Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow, ID and Budapest

For one person, living is cheaper in Budapest: $1,619 a month against $2,102 in Moscow, ID, rent and utilities included – about $5,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Moscow, ID
🇺🇸 United States
$2,102
/mo nomad
Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,619
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,102 per month in Moscow, ID vs $1,619 in Budapest, rent included.

  • Moscow, ID $2,102
  • Budapest $1,619

A couple spends around $3,459 per month in Moscow, ID vs $2,524 in Budapest, rent included.

  • Moscow, ID $3,459
  • Budapest $2,524

A family of three spends $4,816 per month in Moscow, ID vs $3,429 in Budapest, rent included.

  • Moscow, ID $4,816
  • Budapest $3,429

Moscow, ID costs about 30% more than Budapest, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Moscow, ID and Budapest sit above the global median – Moscow, ID by 56%, Budapest by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moscow, ID
Budapest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.03 $9.03
$13.94 Ft 4,503
-35.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.5 $66.5
$61.2 Ft 19.8K
8.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.46 $6.46
$10.19 Ft 3,291
-36.60%
Cappuccino
$3.32 $3.32
$3.26 Ft 1,055
1.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 $1.29
$2.14 Ft 690
-39.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.78 Ft 577
10.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.54 $5.54
$3.71 Ft 1,198
49.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62 $4.62
$3.77 Ft 1,217
22.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moscow, ID
Budapest
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.15 Ft 371
-17.39%
White Bread (500g)
$2.96 $2.96
$1.79 Ft 578
65.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.89 $3.89
$2.49 Ft 804
56.22%
Eggs
$3.90 $3.90
$3.90 Ft 1,261
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.57 $19.57
$11.10 Ft 3,587
76.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.46 $17.46
$6.62 Ft 2,139
163.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.93 $19.93
$14.69 Ft 4,745
35.67%
Apples (1kg)
$4.97 $4.97
$1.83 Ft 591
171.58%
Banana (1kg)
$0.87 $0.87
$2.05 Ft 661
-57.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.18 $3.18
$2.37 Ft 765
34.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.42 $5.42
$3.90 Ft 1,260
38.97%
Potato (1kg)
$2.10 $2.10
$0.99 Ft 320
112.12%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.00 Ft 322
102.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.61 $1.61
$1.58 Ft 511
1.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$0.67 Ft 216
185.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.68 $8.68
$7.96 Ft 2,572
9.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.42 $12.42
$6.22 Ft 2,009
99.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$1.27 Ft 411
37.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.64 $4.64
$2.03 Ft 654
128.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Moscow, ID
Budapest
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.52 Ft 490
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$28.02 Ft 9,053
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.06 $4.06
$3.31 Ft 1,070
22.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.12 $4.12
$1.37 Ft 442
200.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.6 $50.6
$19.83 Ft 6,406
154.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.82 Ft 589
-46.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.8K Ft 9.6M
8.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.8K $28.8K
$33.8K Ft 10.9M
-14.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moscow, ID
Budapest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$266 $266
$171 Ft 55.3K
55.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.12 $39.12
$23.51 Ft 7,596
66.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.3 $72.3
$23.29 Ft 7,526
210.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moscow, ID
Budapest
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$147 $147
$67.5 Ft 21.8K
117.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.89 Ft 6,104
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.94 $14.94
$9.30 Ft 3,004
60.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moscow, ID
Budapest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,601 $1,601
$533 Ft 172.3K
200.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.8K $20.8K
$16.8K Ft 5.4M
24.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moscow, ID
Budapest
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.55 $29.55
$99.6 Ft 32.2K
-70.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.53 $40.53
$43.49 Ft 14.0K
-6.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.6 $86.6
$110 Ft 35.7K
-21.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.9 $60.9
$119 Ft 38.4K
-48.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moscow, ID
Budapest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$976 $976
$830 Ft 268.3K
17.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$816 $816
$622 Ft 200.9K
31.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,277 $2,277
$1,594 Ft 514.9K
42.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,097 $2,097
$1,170 Ft 378.1K
79.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,870 $3,870
$5,832 Ft 1.9M
-33.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,851 $3,851
$3,889 Ft 1.3M
-0.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moscow, ID
Budapest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,943 $2,943
$1,651 Ft 533.4K
78.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
6.45
1.40%

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

Last update for Moscow, ID: October 11, 2026

Last update for Budapest: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Moscow, ID
$816
Budapest
$622 23.8% $194
Groceries & Markets
Moscow, ID
$429
Budapest
$258 39.8% $171
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moscow, ID
$377
Budapest
$218 42.2% $159
Eating Out
Moscow, ID
$181
Budapest
$223 22.9% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Moscow, ID
$177
Budapest
$86 51.2% $90
Clothing & Footwear
Moscow, ID
$98
Budapest
$168 71.2% $70
Getting Around
Moscow, ID
$25 *
Budapest
$44 79.3% $20

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $976 in Moscow, ID 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 78% higher in Moscow, ID, 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 $66.0 in Moscow, ID versus $61.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $429 vs $258 – making Budapest the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Moscow, ID
🇭🇺 Budapest
🕒 Local time
08:48 8:48 AM
17:48 5:48 PM
9 h ahead of Moscow, ID
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
22,352
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 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 19, 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
  • Moscow, ID Budapest 8,700 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Moscow, ID
  • 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
Moscow, ID vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Budapest cheaper than Moscow, ID?
Yes – Moscow, ID is pricier by about 30%, 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 $3,153 per month in Moscow, ID 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Moscow, ID or in Budapest?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Moscow, ID 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 Moscow, ID and in Budapest?
Groceries cost about 66% more in Moscow, ID, 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 Moscow, ID or in Budapest?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Budapest, where all-in costs run around $1,619, than in Moscow, ID at $2,102. In Budapest it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moscow, ID it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Moscow, ID 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, Moscow, ID 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, Moscow, ID makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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