Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Matosinhos and Budapest

For one person, living is cheaper in Budapest: $1,619 a month against $1,926 in Matosinhos, rent and utilities included – about $3,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Matosinhos outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Matosinhos
🇵🇹 Portugal
$1,926
/mo nomad
Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,619
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,926 per month in Matosinhos vs $1,619 in Budapest, rent included.

  • Matosinhos $1,926
  • Budapest $1,619

A couple spends around $2,803 per month in Matosinhos vs $2,524 in Budapest, rent included.

  • Matosinhos $2,803
  • Budapest $2,524

A family of three spends $3,680 per month in Matosinhos vs $3,429 in Budapest, rent included.

  • Matosinhos $3,680
  • Budapest $3,429

Matosinhos costs about 19% more than Budapest, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Matosinhos and Budapest sit above the global median – Matosinhos by 43%, Budapest by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.41 €11.93
$13.94 Ft 4,503
-3.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.70 €42.43
$61.2 Ft 19.8K
-22.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.91 €8.81
$10.19 Ft 3,291
-2.75%
Cappuccino
$2.69 €2.40
$3.26 Ft 1,055
-17.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 €1.84
$2.14 Ft 690
-3.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 €1.34
$1.78 Ft 577
-15.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 €1.94
$3.71 Ft 1,198
-40.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 €2.94
$3.77 Ft 1,217
-12.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 €0.98
$1.15 Ft 371
-3.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 €1.50
$1.79 Ft 578
-6.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 €1.52
$2.49 Ft 804
-31.73%
Eggs
$3.36 €2.99
$3.90 Ft 1,261
-13.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.61 €10.33
$11.10 Ft 3,587
4.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.21 €6.42
$6.62 Ft 2,139
8.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.34 €12.76
$14.69 Ft 4,745
-2.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.18 €1.94
$1.83 Ft 591
19.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 €1.33
$2.05 Ft 661
-26.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 €1.59
$2.37 Ft 765
-24.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 €2.20
$3.90 Ft 1,260
-36.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.62 €1.44
$0.99 Ft 320
63.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.86 €1.66
$1.00 Ft 322
86.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.53 €1.36
$1.58 Ft 511
-3.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 €0.68
$0.67 Ft 216
14.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.43 €5.72
$7.96 Ft 2,572
-19.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.55 €4.94
$6.22 Ft 2,009
-10.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.22
$1.27 Ft 411
7.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 €1.84
$2.03 Ft 654
1.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.70 €2.40
$1.52 Ft 490
77.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.17 €39.29
$28.02 Ft 9,053
57.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.47 €3.98
$3.31 Ft 1,070
35.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.72
$1.37 Ft 442
-40.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.19 €12.62
$19.83 Ft 6,406
-28.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.13 €1.89
$1.82 Ft 589
17.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K €30.0K
$29.8K Ft 9.6M
13.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.1K €33.9K
$33.8K Ft 10.9M
12.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 €141
$171 Ft 55.3K
-7.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.04 €19.60
$23.51 Ft 7,596
-6.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.78 €29.15
$23.29 Ft 7,526
40.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.3 €55.4
$67.5 Ft 21.8K
-7.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.15 €19.70
$18.89 Ft 6,104
17.26%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20 €8.18
$9.30 Ft 3,004
-1.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$567 €504
$533 Ft 172.3K
6.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K €9,324
$16.8K Ft 5.4M
-37.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.9 €85.3
$99.6 Ft 32.2K
-3.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.94 €32.86
$43.49 Ft 14.0K
-15.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 €82.0
$110 Ft 35.7K
-16.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 €90.4
$119 Ft 38.4K
-14.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,160 €1,032
$830 Ft 268.3K
39.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$973 €866
$622 Ft 200.9K
56.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,225 €1,979
$1,594 Ft 514.9K
39.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,571 €1,397
$1,170 Ft 378.1K
34.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,329 €3,850
$5,832 Ft 1.9M
-25.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,785 €3,367
$3,889 Ft 1.3M
-2.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,565 €1,392
$1,651 Ft 533.4K
-5.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.67
6.45
-43.10%

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

Last update for Matosinhos: October 10, 2026

Last update for Budapest: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Matosinhos
$973
Budapest
$622 36.1% $351
Groceries & Markets
Matosinhos
$248
Budapest
$258 4.2% $10
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Matosinhos
$213
Budapest
$218 2.2% $4.6
Eating Out
Matosinhos
$201
Budapest
$223 10.8% $22
Clothing & Footwear
Matosinhos
$147
Budapest
$168 14% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Matosinhos
$81
Budapest
$86 6.7% $5.4
Getting Around
Matosinhos
$64
Budapest
$44 30.3% $19

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,160 in Matosinhos versus $830 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 5% higher in Budapest, 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 $48.00 in Matosinhos versus $61.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $248 vs $258 – making Matosinhos the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Matosinhos
🇭🇺 Budapest
🕒 Local time
05:32 5:32 AM
06:32 6:32 AM
1 h ahead of Matosinhos
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
172,586
1,686,222 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

HUF, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 18, 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
  • Matosinhos Budapest 2,300 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Matosinhos
  • 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
Matosinhos vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Budapest cheaper than Matosinhos?
Yes – Matosinhos is pricier by about 19%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,889 per month in Matosinhos and $2,428 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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 58% less in Budapest. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $567 per month in Matosinhos and $533 in Budapest. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Matosinhos or in Budapest?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Budapest, where all-in costs run around $1,619, than in Matosinhos at $1,926. In Budapest it covers expenses comfortably, while in Matosinhos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Matosinhos 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, Matosinhos 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, Matosinhos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Matosinhos vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?