Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Szeged and Athens

For one person, living is cheaper in Szeged: $1,227 a month against $1,775 in Athens, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Szeged
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,227
/mo nomad
Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,775
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Szeged and in Athens

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Szeged and in Athens actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,227 in Szeged versus $1,775 in Athens.

  • Szeged $1,227
  • Athens $1,775

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,912 in Szeged versus $2,721 in Athens.

  • Szeged $1,912
  • Athens $2,721

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,596 in Szeged versus $3,666 in Athens.

  • Szeged $2,596
  • Athens $3,666

Living in Szeged costs roughly 31% less than in Athens, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Szeged is 9% below, Athens is 31% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szeged
Athens
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.98 Ft 2,902
$16.69 €14.84
-46.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.4 Ft 18.5K
$67.8 €60.3
-15.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.34 Ft 3,018
$11.14 €9.91
-16.16%
Cappuccino
$2.41 Ft 777
$4.03 €3.58
-40.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 Ft 504
$2.77 €2.46
-43.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 Ft 429
$0.55 €0.49
141.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.33 Ft 754
$5.74 €5.10
-59.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 Ft 717
$5.45 €4.85
-59.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szeged
Athens
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 Ft 393
$1.82 €1.62
-32.97%
White Bread (500g)
$1.37 Ft 441
$1.38 €1.23
-0.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 Ft 781
$2.80 €2.49
-13.57%
Eggs
$3.56 Ft 1,150
$4.83 €4.30
-26.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.46 Ft 3,378
$15.05 €13.39
-30.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.41 Ft 2,070
$10.63 €9.45
-39.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.40 Ft 5,298
$18.43 €16.39
-11.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 Ft 737
$2.20 €1.96
3.64%
Banana (1kg)
$2.21 Ft 716
$1.90 €1.69
16.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.05 Ft 662
$1.37 €1.22
49.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.35 Ft 1,082
$2.10 €1.87
59.52%
Potato (1kg)
$0.98 Ft 317
$1.08 €0.96
-9.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 Ft 336
$1.12 €1.00
-7.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.66 Ft 537
$1.12 €1.00
48.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Ft 167
$0.88 €0.79
-40.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.04 Ft 2,599
$5.48 €4.88
46.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.45 Ft 1,760
$10.13 €9.01
-46.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 Ft 407
$2.13 €1.89
-40.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 Ft 643
$2.25 €2.00
-11.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Szeged
Athens
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.63 Ft 527
$1.36 €1.21
19.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.42 Ft 9,505
$29.89 €26.59
-1.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 Ft 975
$4.45 €3.96
-32.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 Ft 533
$1.02 €0.90
61.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.15 Ft 5,864
$16.92 €15.05
7.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.90 Ft 615
$2.25 €2.00
-15.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K Ft 9.5M
$28.0K €24.9K
5.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.9K Ft 12.2M
$28.2K €25.1K
34.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szeged
Athens
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$127 Ft 40.9K
$205 €182
-38.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.61 Ft 6,981
$26.65 €23.71
-18.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.17 Ft 6,515
$30.38 €27.02
-33.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szeged
Athens
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.93 Ft 15.2K
$54.5 €48.47
-13.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.12 Ft 9,409
$25.88 €23.02
12.52%
Cinema Ticket
$8.59 Ft 2,775
$10.42 €9.27
-17.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szeged
Athens
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$248 Ft 80.2K
$569 €506
-56.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,658 Ft 2.2M
$12.6K €11.2K
-47.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szeged
Athens
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$114 Ft 36.9K
$88.7 €78.9
28.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.26 Ft 10.4K
$40.46 €35.99
-20.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.2 Ft 30.4K
$105 €93.3
-10.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 Ft 36.7K
$121 €108
-6.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szeged
Athens
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$523 Ft 168.9K
$741 €659
-29.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$380 Ft 122.9K
$655 €582
-41.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$761 Ft 245.8K
$1,300 €1,156
-41.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$603 Ft 194.7K
$1,148 €1,021
-47.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,103 Ft 1.0M
$4,014 €3,570
-22.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,320 Ft 749.4K
$3,460 €3,078
-32.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szeged
Athens
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,234 Ft 398.7K
$1,242 €1,105
-0.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
4.48
48.88%

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

Last update for Szeged: October 10, 2026

Last update for Athens: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Szeged
$380
Athens
$655 72.1% $274
Groceries & Markets
Szeged
$251
Athens
$310 23.7% $59
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szeged
$169
Athens
$262 55.3% $93
Clothing & Footwear
Szeged
$159
Athens
$160 0.4% $0.6
Eating Out
Szeged
$156
Athens
$268 71.4% $112
Sport & Entertainment
Szeged
$64
Athens
$75 17.5% $11
Getting Around
Szeged
$47
Athens
$45 4.9% $2.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $523 in Szeged and $741 in Athens. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Athens pays 1% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $57.0 in Szeged vs $68.0 in Athens for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $310 per month, with Szeged cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇭🇺 Szeged
🇬🇷 Athens
🕒 Local time
18:04 6:04 PM
19:04 7:04 PM
1 h ahead of Szeged
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
157,930
3,090,508 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to HUF – Hungarian Forint Converter

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 323 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 363 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.75 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Szeged Athens 970 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Szeged
  • Athens

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Szeged vs Athens: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Szeged or Athens?
Szeged wins on cost – living expenses run 45% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Szeged the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Szeged or in Athens?
On paper, salaries run 1% lower in Athens. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Szeged compared to Athens?
Rent for a central apartment: $523 in Szeged versus $741 in Athens. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Szeged and in Athens?
Dining out is cheaper in Szeged – a meal for two runs $57.0 versus $68.0 in Athens. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Szeged compared to Athens?
All in, you'll spend $1,227 per month in Szeged versus $1,775 in Athens – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Szeged or in Athens?
At $1,227 in Szeged versus $1,775 in Athens, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Szeged but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes Szeged the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Szeged or Athens?
Both work as nomad bases, but Szeged delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,227 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Szeged hard to pass up.
How safe is Szeged compared to Athens?
Safety-wise, Szeged and Athens are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Szeged gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Athens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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