Cost of Living Comparison Between Paks and Budapest Cost of Living Comparison Between Paks and Budapest

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,123 per month in Paks vs $1,435 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,677 per month in Paks vs $2,204 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,230 per month in Paks vs $2,972 in Budapest, rent included.

Paks is about 22% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Paks sits 16% below the global median, while Budapest is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.86 Ft 2,804

$11.54 Ft 3,651

-23.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.63 Ft 9,059

$58.0 Ft 18.3K

-50.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.01 Ft 2,219

$8.89 Ft 2,812

-21.15%

Cappuccino

$0.83 Ft 262

$2.73 Ft 863

-69.60%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 Ft 339

$1.71 Ft 541

-37.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 Ft 213

$1.28 Ft 405

-47.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 Ft 368

$2.93 Ft 927

-60.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 Ft 420

$2.87 Ft 906

-53.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 Ft 357

$1.21 Ft 382

-6.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 Ft 471

$1.76 Ft 557

-15.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 Ft 589

$2.08 Ft 657

-10.58%

Eggs

$2.93 Ft 927

$3.06 Ft 969

-4.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.56 Ft 3,024

$10.19 Ft 3,225

-6.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.62 Ft 1,779

$6.06 Ft 1,917

-7.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.11 Ft 3,514

$13.38 Ft 4,233

-16.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 Ft 620

$1.92 Ft 608

2.08%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 Ft 646

$1.90 Ft 600

7.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 Ft 641

$2.18 Ft 691

-6.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 Ft 1,314

$3.47 Ft 1,098

19.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 Ft 442

$1.12 Ft 354

25.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.30 Ft 410

$1.25 Ft 395

4.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 Ft 465

$1.56 Ft 495

-5.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 Ft 157

$0.58 Ft 183

-13.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.18 Ft 2,273

$6.81 Ft 2,155

5.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.42 Ft 2,030

$6.26 Ft 1,981

2.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 Ft 351

$1.21 Ft 381

-8.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 Ft 382

$1.67 Ft 529

-27.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 Ft 357

$1.33 Ft 420

-15.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.54 Ft 7,765

$25.93 Ft 8,205

-5.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 Ft 932

$3.08 Ft 976

-4.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 Ft 404

$1.11 Ft 352

15.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.17 Ft 5,432

$18.67 Ft 5,906

-8.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.74 Ft 550

$1.85 Ft 586

-5.95%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.2K Ft 10.2M

$25.4K Ft 8.1M

26.72%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$36.8K Ft 11.6M

$31.5K Ft 10.0M

16.83%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$147 Ft 46.6K

$148 Ft 46.8K

-0.45%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$30.03 Ft 9,501

$25.98 Ft 8,220

15.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.49 Ft 7,748

$20.22 Ft 6,398

21.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.22 Ft 14.9K

$63.0 Ft 19.9K

-25.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.59 Ft 5,250

$22.23 Ft 7,034

-25.37%

Cinema Ticket

$8.07 Ft 2,555

$8.90 Ft 2,815

-9.33%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$469 Ft 148.4K

$464 Ft 146.8K

1.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,763 Ft 2.1M

$12.4K Ft 3.9M

-45.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.2 Ft 28.2K

$85.1 Ft 26.9K

4.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.49 Ft 8,065

$43.25 Ft 13.7K

-41.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.7 Ft 30.3K

$95.6 Ft 30.2K

0.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 Ft 32.8K

$104 Ft 32.9K

-0.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$449 Ft 142.0K

$738 Ft 233.5K

-39.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 Ft 107.6K

$559 Ft 176.7K

-39.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$625 Ft 197.8K

$1,337 Ft 423.0K

-53.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$543 Ft 171.7K

$965 Ft 305.4K

-43.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,079 Ft 974.2K

$5,941 Ft 1.9M

-48.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,324 Ft 735.4K

$4,265 Ft 1.3M

-45.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,308 Ft 413.9K

$1,732 Ft 547.9K

-24.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.03

13.80%

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

Last update for Paks: July 27, 2026

Last update for Budapest: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $449 in Paks versus $738 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 32% higher in Budapest, 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 $29.00 in Paks versus $58.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $239 – making Paks 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

Paks vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 28%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,684 per month in Paks and $2,152 in Budapest. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Paks, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 6% less in Paks. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $469 per month in Paks and $464 in Budapest. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Paks, where all-in costs run around $1,123, than in Budapest at $1,435. In Paks it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Paks – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Paks. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Budapest makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.