Cost of Living Comparison Between Kecskemet and Budapest Cost of Living Comparison Between Kecskemet and Budapest

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,032 per month in Kecskemet vs $1,450 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,505 per month in Kecskemet vs $2,221 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,978 per month in Kecskemet vs $2,991 in Budapest, rent included.

Kecskemet is about 29% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Kecskemet sits 23% below the global median, while Budapest is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.58 Ft 2,308

$11.49 Ft 3,498

-34.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.63 Ft 8,716

$56.8 Ft 17.3K

-49.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 Ft 1,514

$8.66 Ft 2,636

-42.61%

Cappuccino

$1.38 Ft 421

$2.77 Ft 842

-50.18%

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

$1.17 Ft 355

$1.80 Ft 548

-35.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Ft 210

$1.33 Ft 406

-48.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 Ft 618

$2.81 Ft 857

-27.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 Ft 669

$2.79 Ft 851

-21.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 Ft 327

$1.21 Ft 367

-11.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 Ft 354

$1.74 Ft 528

-33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 Ft 656

$2.08 Ft 635

3.85%

Eggs

$2.95 Ft 897

$3.10 Ft 945

-4.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.79 Ft 2,371

$9.95 Ft 3,029

-21.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.95 Ft 1,811

$6.33 Ft 1,926

-6.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.54 Ft 3,208

$13.33 Ft 4,060

-20.93%

Apples (1kg)

$1.26 Ft 385

$1.85 Ft 564

-31.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 Ft 396

$1.91 Ft 581

-31.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.74 Ft 530

$2.17 Ft 661

-19.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 Ft 734

$3.67 Ft 1,117

-34.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 Ft 296

$1.13 Ft 344

-14.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 Ft 334

$1.22 Ft 370

-9.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 Ft 311

$1.55 Ft 471

-34.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 Ft 147

$0.53 Ft 162

-9.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.83 Ft 1,774

$6.79 Ft 2,068

-14.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.89 Ft 1,186

$5.87 Ft 1,787

-33.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 Ft 288

$1.22 Ft 370

-22.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 Ft 443

$1.73 Ft 526

-16.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 Ft 300

$1.28 Ft 391

-22.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.24 Ft 5,250

$26.14 Ft 7,959

-34.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 Ft 353

$3.26 Ft 993

-64.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 Ft 407

$1.13 Ft 344

18.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.29 Ft 5,263

$19.23 Ft 5,855

-10.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.77 Ft 537

$1.75 Ft 532

1.14%

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

$26.9K Ft 8.2M

$25.9K Ft 7.9M

4.07%

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

$28.4K Ft 8.7M

$30.8K Ft 9.4M

-7.57%

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

$103 Ft 31.4K

$145 Ft 44.2K

-28.90%

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

$26.64 Ft 8,110

$26.21 Ft 7,981

1.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.42 Ft 5,608

$20.23 Ft 6,160

-8.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.51 Ft 14.5K

$62.1 Ft 18.9K

-23.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.59 Ft 5,050

$22.11 Ft 6,733

-24.97%

Cinema Ticket

$8.42 Ft 2,565

$9.15 Ft 2,787

-7.98%

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

$221 Ft 67.3K

$454 Ft 138.1K

-51.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,385 Ft 1.9M

$12.1K Ft 3.7M

-47.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$107 Ft 32.7K

$84.6 Ft 25.8K

26.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.67 Ft 4,465

$41.84 Ft 12.7K

-64.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.26 Ft 13.2K

$95.9 Ft 29.2K

-54.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.3 Ft 22.0K

$107 Ft 32.5K

-32.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 Ft 145.1K

$719 Ft 218.8K

-33.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 Ft 112.8K

$553 Ft 168.3K

-32.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$669 Ft 203.8K

$1,356 Ft 412.7K

-50.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$560 Ft 170.4K

$984 Ft 299.5K

-43.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,519 Ft 766.9K

$6,041 Ft 1.8M

-58.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,116 Ft 644.3K

$4,470 Ft 1.4M

-52.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,181 Ft 359.5K

$1,834 Ft 558.4K

-35.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.85

7.03

-16.79%

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

Last update for Kecskemet: May 31, 2026

Last update for Budapest: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Kecskemet versus $719 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 55% 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 $29.00 in Kecskemet versus $57.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $239 – making Kecskemet 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

Kecskemet vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 41%, 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 $1,548 per month in Kecskemet and $2,175 in Budapest. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kecskemet, 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 Kecskemet. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $221 per month in Kecskemet and $454 in Budapest. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kecskemet, where all-in costs run around $1,032, than in Budapest at $1,450. In Kecskemet it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kecskemet – 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 Kecskemet. 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.