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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,406 per month in Pecs vs $1,721 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,166 per month in Pecs vs $2,708 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,925 per month in Pecs vs $3,695 in Budapest, rent included.

Pecs is about 18% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Pecs and Budapest sit above the global median – Pecs by 2%, Budapest by 25%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.52 Ft 3,895

$14.35 Ft 4,465

-12.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.4 Ft 18.2K

$63.4 Ft 19.7K

-7.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.70 Ft 3,017

$11.23 Ft 3,493

-13.62%

Cappuccino

$2.57 Ft 801

$3.40 Ft 1,058

-24.41%

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

$1.36 Ft 422

$2.14 Ft 667

-36.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 Ft 415

$2.03 Ft 632

-34.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 Ft 556

$3.74 Ft 1,162

-52.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 Ft 777

$3.79 Ft 1,179

-34.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 Ft 399

$1.23 Ft 381

4.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.65 Ft 513

$1.91 Ft 593

-13.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.60 Ft 808

$2.58 Ft 803

0.78%

Eggs

$3.35 Ft 1,044

$4.14 Ft 1,287

-19.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.76 Ft 3,349

$12.43 Ft 3,868

-13.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.87 Ft 2,139

$6.90 Ft 2,146

-0.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.56 Ft 5,153

$15.36 Ft 4,777

7.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 Ft 791

$2.07 Ft 645

22.71%

Banana (1kg)

$2.33 Ft 724

$2.17 Ft 676

7.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 Ft 830

$2.49 Ft 776

7.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 Ft 1,290

$4.11 Ft 1,278

0.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 Ft 370

$1.03 Ft 322

15.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 Ft 440

$1.00 Ft 310

41.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 Ft 579

$1.59 Ft 494

16.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 Ft 177

$0.68 Ft 212

-16.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.81 Ft 2,741

$8.39 Ft 2,609

5.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.90 Ft 1,525

$6.38 Ft 1,984

-23.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 Ft 440

$1.33 Ft 414

6.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 Ft 820

$2.25 Ft 701

17.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.55 Ft 483

$1.58 Ft 491

-1.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.05 Ft 7,483

$28.78 Ft 8,954

-16.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 Ft 1,063

$3.57 Ft 1,110

-4.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 Ft 465

$1.43 Ft 445

4.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.71 Ft 8,000

$20.58 Ft 6,405

24.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.84 Ft 572

$1.87 Ft 582

-1.60%

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

$31.2K Ft 9.7M

$31.8K Ft 9.9M

-1.75%

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

$38.8K Ft 12.1M

$35.9K Ft 11.2M

7.95%

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

$174 Ft 54.1K

$173 Ft 54.0K

0.31%

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

$21.33 Ft 6,635

$25.97 Ft 8,080

-17.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.72 Ft 6,758

$25.25 Ft 7,855

-13.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.79 Ft 15.2K

$71.7 Ft 22.3K

-31.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.40 Ft 6,037

$19.20 Ft 5,975

1.04%

Cinema Ticket

$8.95 Ft 2,784

$9.76 Ft 3,038

-8.30%

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

$444 Ft 138.0K

$577 Ft 179.5K

-23.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,900 Ft 2.5M

$17.7K Ft 5.5M

-55.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 Ft 33.1K

$107 Ft 33.2K

-0.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 Ft 16.8K

$44.23 Ft 13.8K

21.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 Ft 31.3K

$116 Ft 36.2K

-13.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 Ft 35.5K

$120 Ft 37.5K

-5.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$645 Ft 200.8K

$858 Ft 267.1K

-24.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$457 Ft 142.1K

$671 Ft 208.8K

-31.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,007 Ft 313.2K

$1,672 Ft 520.1K

-39.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$707 Ft 219.8K

$1,295 Ft 403.1K

-45.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,467 Ft 1.1M

$6,081 Ft 1.9M

-42.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,909 Ft 905.0K

$4,164 Ft 1.3M

-30.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,115 Ft 346.9K

$1,709 Ft 531.6K

-34.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.68

19.76%

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

Last update for Pecs: September 1, 2026

Last update for Budapest: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $645 in Pecs 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 53% 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 $58.0 in Pecs versus $63.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $270 vs $274 – 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 22%, 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 $2,109 per month in Pecs and $2,581 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 20% less in Pecs. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $444 per month in Pecs and $577 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 $1,406, than in Budapest at $1,721. 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.