😐A single person spends $2,010 per month in Matosinhos vs $1,721 in Budapest, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,884 per month in Matosinhos vs $2,708 in Budapest, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,758 per month in Matosinhos vs $3,695 in Budapest, rent included.
😐Matosinhos costs about 17% more than Budapest, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Matosinhos and Budapest sit above the global median – Matosinhos by 46%, Budapest by 25%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.90€11.99
$14.35Ft 4,551
-3.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.2€43.30
$63.4Ft 20.1K
-20.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.70€8.37
$11.23Ft 3,560
-13.62%
Cappuccino
$2.75€2.38
$3.40Ft 1,078
-19.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.84
$2.14Ft 680
-0.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42€1.22
$2.03Ft 644
-30.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.84€2.45
$3.74Ft 1,185
-24.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51€3.03
$3.79Ft 1,202
-7.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.94
$1.23Ft 389
-11.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.78€1.54
$1.91Ft 605
-6.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.52
$2.58Ft 819
-31.78%
Eggs
$3.64€3.14
$4.14Ft 1,311
-12.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.97€10.33
$12.43Ft 3,942
-3.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.37€6.36
$6.90Ft 2,187
6.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.18€13.10
$15.36Ft 4,869
-1.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.22€1.91
$2.07Ft 657
7.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$2.17Ft 689
-24.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91€1.64
$2.49Ft 791
-23.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.60€2.24
$4.11Ft 1,302
-36.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.69€1.46
$1.03Ft 328
64.08%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$1.00Ft 316
94.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.65€1.42
$1.59Ft 504
3.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74€0.64
$0.68Ft 216
8.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.70€5.78
$8.39Ft 2,659
-20.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.98€5.16
$6.38Ft 2,022
-6.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.33Ft 422
4.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18€1.88
$2.25Ft 714
-3.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.44€2.11
$1.58Ft 500
54.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.60€40.21
$28.78Ft 9,126
61.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.04€3.49
$3.57Ft 1,132
13.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.88€0.76
$1.43Ft 454
-38.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.39€12.41
$20.58Ft 6,527
-30.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.24€1.94
$1.87Ft 593
19.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.6K
$31.8KFt 10.1M
7.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.9K€33.5K
$35.9KFt 11.4M
8.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$167€144
$173Ft 55.0K
-3.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.35€19.29
$25.97Ft 8,235
-13.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.94€30.15
$25.25Ft 8,006
38.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.2€47.59
$71.7Ft 22.7K
-23.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.55€15.14
$19.20Ft 6,089
-8.59%
Cinema Ticket
$9.02€7.78
$9.76Ft 3,096
-7.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$601€519
$577Ft 182.9K
4.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K€9,345
$17.7KFt 5.6M
-38.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.5€85.0
$107Ft 33.9K
-7.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.46€33.18
$44.23Ft 14.0K
-13.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.6€82.5
$116Ft 36.9K
-17.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108€93.1
$120Ft 38.2K
-10.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,340€1,156
$858Ft 272.2K
56.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,014€875
$671Ft 212.8K
51.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,290€1,976
$1,672Ft 530.1K
36.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,640€1,415
$1,295Ft 410.8K
26.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,387€3,786
$6,081Ft 1.9M
-27.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,990€3,443
$4,164Ft 1.3M
-4.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Matosinhos
Budapest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,214€1,047
$1,709Ft 541.8K
-28.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.83
6.68
-42.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Matosinhos: September 1, 2026
Last update for Budapest: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,340 in Matosinhos versus $858 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 41% 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 $50.0 in Matosinhos versus $63.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $274 – making Matosinhos 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
Matosinhos vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Budapest cheaper than Matosinhos?
Yes – Matosinhos is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $3,014 per month in Matosinhos and $2,581 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 62% less in Budapest. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $601 per month in Matosinhos and $577 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 $1,721, than in Matosinhos at $2,010. 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