For one person, living is cheaper in Hungary: $1,361 a month against $2,080 in Germany, rent and utilities included – about $8,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hungary and in Germany actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,361 in Hungary versus $2,080 in Germany.
Hungary $1,361
Germany $2,080
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,095 in Hungary versus $3,130 in Germany.
Hungary $2,095
Germany $3,130
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,830 in Hungary versus $4,180 in Germany.
Hungary $2,830
Germany $4,180
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Germany: monthly costs span $1,337 to $2,681, compared to $1,015–$1,638 in Hungary. City choice carries more weight in Germany.
🌍
Living in Hungary costs about 35% less than in Germany on average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Hungary
Germany
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.28Ft 4,035
$16.60€14.88
-26.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8Ft 17.7K
$71.8€64.4
-25.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.31Ft 3,059
$12.12€10.86
-23.18%
Cappuccino
$2.57Ft 845
$3.96€3.55
-35.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76Ft 579
$3.36€3.01
-47.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38Ft 452
$2.89€2.59
-52.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.73Ft 896
$5.07€4.54
-46.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67Ft 877
$4.50€4.03
-40.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hungary
Germany
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21Ft 396
$1.26€1.13
-3.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56Ft 513
$2.20€1.97
-29.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.29Ft 752
$3.54€3.17
-35.31%
Eggs
$3.50Ft 1,148
$3.88€3.48
-9.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.50Ft 3,449
$14.24€12.76
-26.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.44Ft 2,117
$11.90€10.66
-45.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.32Ft 4,705
$20.68€18.53
-30.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.01Ft 660
$3.28€2.94
-38.72%
Banana(1kg)
$2.12Ft 696
$2.05€1.83
3.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13Ft 699
$2.31€2.07
-7.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.36Ft 1,105
$4.29€3.84
-21.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04Ft 343
$1.53€1.37
-32.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18Ft 389
$1.50€1.34
-21.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.50Ft 492
$1.64€1.47
-8.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59Ft 193
$1.02€0.91
-42.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.74Ft 2,544
$9.69€8.68
-20.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.11Ft 1,677
$6.01€5.38
-14.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20Ft 393
$1.12€1.01
7.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93Ft 633
$1.56€1.40
23.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Hungary
Germany
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.39Ft 457
$3.85€3.45
-63.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94Ft 8,852
$69.7€62.5
-61.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.42Ft 1,123
$5.34€4.78
-35.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39Ft 456
$2.81€2.52
-50.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.45Ft 6,061
$38.83€34.80
-52.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89Ft 621
$2.13€1.91
-11.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KFt 9.1M
$32.6K€29.2K
-15.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3KFt 11.3M
$37.7K€33.8K
-9.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hungary
Germany
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$160Ft 52.5K
$342€307
-53.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.56Ft 8,399
$24.87€22.29
2.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.47Ft 7,383
$48.49€43.45
-53.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hungary
Germany
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.1Ft 17.4K
$39.42€35.32
34.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.16Ft 5,308
$27.47€24.62
-41.17%
Cinema Ticket
$8.74Ft 2,871
$14.65€13.13
-40.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hungary
Germany
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$399Ft 130.9K
$611€547
-34.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.0KFt 3.6M
$17.3K€15.5K
-36.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hungary
Germany
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.0Ft 28.6K
$89.1€79.8
-2.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.59Ft 11.7K
$42.07€37.70
-15.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.8Ft 30.8K
$98.3€88.1
-4.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.2Ft 31.9K
$131€117
-25.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hungary
Germany
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$598Ft 196.4K
$934€837
-36.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$466Ft 153.0K
$718€644
-35.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,040Ft 341.6K
$1,704€1,527
-38.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$809Ft 265.7K
$1,294€1,159
-37.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,668Ft 1.2M
$5,944€5,326
-38.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,683Ft 881.6K
$3,958€3,547
-32.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hungary
Germany
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,290Ft 423.7K
$3,290€2,948
-60.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.15
3.96
80.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hungary: October 26, 2026
Last update for Germany: October 25, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Hungary
$466 34.2%
Germany
$718 34.6% ↑ 54.2%$253
🛒Groceries & Markets
Hungary
$244 17.9%
Germany
$335 16.1% ↑ 37.2%$91
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hungary
$208 15.3%
Germany
$415 20% ↑ 99.9%$208
🍽Eating Out
Hungary
$189 13.9%
Germany
$276 13.3% ↑ 46.4%$87
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Hungary
$141 10.4%
Germany
$162 7.8% ↑ 14.8%$21
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Hungary
$71 5.2%
Germany
$69 3.3% ↓ 2.6%$1.8
🚌Getting Around
Hungary
$43 3.2%
Germany
$104 5% ↑ 144%$62
🏠Accommodation & Living
Hungary
$809 28.6%
Germany
$1.3K 31% ↑ 59.9%$485
🛒Groceries & Markets
Hungary
$579 20.5%
Germany
$795 19% ↑ 37.4%$216
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hungary
$233 8.2%
Germany
$440 10.5% ↑ 88.7%$207
🍽Eating Out
Hungary
$650 23%
Germany
$910 21.8% ↑ 40%$260
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Hungary
$314 11.1%
Germany
$360 8.6% ↑ 14.8%$46
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Hungary
$157 5.6%
Germany
$165 4% ↑ 4.9%$7.7
🚌Getting Around
Hungary
$89 3.1%
Germany
$217 5.2% ↑ 145%$128
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $511 in Hungary, $812 in Germany. Capital cities: $836 in Budapest vs $1,407 in Berlin.
💰National salary averages: $1,184 in Hungary, $3,107 in Germany. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 59% higher in Germany.
⭐Dining out costs 37% more in Germany.
⭐Public transport is 162% more expensive in Germany.
⭐Salaries are about 2.6 times higher in Germany, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Germany.
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
Hungary vs Germany: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Germany or Hungary?
At $2,080 per month in Germany and $1,361 in Hungary, Hungary comes out about 35% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Germany or Hungary?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in Hungary: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
How do rents compare between Germany and Hungary?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $812 in Germany and $511 in Hungary. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How far does $2,000 go in Germany compared to Hungary?
In Hungary, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in Germany it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you’ll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in Germany and in Hungary?
It depends on what you’re after: Hungary wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.