πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,041 in Szekesfehervar versus $1,418 in Bielsko-biala.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,677 in Szekesfehervar versus $2,163 in Bielsko-biala.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,313 in Szekesfehervar versus $2,909 in Bielsko-biala.
πLiving in Szekesfehervar costs roughly 27% less than in Bielsko-biala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Szekesfehervar is 23% below, Bielsko-biala is 5% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Szekesfehervar
Bielsko-biala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.28FtΒ 3,411
$10.05zΕΒ 36.72
12.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.2FtΒ 17.3K
$47.38zΕΒ 173
20.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84FtΒ 2,674
$8.07zΕΒ 29.49
9.54%
Cappuccino
$1.98FtΒ 598
$3.53zΕΒ 12.91
-43.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27FtΒ 385
$0.98zΕΒ 3.58
29.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96FtΒ 291
$1.19zΕΒ 4.34
-19.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.89FtΒ 571
$3.30zΕΒ 12.08
-42.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41FtΒ 730
$3.61zΕΒ 13.20
-33.24%
π Groceries & Markets
Szekesfehervar
Bielsko-biala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06FtΒ 320
$1.03zΕΒ 3.77
2.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.72FtΒ 520
$1.22zΕΒ 4.46
40.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17FtΒ 658
$1.19zΕΒ 4.34
82.35%
Eggs
$2.68FtΒ 812
$3.12zΕΒ 11.40
-14.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.02FtΒ 2,426
$8.78zΕΒ 32.08
-8.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.92FtΒ 1,792
$6.79zΕΒ 24.83
-12.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.44FtΒ 4,370
$10.97zΕΒ 40.11
31.63%
Apples(1kg)
$1.90FtΒ 576
$1.16zΕΒ 4.23
63.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.84FtΒ 556
$1.73zΕΒ 6.31
6.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90FtΒ 575
$1.91zΕΒ 6.97
-0.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75FtΒ 833
$2.63zΕΒ 9.63
4.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02FtΒ 309
$0.90zΕΒ 3.29
13.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19FtΒ 359
$0.77zΕΒ 2.82
54.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38FtΒ 416
$1.07zΕΒ 3.93
28.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45FtΒ 135
$0.58zΕΒ 2.12
-22.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.27FtΒ 1,896
$4.52zΕΒ 16.52
38.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.27FtΒ 988
$7.09zΕΒ 25.92
-53.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94FtΒ 284
$1.20zΕΒ 4.40
-21.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41FtΒ 426
$1.94zΕΒ 7.09
-27.32%
π Getting Around
Szekesfehervar
Bielsko-biala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.14FtΒ 344
$1.13zΕΒ 4.13
0.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.75FtΒ 7,487
$30.22zΕΒ 110
-18.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.81FtΒ 849
$1.54zΕΒ 5.63
82.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.18FtΒ 358
$0.52zΕΒ 1.90
126.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.99FtΒ 5,139
$10.22zΕΒ 37.36
66.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.64FtΒ 497
$1.71zΕΒ 6.24
-4.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KFtΒ 7.7M
$33.4KzΕΒ 122.1K
-23.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KFtΒ 7.7M
$29.4KzΕΒ 107.3K
-12.85%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szekesfehervar
Bielsko-biala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103FtΒ 31.2K
$331zΕΒ 1,210
-68.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.96FtΒ 7,552
$8.73zΕΒ 31.92
185.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52FtΒ 5,602
$17.13zΕΒ 62.6
8.11%
π Sport & Entertainment
Szekesfehervar
Bielsko-biala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.39FtΒ 14.3K
$30.64zΕΒ 112
54.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.99FtΒ 5,141
$16.19zΕΒ 59.2
4.94%
Cinema Ticket
$6.64FtΒ 2,009
$6.77zΕΒ 24.73
-1.92%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Szekesfehervar
Bielsko-biala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$217FtΒ 65.7K
$273zΕΒ 999
-20.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,438FtΒ 1.9M
$2,656zΕΒ 9,708
142.38%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Szekesfehervar
Bielsko-biala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0FtΒ 19.4K
$90.6zΕΒ 331
-29.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.46FtΒ 7,098
$31.16zΕΒ 114
-24.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.0FtΒ 21.5K
$74.6zΕΒ 273
-4.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.3FtΒ 23.7K
$95.3zΕΒ 348
-17.83%
π Accommodation & Living
Szekesfehervar
Bielsko-biala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$378FtΒ 114.4K
$704zΕΒ 2,574
-46.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$290FtΒ 87.6K
$486zΕΒ 1,775
-40.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$583FtΒ 176.5K
$2,182zΕΒ 7,975
-73.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$524FtΒ 158.4K
$935zΕΒ 3,416
-43.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,633FtΒ 1.1M
$2,437zΕΒ 8,907
49.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,266FtΒ 988.2K
$2,128zΕΒ 7,777
53.51%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Szekesfehervar
Bielsko-biala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,536FtΒ 464.7K
$1,472zΕΒ 5,382
4.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.85
6.3
-7.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Szekesfehervar: June 8, 2026
Last update for Bielsko-biala: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $378 in Szekesfehervar and $704 in Bielsko-biala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Szekesfehervar pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $57.0 in Szekesfehervar vs $47.00 in Bielsko-biala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $216 vs $210 per month, with Bielsko-biala cheaper across the board.
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
Szekesfehervar vs Bielsko-biala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Szekesfehervar and Bielsko-biala?
Szekesfehervar and Bielsko-biala differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($1,041 vs $1,418 including rent). Szekesfehervar is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Szekesfehervar or Bielsko-biala?
Szekesfehervar pays 4% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Szekesfehervar and Bielsko-biala?
Rent for a central apartment: $378 in Szekesfehervar versus $704 in Bielsko-biala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Szekesfehervar and Bielsko-biala?
A monthly transit pass in Szekesfehervar runs roughly 22% less than in Bielsko-biala. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Szekesfehervar and Bielsko-biala?
Childcare runs $217 in Szekesfehervar versus $273 in Bielsko-biala. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,041 in Szekesfehervar versus $1,418 in Bielsko-biala, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Szekesfehervar but tight or insufficient in Bielsko-biala. The gap between the two cities makes Szekesfehervar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Szekesfehervar and Bielsko-biala?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Szekesfehervar or Bielsko-biala safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Szekesfehervar and Bielsko-biala are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Szekesfehervar or Bielsko-biala?
Expats usually find Szekesfehervar gentler on the wallet β expenses run 36% less than in Bielsko-biala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Szekesfehervar vs other spots: cost of living compared