Cost of Living Comparison Between Pecs and Budapest Cost of Living Comparison Between Pecs and Budapest

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,181 per month in Pecs vs $1,463 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,772 per month in Pecs vs $2,209 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,362 per month in Pecs vs $2,955 in Budapest, rent included.

Pecs is about 19% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Pecs sits 12% below the global median, while Budapest is 10% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.65 Ft 2,721

$11.48 Ft 3,611

-24.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.40 Ft 13.3K

$56.4 Ft 17.8K

-24.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.51 Ft 2,678

$8.73 Ft 2,747

-2.52%

Cappuccino

$2.22 Ft 698

$2.85 Ft 896

-22.11%

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

$1.15 Ft 362

$1.74 Ft 546

-33.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 Ft 296

$1.31 Ft 412

-28.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.61 Ft 507

$2.80 Ft 879

-42.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 Ft 672

$2.93 Ft 922

-26.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 Ft 350

$1.27 Ft 399

-12.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.48 Ft 467

$1.75 Ft 550

-15.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 Ft 594

$2.11 Ft 665

-10.43%

Eggs

$2.43 Ft 764

$3.16 Ft 994

-23.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.42 Ft 2,962

$9.91 Ft 3,116

-4.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.96 Ft 1,876

$6.32 Ft 1,987

-5.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 Ft 4,497

$13.58 Ft 4,272

5.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 Ft 616

$1.91 Ft 600

2.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 Ft 666

$2.00 Ft 629

6.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.10 Ft 662

$2.15 Ft 677

-2.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.48 Ft 1,095

$3.59 Ft 1,129

-3.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 Ft 397

$1.12 Ft 353

12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 Ft 386

$1.21 Ft 379

1.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 Ft 559

$1.54 Ft 485

15.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Ft 170

$0.55 Ft 172

-1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.00 Ft 2,203

$6.79 Ft 2,136

3.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.70 Ft 1,479

$5.78 Ft 1,818

-18.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 Ft 381

$1.20 Ft 377

0.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 Ft 666

$1.65 Ft 519

28.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.46 Ft 460

$1.27 Ft 400

14.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.16 Ft 7,599

$25.94 Ft 8,161

-6.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 Ft 969

$3.26 Ft 1,024

-5.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.12 Ft 352

$1.12 Ft 353

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.99 Ft 7,233

$19.21 Ft 6,043

19.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.68 Ft 528

$1.76 Ft 555

-4.55%

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

$27.1K Ft 8.5M

$26.3K Ft 8.3M

3.23%

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

$31.1K Ft 9.8M

$30.7K Ft 9.6M

1.38%

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

$167 Ft 52.6K

$144 Ft 45.2K

16.44%

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

$27.76 Ft 8,733

$26.33 Ft 8,282

5.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.64 Ft 6,179

$20.06 Ft 6,310

-2.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.87 Ft 13.8K

$63.2 Ft 19.9K

-30.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.77 Ft 6,849

$21.87 Ft 6,878

-0.46%

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 Ft 2,483

$8.90 Ft 2,800

-11.35%

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

$409 Ft 128.7K

$450 Ft 141.6K

-9.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,172 Ft 2.3M

$12.1K Ft 3.8M

-40.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.3 Ft 29.0K

$84.6 Ft 26.6K

9.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.00 Ft 13.8K

$42.60 Ft 13.4K

3.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.8 Ft 29.8K

$98.2 Ft 30.9K

-3.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 Ft 31.8K

$104 Ft 32.6K

-2.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$495 Ft 155.6K

$715 Ft 224.9K

-30.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 Ft 115.5K

$560 Ft 176.2K

-34.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$695 Ft 218.7K

$1,339 Ft 421.1K

-48.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 Ft 175.7K

$971 Ft 305.4K

-42.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,487 Ft 1.1M

$6,062 Ft 1.9M

-42.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,939 Ft 924.5K

$4,298 Ft 1.4M

-31.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 Ft 340.4K

$1,751 Ft 550.8K

-38.20%

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 Pecs: July 14, 2026

Last update for Budapest: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $495 in Pecs versus $715 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 62% 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 $42.00 in Pecs versus $56.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $241 – making Pecs 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

Pecs vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 24%, 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 $1,772 per month in Pecs and $2,194 in Budapest. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 7% less in Pecs. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $409 per month in Pecs and $450 in Budapest. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pecs, where all-in costs run around $1,181, than in Budapest at $1,463. In Pecs it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Pecs – 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 Pecs. 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.