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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,126 per month in Saitama vs $1,450 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,821 per month in Saitama vs $2,221 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,516 per month in Saitama vs $2,991 in Budapest, rent included.

Saitama is about 22% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.06 ¥970

$11.49 Ft 3,504

-47.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.98 ¥5,436

$56.8 Ft 17.3K

-40.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 ¥764

$8.66 Ft 2,641

-44.80%

Cappuccino

$3.04 ¥487

$2.77 Ft 844

9.75%

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

$0.75 ¥120

$1.80 Ft 548

-58.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ¥111

$1.33 Ft 407

-48.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 ¥324

$2.81 Ft 858

-28.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 ¥501

$2.79 Ft 852

12.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 ¥252

$1.21 Ft 368

30.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ¥268

$1.74 Ft 529

-4.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 ¥485

$2.08 Ft 636

45.67%

Eggs

$2.24 ¥358

$3.10 Ft 947

-27.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.28 ¥1,644

$9.95 Ft 3,034

3.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.14 ¥983

$6.33 Ft 1,930

-3.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.59 ¥2,494

$13.33 Ft 4,066

16.95%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 ¥942

$1.85 Ft 565

218.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 ¥215

$1.91 Ft 582

-29.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.91 ¥626

$2.17 Ft 662

80.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.90 ¥944

$3.67 Ft 1,119

60.76%

Potato (1kg)

$3.23 ¥516

$1.13 Ft 344

185.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.71 ¥273

$1.22 Ft 371

40.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 ¥216

$1.55 Ft 472

-12.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥142

$0.53 Ft 163

66.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 ¥660

$6.79 Ft 2,072

-39.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.49 ¥1,358

$5.87 Ft 1,790

44.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ¥295

$1.22 Ft 371

50.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ¥342

$1.73 Ft 527

23.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.62 ¥259

$1.28 Ft 391

26.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.5 ¥9,030

$26.14 Ft 7,972

115.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 ¥550

$3.26 Ft 994

5.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.96 ¥473

$1.13 Ft 344

161.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.04 ¥3,526

$19.23 Ft 5,865

14.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ¥198

$1.75 Ft 533

-29.14%

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

$23.1K ¥3.7M

$25.9K Ft 7.9M

-10.83%

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

$18.8K ¥3.0M

$30.8K Ft 9.4M

-38.73%

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

$144 ¥23.0K

$145 Ft 44.3K

-0.84%

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

$19.50 ¥3,120

$26.21 Ft 7,995

-25.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.90 ¥5,424

$20.23 Ft 6,170

67.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.8 ¥10.8K

$62.1 Ft 18.9K

9.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.10 ¥2,256

$22.11 Ft 6,744

-36.23%

Cinema Ticket

$12.14 ¥1,943

$9.15 Ft 2,791

32.68%

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

$276 ¥44.2K

$454 Ft 138.4K

-39.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K ¥2.2M

$12.1K Ft 3.7M

13.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.62 ¥6,178

$84.6 Ft 25.8K

-54.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.40 ¥4,383

$41.84 Ft 12.8K

-34.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.2 ¥9,630

$95.9 Ft 29.2K

-37.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.5 ¥11.1K

$107 Ft 32.5K

-34.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 ¥68.6K

$719 Ft 219.2K

-40.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 ¥40.9K

$553 Ft 168.6K

-53.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$858 ¥137.2K

$1,356 Ft 413.4K

-36.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$660 ¥105.6K

$984 Ft 300.0K

-32.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,524 ¥723.8K

$6,041 Ft 1.8M

-25.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,701 ¥432.2K

$4,470 Ft 1.4M

-39.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,535 ¥245.6K

$1,834 Ft 559.4K

-16.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.86

7.03

-73.54%

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

Last update for Saitama: May 30, 2026

Last update for Budapest: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Saitama versus $719 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 19% 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 $34.00 in Saitama versus $57.0 in Budapest. Groceries tell a different story – $304 in Saitama vs $239 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 29%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,689 per month in Saitama and $2,175 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.

Public transport costs about 116% less in Saitama. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $276 per month in Saitama and $454 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 Saitama, where all-in costs run around $1,126, than in Budapest at $1,450. 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.