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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,246 per month in Sopron vs $1,435 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,822 per month in Sopron vs $2,204 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,398 per month in Sopron vs $2,972 in Budapest, rent included.

Sopron is about 13% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sopron sits 6% 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
$8.84 Ft 2,786
$11.54 Ft 3,635
-23.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.40 Ft 13.7K
$58.0 Ft 18.3K
-25.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.45 Ft 2,661
$8.89 Ft 2,800
-4.95%
Cappuccino
$2.11 Ft 664
$2.73 Ft 860
-22.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 Ft 360
$1.71 Ft 539
-33.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 Ft 310
$1.28 Ft 404
-23.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.61 Ft 507
$2.93 Ft 923
-45.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 Ft 693
$2.87 Ft 903
-23.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sopron
Budapest
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 Ft 347
$1.21 Ft 381
-9.09%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 Ft 496
$1.76 Ft 555
-10.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 Ft 527
$2.08 Ft 655
-19.71%
Eggs
$2.44 Ft 768
$3.06 Ft 965
-20.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.46 Ft 2,980
$10.19 Ft 3,212
-7.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.43 Ft 1,712
$6.06 Ft 1,909
-10.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.13 Ft 2,248
$13.38 Ft 4,215
-46.71%
Apples (1kg)
$1.47 Ft 464
$1.92 Ft 605
-23.44%
Banana (1kg)
$2.11 Ft 665
$1.90 Ft 598
11.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 Ft 695
$2.18 Ft 688
1.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.98 Ft 623
$3.47 Ft 1,094
-42.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 Ft 325
$1.12 Ft 352
-8.04%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 Ft 309
$1.25 Ft 393
-21.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.81 Ft 569
$1.56 Ft 493
16.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 Ft 169
$0.58 Ft 182
-6.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.22 Ft 2,275
$6.81 Ft 2,145
6.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.60 Ft 1,449
$6.26 Ft 1,973
-26.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 Ft 382
$1.21 Ft 380
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 Ft 522
$1.67 Ft 527
-0.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Sopron
Budapest
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.09 Ft 344
$1.33 Ft 419
-18.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$51.1 Ft 16.1K
$25.93 Ft 8,171
97.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 Ft 990
$3.08 Ft 972
1.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 Ft 334
$1.11 Ft 351
-4.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.88 Ft 7,208
$18.67 Ft 5,881
22.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 Ft 554
$1.85 Ft 584
-4.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K Ft 8.7M
$25.4K Ft 8.0M
8.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Ft 10.0M
$31.5K Ft 9.9M
0.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sopron
Budapest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$168 Ft 52.8K
$148 Ft 46.6K
13.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.10 Ft 8,537
$25.98 Ft 8,186
4.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.02 Ft 6,309
$20.22 Ft 6,371
-0.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sopron
Budapest
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.54 Ft 15.0K
$63.0 Ft 19.8K
-24.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.59 Ft 6,172
$22.23 Ft 7,005
-11.88%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 Ft 2,452
$8.90 Ft 2,803
-12.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sopron
Budapest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$170 Ft 53.5K
$464 Ft 146.2K
-63.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,326 Ft 2.3M
$12.4K Ft 3.9M
-40.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sopron
Budapest
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.9 Ft 19.2K
$85.1 Ft 26.8K
-28.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.73 Ft 10.6K
$43.25 Ft 13.6K
-22.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.5 Ft 22.9K
$95.6 Ft 30.1K
-24.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.6 Ft 22.5K
$104 Ft 32.7K
-31.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sopron
Budapest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$599 Ft 188.9K
$738 Ft 232.5K
-18.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$447 Ft 140.9K
$559 Ft 176.0K
-19.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 Ft 308.8K
$1,337 Ft 421.2K
-26.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$694 Ft 218.6K
$965 Ft 304.1K
-28.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,135 Ft 987.8K
$5,941 Ft 1.9M
-47.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,047 Ft 959.9K
$4,265 Ft 1.3M
-28.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sopron
Budapest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,454 Ft 458.2K
$1,732 Ft 545.6K
-16.02%
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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Budapest: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $599 in Sopron versus $738 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 $43.00 in Sopron versus $58.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $239 – 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 15%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,869 per month in Sopron and $2,152 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 $170 per month in Sopron and $464 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 living in Sopron or in Budapest?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sopron, where all-in costs run around $1,246, than in Budapest at $1,435. 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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