Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lombard, IL and Budapest

For one person, living is cheaper in Budapest: $1,641 a month against $2,625 in Lombard, IL, rent and utilities included – about $11,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lombard, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,625
/mo nomad
Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,641
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,625 per month in Lombard, IL vs $1,641 in Budapest, rent included.

  • Lombard, IL $2,625
  • Budapest $1,641

A couple spends around $3,685 per month in Lombard, IL vs $2,562 in Budapest, rent included.

  • Lombard, IL $3,685
  • Budapest $2,562

A family of three spends $4,745 per month in Lombard, IL vs $3,483 in Budapest, rent included.

  • Lombard, IL $4,745
  • Budapest $3,483

Lombard, IL costs about 60% more than Budapest, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Lombard, IL and Budapest sit above the global median – Lombard, IL by 94%, Budapest by 21%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lombard, IL
Budapest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.91 $19.91
$14.04 Ft 4,536
41.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.5 $73.5
$60.9 Ft 19.7K
20.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.30 $11.30
$10.37 Ft 3,351
8.97%
Cappuccino
$6.33 $6.33
$3.46 Ft 1,117
82.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.07 Ft 669
29.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.77 Ft 572
45.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.05 $7.05
$3.69 Ft 1,191
91.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.01 $6.01
$3.80 Ft 1,229
58.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lombard, IL
Budapest
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.16 Ft 374
-15.52%
White Bread (500g)
$3.56 $3.56
$1.85 Ft 598
92.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.48 $4.48
$2.40 Ft 776
86.67%
Eggs
$4.28 $4.28
$3.99 Ft 1,289
7.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.20 $12.20
$11.40 Ft 3,683
7.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.69 $11.69
$6.87 Ft 2,221
70.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.87 $16.87
$14.49 Ft 4,682
16.43%
Apples (1kg)
$5.03 $5.03
$1.88 Ft 607
167.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 $1.57
$2.14 Ft 693
-26.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$2.30 Ft 744
87.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.83 $4.83
$4.04 Ft 1,304
19.55%
Potato (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.02 Ft 329
172.55%
Onion (1kg)
$3.00 $3.00
$0.99 Ft 320
203.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.00 $2.00
$1.58 Ft 510
26.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 $1.92
$0.70 Ft 225
174.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.18 $10.18
$8.03 Ft 2,594
26.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.98 $14.98
$6.18 Ft 1,997
142.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.24 Ft 401
60.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$2.06 Ft 666
66.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Lombard, IL
Budapest
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.59 Ft 513
21.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$27.52 Ft 8,893
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 $2.67
$3.43 Ft 1,110
-22.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.33 Ft 431
22.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.54 $32.54
$20.45 Ft 6,607
59.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 $1.20
$1.93 Ft 624
-37.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$29.1K Ft 9.4M
-11.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K $25.0K
$34.7K Ft 11.2M
-28.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lombard, IL
Budapest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$225 $225
$175 Ft 56.4K
28.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.7 $58.7
$23.62 Ft 7,631
148.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.2 $69.2
$23.60 Ft 7,625
193.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lombard, IL
Budapest
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.48 $41.48
$68.8 Ft 22.2K
-39.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.26 Ft 6,224
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.03 $14.03
$10.31 Ft 3,333
36.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lombard, IL
Budapest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,562 $1,562
$535 Ft 172.9K
191.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.5K $24.5K
$16.8K Ft 5.4M
45.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lombard, IL
Budapest
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.6 $60.6
$99.9 Ft 32.3K
-39.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.12 $37.12
$43.27 Ft 14.0K
-14.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$112 Ft 36.1K
-24.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 $129
$119 Ft 38.4K
8.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lombard, IL
Budapest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,612 $1,612
$832 Ft 268.8K
93.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,313 $1,313
$629 Ft 203.3K
108.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,313 $2,313
$1,586 Ft 512.4K
45.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,891 $1,891
$1,197 Ft 386.6K
58.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,780 $2,780
$5,718 Ft 1.8M
-51.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,167 $2,167
$3,947 Ft 1.3M
-45.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lombard, IL
Budapest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,712 Ft 553.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.45
1.86%

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

Last update for Lombard, IL: October 20, 2026

Last update for Budapest: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lombard, IL
$1.3K
Budapest
$629 52.1% $683
Groceries & Markets
Lombard, IL
$394
Budapest
$262 33.6% $133
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lombard, IL
$353
Budapest
$222 37.1% $131
Eating Out
Lombard, IL
$337
Budapest
$226 32.9% $111
Clothing & Footwear
Lombard, IL
$140
Budapest
$168 20.1% $28
Sport & Entertainment
Lombard, IL
$70
Budapest
$89 28.7% $20
Getting Around
Lombard, IL
$19 *
Budapest
$44 138% $25

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,612 in Lombard, IL versus $832 in Budapest. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Lombard, IL versus $61.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $394 vs $262 – making Budapest the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Lombard, IL
🇭🇺 Budapest
🕒 Local time
22:51 10:51 PM
05:51 5:51 AM
7 h ahead of Lombard, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
42,792
1,686,222 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

HUF, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 323 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 363 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.75 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lombard, IL Budapest 7,770 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lombard, IL
  • 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
Lombard, IL vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Budapest cheaper than Lombard, IL?
Yes – Lombard, IL is pricier by about 60%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,938 per month in Lombard, IL and $2,461 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 Budapest, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Lombard, IL or in Budapest?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Lombard, IL and $61.0 in Budapest. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Lombard, IL and in Budapest?
Groceries cost about 51% more in Lombard, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Lombard, IL or in Budapest?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Budapest, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Lombard, IL at $2,625. In Budapest it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lombard, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lombard, IL or Budapest more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Budapest – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lombard, IL 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 Budapest. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lombard, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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