😐A single person spends $1,837 per month in Matosinhos vs $1,450 in Budapest, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,670 per month in Matosinhos vs $2,221 in Budapest, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,503 per month in Matosinhos vs $2,991 in Budapest, rent included.
😐Matosinhos costs about 27% more than Budapest, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Matosinhos and Budapest sit above the global median – Matosinhos by 37%, Budapest by 8%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.78€10.14
$11.49Ft 3,504
2.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.85€40.30
$56.8Ft 17.3K
-17.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.11€7.83
$8.66Ft 2,641
5.20%
Cappuccino
$2.31€1.99
$2.77Ft 844
-16.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97€1.69
$1.80Ft 548
9.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42€1.22
$1.33Ft 407
6.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.85€2.45
$2.81Ft 858
1.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40€2.93
$2.79Ft 852
21.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07€0.92
$1.21Ft 368
-11.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.51
$1.74Ft 529
1.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63€1.40
$2.08Ft 636
-21.63%
Eggs
$3.03€2.61
$3.10Ft 947
-2.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.45€9.85
$9.95Ft 3,034
15.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.06€6.08
$6.33Ft 1,930
11.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.13€12.16
$13.33Ft 4,066
6.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.13€1.83
$1.85Ft 565
15.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47€1.26
$1.91Ft 582
-23.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.82€1.57
$2.17Ft 662
-16.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.13
$3.67Ft 1,119
-32.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32€1.13
$1.13Ft 344
16.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$1.22Ft 371
48.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.28
$1.55Ft 472
-3.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.53Ft 163
56.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.21€5.34
$6.79Ft 2,072
-8.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.87
$5.87Ft 1,790
-3.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14€0.98
$1.22Ft 371
-6.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27€1.96
$1.73Ft 527
31.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.81€1.56
$1.28Ft 391
41.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.25€30.32
$26.14Ft 7,972
34.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12€3.54
$3.26Ft 994
26.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.79€0.68
$1.13Ft 344
-30.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.49€12.46
$19.23Ft 5,865
-24.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.96€1.69
$1.75Ft 533
12.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K€29.6K
$25.9KFt 7.9M
32.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$30.8KFt 9.4M
27.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$137€118
$145Ft 44.3K
-5.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.23€18.26
$26.21Ft 7,995
-19.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.22€36.32
$20.23Ft 6,170
108.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.85€40.30
$62.1Ft 18.9K
-24.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.11Ft 6,744
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.54€7.35
$9.15Ft 2,791
-6.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$353€303
$454Ft 138.4K
-22.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,368€7,198
$12.1KFt 3.7M
-30.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.8€64.4
$84.6Ft 25.8K
-11.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.85€29.12
$41.84Ft 12.8K
-19.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.4€78.6
$95.9Ft 29.2K
-4.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110€95.0
$107Ft 32.5K
3.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,157€995
$719Ft 219.2K
61.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$938€807
$553Ft 168.6K
69.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,926€1,656
$1,356Ft 413.4K
42.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,625€1,398
$984Ft 300.0K
65.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,543€3,908
$6,041Ft 1.8M
-24.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,003€3,443
$4,470Ft 1.4M
-10.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,247€1,073
$1,834Ft 559.4K
-31.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.29
7.03
-24.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Matosinhos: June 2, 2026
Last update for Budapest: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,157 in Matosinhos 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 47% 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 $47.00 in Matosinhos versus $57.0 in Budapest. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Matosinhos vs $239 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
Matosinhos vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Budapest cheaper than Matosinhos?
Yes – Matosinhos is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,755 per month in Matosinhos and $2,175 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 35% less in Budapest. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $353 per month in Matosinhos and $454 in Budapest. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Matosinhos or Budapest?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Budapest, where all-in costs run around $1,450, than in Matosinhos at $1,837. 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