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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,243 per month in Sopron vs $1,438 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,803 per month in Sopron vs $2,208 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,364 per month in Sopron vs $2,979 in Budapest, rent included.

Sopron is about 14% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.81 Ft 2,750

$11.49 Ft 3,584

-23.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.54 Ft 13.6K

$58.2 Ft 18.2K

-25.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.39 Ft 2,619

$8.61 Ft 2,688

-2.56%

Cappuccino

$2.19 Ft 683

$2.78 Ft 866

-21.22%

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

$1.09 Ft 341

$1.73 Ft 540

-36.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 Ft 283

$1.34 Ft 417

-32.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.61 Ft 502

$2.82 Ft 879

-42.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 Ft 680

$2.86 Ft 891

-23.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 Ft 346

$1.23 Ft 383

-9.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 Ft 481

$1.67 Ft 521

-7.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 Ft 524

$2.04 Ft 636

-17.65%

Eggs

$2.52 Ft 785

$3.06 Ft 955

-17.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.10 Ft 2,838

$10.23 Ft 3,191

-11.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.34 Ft 1,667

$6.35 Ft 1,980

-15.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.23 Ft 2,257

$13.39 Ft 4,179

-46.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.42 Ft 442

$1.91 Ft 595

-25.65%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 Ft 627

$1.92 Ft 599

4.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 Ft 681

$2.18 Ft 680

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 Ft 635

$3.62 Ft 1,130

-43.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 Ft 321

$1.12 Ft 351

-8.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 Ft 306

$1.21 Ft 377

-19.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.80 Ft 562

$1.48 Ft 462

21.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Ft 171

$0.58 Ft 180

-5.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.05 Ft 2,200

$6.56 Ft 2,046

7.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.91 Ft 1,532

$5.74 Ft 1,791

-14.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 Ft 379

$1.15 Ft 357

5.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 Ft 498

$1.66 Ft 517

-4.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.14 Ft 357

$1.27 Ft 397

-10.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.4 Ft 16.0K

$26.28 Ft 8,201

95.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 Ft 962

$3.13 Ft 977

-1.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 Ft 332

$1.11 Ft 346

-4.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.33 Ft 7,279

$18.94 Ft 5,910

23.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.70 Ft 532

$1.78 Ft 556

-4.49%

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

$26.9K Ft 8.4M

$25.7K Ft 8.0M

4.77%

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

$31.7K Ft 9.9M

$30.4K Ft 9.5M

4.12%

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

$162 Ft 50.5K

$148 Ft 46.2K

9.41%

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

$27.33 Ft 8,526

$26.66 Ft 8,317

2.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.01 Ft 6,244

$19.96 Ft 6,229

0.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.60 Ft 14.9K

$63.9 Ft 19.9K

-25.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.40 Ft 6,052

$21.92 Ft 6,840

-11.50%

Cinema Ticket

$7.70 Ft 2,403

$8.74 Ft 2,726

-11.90%

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

$175 Ft 54.6K

$463 Ft 144.6K

-62.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,193 Ft 2.2M

$12.2K Ft 3.8M

-40.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 Ft 18.8K

$85.9 Ft 26.8K

-29.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.82 Ft 10.2K

$43.25 Ft 13.5K

-24.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.0 Ft 22.5K

$95.7 Ft 29.9K

-24.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 Ft 22.1K

$104 Ft 32.4K

-31.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$586 Ft 182.9K

$736 Ft 229.5K

-20.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$442 Ft 137.8K

$560 Ft 174.6K

-21.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$983 Ft 306.6K

$1,355 Ft 422.7K

-27.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$672 Ft 209.5K

$972 Ft 303.4K

-30.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,154 Ft 984.0K

$5,938 Ft 1.9M

-46.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,073 Ft 958.8K

$4,194 Ft 1.3M

-26.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,488 Ft 464.3K

$1,737 Ft 541.8K

-14.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.03

13.80%

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

Last update for Sopron: April 25, 2026

Last update for Budapest: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $586 in Sopron versus $736 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 17% 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 $44.00 in Sopron versus $58.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 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

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 16%, 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 $1,865 per month in Sopron and $2,157 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 96% less in Sopron. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $175 per month in Sopron and $463 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 $1,243, than in Budapest at $1,438. 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.