Cost of Living Comparison Between Sopron and Budapest Cost of Living Comparison Between Sopron and Budapest

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,248 per month in Sopron vs $1,451 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,815 per month in Sopron vs $2,210 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,382 per month in Sopron vs $2,969 in Budapest, rent included.

Sopron is about 14% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Sopron sits 7% below the global median, while Budapest is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sopron
Budapest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.55 Ft 2,586
$11.64 Ft 3,521
-26.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.51 Ft 12.9K
$58.5 Ft 17.7K
-27.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.83 Ft 2,671
$8.61 Ft 2,604
2.56%
Cappuccino
$2.19 Ft 661
$2.83 Ft 857
-22.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 Ft 334
$1.81 Ft 547
-38.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 Ft 301
$1.35 Ft 410
-26.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.63 Ft 492
$2.96 Ft 897
-44.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 Ft 647
$2.92 Ft 884
-26.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sopron
Budapest
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 Ft 319
$1.27 Ft 385
-17.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 Ft 475
$1.66 Ft 504
-5.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 Ft 490
$2.04 Ft 618
-20.59%
Eggs
$2.50 Ft 757
$3.16 Ft 955
-20.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.54 Ft 2,887
$9.88 Ft 2,988
-3.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.60 Ft 1,694
$6.17 Ft 1,868
-9.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.40 Ft 2,240
$13.46 Ft 4,072
-45.02%
Apples (1kg)
$1.48 Ft 447
$1.86 Ft 562
-20.43%
Banana (1kg)
$2.00 Ft 606
$1.91 Ft 578
4.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 Ft 663
$2.08 Ft 628
5.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 Ft 624
$3.61 Ft 1,092
-42.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.02 Ft 309
$1.14 Ft 344
-10.53%
Onion (1kg)
$0.99 Ft 300
$1.22 Ft 368
-18.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.80 Ft 546
$1.54 Ft 467
16.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 Ft 165
$0.53 Ft 162
1.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.24 Ft 2,191
$6.88 Ft 2,081
5.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.75 Ft 1,437
$5.98 Ft 1,808
-20.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 Ft 368
$1.20 Ft 362
0.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 Ft 486
$1.65 Ft 501
-3.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Sopron
Budapest
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.10 Ft 334
$1.31 Ft 398
-16.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$51.1 Ft 15.5K
$25.92 Ft 7,843
97.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 Ft 954
$3.23 Ft 978
-2.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 Ft 326
$1.13 Ft 341
-4.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.23 Ft 7,029
$18.91 Ft 5,722
22.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.71 Ft 516
$1.75 Ft 528
-2.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K Ft 8.4M
$25.5K Ft 7.7M
9.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6K Ft 9.6M
$31.6K Ft 9.6M
-0.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sopron
Budapest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$165 Ft 49.9K
$145 Ft 44.0K
13.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50 Ft 8,322
$26.44 Ft 8,001
4.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.82 Ft 5,997
$19.87 Ft 6,012
-0.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sopron
Budapest
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.87 Ft 14.2K
$63.7 Ft 19.3K
-26.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.79 Ft 5,988
$22.23 Ft 6,724
-10.98%
Cinema Ticket
$7.85 Ft 2,375
$9.09 Ft 2,750
-13.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sopron
Budapest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$173 Ft 52.5K
$460 Ft 139.3K
-62.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,339 Ft 2.2M
$12.2K Ft 3.7M
-40.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sopron
Budapest
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.4 Ft 18.0K
$87.3 Ft 26.4K
-31.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.50 Ft 10.1K
$42.04 Ft 12.7K
-20.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.7 Ft 21.7K
$97.7 Ft 29.6K
-26.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 Ft 22.2K
$104 Ft 31.4K
-29.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sopron
Budapest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$601 Ft 181.7K
$743 Ft 224.8K
-19.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$439 Ft 132.9K
$543 Ft 164.3K
-19.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$968 Ft 292.9K
$1,353 Ft 409.4K
-28.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$684 Ft 206.9K
$977 Ft 295.5K
-29.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,154 Ft 954.2K
$6,134 Ft 1.9M
-48.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,110 Ft 940.9K
$4,404 Ft 1.3M
-29.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sopron
Budapest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,462 Ft 442.4K
$1,800 Ft 544.5K
-18.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8
7.03
13.80%

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

Last update for Sopron: June 8, 2026

Last update for Budapest: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $601 in Sopron versus $743 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 23% 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 $43.00 in Sopron versus $59.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $238 – making Sopron 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
Sopron vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Budapest cheaper than Sopron?
Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,871 per month in Sopron and $2,177 in Budapest. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sopron, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 97% less in Sopron. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $173 per month in Sopron and $460 in Budapest. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Sopron or Budapest?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sopron, where all-in costs run around $1,248, than in Budapest at $1,451. In Sopron it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sopron or Budapest more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sopron – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Sopron or Budapest?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sopron. 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.

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