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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,406 per month in Sopron vs $1,666 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,067 per month in Sopron vs $2,657 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,728 per month in Sopron vs $3,649 in Budapest, rent included.

Sopron is about 16% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sopron and Budapest sit above the global median – Sopron by 3%, Budapest by 22%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.74 Ft 4,053

$14.41 Ft 4,583

-11.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.0 Ft 16.2K

$63.2 Ft 20.1K

-19.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.39 Ft 2,987

$11.21 Ft 3,567

-16.24%

Cappuccino

$2.57 Ft 818

$3.56 Ft 1,131

-27.81%

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

$1.34 Ft 426

$2.16 Ft 687

-37.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 Ft 424

$2.01 Ft 639

-33.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.83 Ft 583

$3.85 Ft 1,223

-52.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 Ft 758

$3.84 Ft 1,220

-38.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 Ft 412

$1.25 Ft 397

4.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.64 Ft 521

$1.87 Ft 595

-12.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.35 Ft 747

$2.55 Ft 811

-7.84%

Eggs

$3.31 Ft 1,054

$4.10 Ft 1,305

-19.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.74 Ft 3,418

$11.93 Ft 3,796

-9.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.08 Ft 2,254

$6.88 Ft 2,188

2.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.16 Ft 5,140

$15.30 Ft 4,868

5.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.47 Ft 785

$2.00 Ft 635

23.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.28 Ft 727

$2.19 Ft 696

4.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 Ft 864

$2.52 Ft 802

7.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.22 Ft 1,023

$4.14 Ft 1,317

-22.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 Ft 370

$1.00 Ft 318

16.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 Ft 438

$1.03 Ft 327

33.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.84 Ft 586

$1.67 Ft 532

10.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 Ft 191

$0.70 Ft 222

-14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.71 Ft 2,771

$8.18 Ft 2,602

6.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.88 Ft 1,551

$6.31 Ft 2,006

-22.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 Ft 451

$1.31 Ft 417

8.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 Ft 761

$2.11 Ft 670

13.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.15 Ft 365

$1.57 Ft 498

-26.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.39 Ft 9,984

$28.14 Ft 8,951

11.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 Ft 1,130

$3.50 Ft 1,113

1.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 Ft 420

$1.35 Ft 431

-2.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.64 Ft 8,156

$20.69 Ft 6,581

23.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.83 Ft 582

$1.94 Ft 617

-5.67%

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

$23.9K Ft 7.6M

$31.6K Ft 10.0M

-24.15%

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

$22.8K Ft 7.3M

$34.6K Ft 11.0M

-34.15%

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

$175 Ft 55.6K

$174 Ft 55.4K

0.40%

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

$21.41 Ft 6,813

$25.89 Ft 8,235

-17.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.92 Ft 6,974

$24.46 Ft 7,781

-10.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.99 Ft 15.9K

$70.3 Ft 22.3K

-28.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.76 Ft 5,970

$19.50 Ft 6,204

-3.79%

Cinema Ticket

$9.05 Ft 2,880

$9.59 Ft 3,051

-5.63%

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

$192 Ft 60.9K

$555 Ft 176.5K

-65.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,782 Ft 2.5M

$17.5K Ft 5.6M

-55.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.2 Ft 26.1K

$105 Ft 33.4K

-21.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.51 Ft 10.3K

$43.79 Ft 13.9K

-25.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Ft 25.6K

$117 Ft 37.3K

-31.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.0 Ft 21.9K

$121 Ft 38.6K

-43.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$652 Ft 207.4K

$860 Ft 273.6K

-24.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$480 Ft 152.8K

$655 Ft 208.4K

-26.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 Ft 335.2K

$1,690 Ft 537.7K

-37.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$743 Ft 236.4K

$1,262 Ft 401.5K

-41.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,060 Ft 973.4K

$5,865 Ft 1.9M

-47.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,021 Ft 961.2K

$4,017 Ft 1.3M

-24.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,430 Ft 455.0K

$1,735 Ft 551.8K

-17.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

-23.78%

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

Last update for Sopron: September 14, 2026

Last update for Budapest: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $652 in Sopron versus $860 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 21% 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 $51.0 in Sopron versus $63.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $264 vs $271 – 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

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 Sopron and $2,499 in Budapest. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 12% less in Sopron. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $192 per month in Sopron and $555 in Budapest. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sopron, where all-in costs run around $1,406, than in Budapest at $1,666. In Sopron it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 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.