Cost of Living Comparison Between Saitama and Budapest Cost of Living Comparison Between Saitama and Budapest

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $983 per month in Saitama vs $1,721 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,315 per month in Saitama vs $2,708 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,646 per month in Saitama vs $3,695 in Budapest, rent included.

Saitama is about 43% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Saitama sits 28% below the global median, while Budapest is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.61 ¥872

$14.35 Ft 4,465

-60.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.87 ¥4,804

$63.4 Ft 19.7K

-51.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.75 ¥739

$11.23 Ft 3,493

-57.70%

Cappuccino

$2.98 ¥464

$3.40 Ft 1,058

-12.35%

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

$0.71 ¥111

$2.14 Ft 667

-66.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 ¥92.2

$2.03 Ft 632

-70.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 ¥386

$3.74 Ft 1,162

-33.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 ¥480

$3.79 Ft 1,179

-18.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 ¥220

$1.23 Ft 381

14.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.72 ¥268

$1.91 Ft 593

-9.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.77 ¥432

$2.58 Ft 803

7.36%

Eggs

$1.97 ¥307

$4.14 Ft 1,287

-52.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.85 ¥1,844

$12.43 Ft 3,868

-4.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.34 ¥831

$6.90 Ft 2,146

-22.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.55 ¥2,265

$15.36 Ft 4,777

-5.27%

Apples (1kg)

$5.55 ¥864

$2.07 Ft 645

168.12%

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 ¥343

$2.17 Ft 676

1.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 ¥431

$2.49 Ft 776

11.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 ¥633

$4.11 Ft 1,278

-1.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.51 ¥391

$1.03 Ft 322

143.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 ¥239

$1.00 Ft 310

54.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 ¥196

$1.59 Ft 494

-20.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ¥112

$0.68 Ft 212

5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.69 ¥574

$8.39 Ft 2,609

-56.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.35 ¥989

$6.38 Ft 1,984

-0.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 ¥268

$1.33 Ft 414

29.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 ¥310

$2.25 Ft 701

-11.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.35 ¥521

$1.58 Ft 491

112.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.78 Ft 8,954

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ¥485

$3.57 Ft 1,110

-12.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 ¥382

$1.43 Ft 445

72.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.32 ¥3,163

$20.58 Ft 6,405

-1.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 ¥164

$1.87 Ft 582

-43.85%

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

$21.6K ¥3.4M

$31.8K Ft 9.9M

-32.18%

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

$14.5K ¥2.3M

$35.9K Ft 11.2M

-59.76%

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

$131 ¥20.4K

$173 Ft 54.0K

-24.48%

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

$17.94 ¥2,792

$25.97 Ft 8,080

-30.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.96 ¥4,974

$25.25 Ft 7,855

26.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.9 ¥9,629

$71.7 Ft 22.3K

-13.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.20 Ft 5,975

Cinema Ticket

$10.82 ¥1,683

$9.76 Ft 3,038

10.86%

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

$633 ¥98.6K

$577 Ft 179.5K

9.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K ¥2.2M

$17.7K Ft 5.5M

-18.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.98 ¥5,444

$107 Ft 33.2K

-67.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.53 ¥3,818

$44.23 Ft 13.8K

-44.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.4 ¥8,622

$116 Ft 36.2K

-52.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.4 ¥9,560

$120 Ft 37.5K

-49.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$409 ¥63.7K

$858 Ft 267.1K

-52.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 ¥35.1K

$671 Ft 208.8K

-66.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,672 Ft 520.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 Ft 403.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,081 Ft 1.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,164 Ft 1.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,517 ¥236.1K

$1,709 Ft 531.6K

-11.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.06

6.68

-69.16%

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

Last update for Saitama: August 30, 2026

Last update for Budapest: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $409 in Saitama 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 13% 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 $31.00 in Saitama versus $63.0 in Budapest. Groceries tell a different story – $278 in Saitama vs $274 in Budapest – so Budapest wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Saitama vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 75%, 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 $1,475 per month in Saitama 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 Saitama, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Saitama and $63.0 in Budapest. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Budapest – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Saitama, where all-in costs run around $983, than in Budapest at $1,721. In Saitama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Saitama – 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 Saitama. 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.