.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.41 NT$76.5

$1.03 Ft 328

133.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.41 NT$76.5

$1.00 Ft 316

141.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 NT$65.9

$1.59 Ft 504

30.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 NT$30.20

$0.68 Ft 216

39.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.83 NT$121

$8.39 Ft 2,659

-54.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.32 NT$391

$6.38 Ft 2,022

93.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 NT$60.8

$1.33 Ft 422

44.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 NT$75.7

$2.25 Ft 714

6.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.66 NT$20.96

$1.58 Ft 500

-58.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.66 NT$1,131

$28.78 Ft 9,126

23.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 NT$102

$3.57 Ft 1,132

-10.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 NT$10.20

$1.43 Ft 454

-77.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.34 NT$328

$20.58 Ft 6,527

-49.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 NT$28.03

$1.87 Ft 593

-52.94%

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

$33.1K NT$1.1M

$31.8K Ft 10.1M

4.24%

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

$26.6K NT$843.2K

$35.9K Ft 11.4M

-26.05%

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

$101 NT$3,188

$173 Ft 55.0K

-42.06%

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

$19.42 NT$616

$25.97 Ft 8,235

-25.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.51 NT$397

$25.25 Ft 8,006

-50.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.12 NT$1,178

$71.7 Ft 22.7K

-48.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.20 Ft 6,089

Cinema Ticket

$10.15 NT$322

$9.76 Ft 3,096

4.00%

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

$763 NT$24.2K

$577 Ft 182.9K

32.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K NT$521.7K

$17.7K Ft 5.6M

-6.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 NT$1,837

$107 Ft 33.9K

-45.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.49 NT$1,126

$44.23 Ft 14.0K

-19.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.3 NT$2,517

$116 Ft 36.9K

-31.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 NT$3,416

$120 Ft 38.2K

-10.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$394 NT$12.5K

$858 Ft 272.2K

-54.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$249 NT$7,884

$671 Ft 212.8K

-62.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$957 NT$30.4K

$1,672 Ft 530.1K

-42.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$737 NT$23.4K

$1,295 Ft 410.8K

-43.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,381 NT$234.2K

$6,081 Ft 1.9M

21.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,947 NT$156.9K

$4,164 Ft 1.3M

18.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,874 NT$91.2K

$1,709 Ft 541.8K

68.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.13

6.68

-68.11%

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

Last update for Hua-lien: September 1, 2026

Last update for Budapest: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $394 in Hua-lien 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 68% 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 $28.00 in Hua-lien versus $63.0 in Budapest. Groceries tell a different story – $364 in Hua-lien 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

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

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 61%, 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 $1,601 per month in Hua-lien and $2,581 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 24% less in Hua-lien. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $763 per month in Hua-lien and $577 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 $1,067, than in Budapest at $1,721. 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.