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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,185 per month in Paks vs $1,730 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,779 per month in Paks vs $2,693 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,373 per month in Paks vs $3,657 in Budapest, rent included.

Paks is about 31% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Paks sits 14% below the global median, while Budapest is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.52 Ft 2,670

$14.32 Ft 4,486

-40.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.09 Ft 10.1K

$63.2 Ft 19.8K

-49.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 Ft 2,344

$11.22 Ft 3,515

-33.33%

Cappuccino

$0.88 Ft 276

$3.42 Ft 1,070

-74.27%

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

$1.25 Ft 392

$2.17 Ft 680

-42.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 Ft 259

$2.00 Ft 626

-58.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.29 Ft 405

$3.90 Ft 1,222

-66.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 Ft 609

$3.81 Ft 1,193

-49.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 Ft 385

$1.22 Ft 383

0.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 Ft 195

$1.99 Ft 624

-68.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 Ft 759

$2.54 Ft 794

-4.72%

Eggs

$3.45 Ft 1,081

$4.22 Ft 1,320

-18.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.12 Ft 3,482

$12.13 Ft 3,800

-8.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 Ft 2,027

$7.06 Ft 2,211

-8.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.20 Ft 4,449

$15.32 Ft 4,799

-7.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.92 Ft 600

$2.03 Ft 636

-5.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.14 Ft 669

$2.22 Ft 695

-3.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.11 Ft 662

$2.44 Ft 765

-13.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.16 Ft 1,303

$4.05 Ft 1,268

2.72%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 Ft 173

$1.03 Ft 323

-46.60%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 Ft 173

$1.05 Ft 330

-47.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 Ft 505

$1.70 Ft 533

-5.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 Ft 152

$0.65 Ft 205

-26.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.90 Ft 2,475

$8.36 Ft 2,619

-5.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.30 Ft 1,974

$6.36 Ft 1,994

-0.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 Ft 409

$1.35 Ft 421

-3.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 Ft 512

$2.22 Ft 695

-26.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.24 Ft 388

$1.64 Ft 514

-24.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.71 Ft 8,682

$29.37 Ft 9,201

-5.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 Ft 975

$3.44 Ft 1,078

-9.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 Ft 502

$1.43 Ft 448

11.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.72 Ft 5,863

$21.27 Ft 6,664

-11.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.87 Ft 585

$1.93 Ft 605

-3.11%

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

$33.8K Ft 10.6M

$32.0K Ft 10.0M

5.82%

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

$37.2K Ft 11.6M

$35.3K Ft 11.1M

5.28%

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

$141 Ft 44.3K

$174 Ft 54.6K

-18.92%

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

$10.91 Ft 3,416

$25.65 Ft 8,036

-57.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.52 Ft 3,921

$24.58 Ft 7,700

-49.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.0 Ft 15.7K

$71.2 Ft 22.3K

-29.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 Ft 5,964

$19.93 Ft 6,243

-4.47%

Cinema Ticket

$8.09 Ft 2,535

$10.18 Ft 3,188

-20.53%

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

$262 Ft 82.0K

$563 Ft 176.4K

-53.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,956 Ft 2.5M

$17.3K Ft 5.4M

-54.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.5 Ft 29.0K

$110 Ft 34.3K

-15.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.34 Ft 4,492

$45.47 Ft 14.2K

-68.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 Ft 32.1K

$119 Ft 37.2K

-13.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 Ft 34.9K

$125 Ft 39.1K

-10.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 Ft 170.8K

$846 Ft 265.1K

-35.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$421 Ft 131.9K

$658 Ft 206.2K

-36.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$763 Ft 239.1K

$1,673 Ft 524.0K

-54.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$671 Ft 210.3K

$1,292 Ft 404.8K

-48.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,077 Ft 963.9K

$5,932 Ft 1.9M

-48.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,682 Ft 840.0K

$4,104 Ft 1.3M

-34.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,317 Ft 412.6K

$1,734 Ft 543.0K

-24.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.25

6.56

25.76%

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

Last update for Paks: September 5, 2026

Last update for Budapest: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Paks versus $846 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 $32.00 in Paks versus $63.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $239 vs $274 – 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 46%, 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 $1,777 per month in Paks and $2,594 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 $262 per month in Paks and $563 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 $1,185, than in Budapest at $1,730. 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.