Cost of Living Comparison Between Szekesfehervar and Budapest Cost of Living Comparison Between Szekesfehervar and Budapest

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,002 per month in Szekesfehervar vs $1,438 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,627 per month in Szekesfehervar vs $2,208 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,251 per month in Szekesfehervar vs $2,979 in Budapest, rent included.

Szekesfehervar is about 30% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Szekesfehervar sits 25% below the global median, while Budapest is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.27 Ft 3,505

$11.49 Ft 3,571

-1.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.3 Ft 18.1K

$58.2 Ft 18.1K

0.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.22 Ft 2,867

$8.61 Ft 2,678

7.08%

Cappuccino

$1.99 Ft 618

$2.78 Ft 863

-28.42%

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

$1.33 Ft 413

$1.73 Ft 538

-23.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 Ft 296

$1.34 Ft 415

-29.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.83 Ft 569

$2.82 Ft 876

-35.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 Ft 757

$2.86 Ft 888

-15.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 Ft 344

$1.23 Ft 381

-9.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.65 Ft 513

$1.67 Ft 519

-1.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 Ft 687

$2.04 Ft 634

8.33%

Eggs

$2.72 Ft 845

$3.06 Ft 952

-11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.80 Ft 2,425

$10.23 Ft 3,180

-23.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.83 Ft 1,814

$6.35 Ft 1,973

-8.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.54 Ft 4,520

$13.39 Ft 4,164

8.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.86 Ft 577

$1.91 Ft 593

-2.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 Ft 556

$1.92 Ft 597

-6.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 Ft 604

$2.18 Ft 677

-11.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.79 Ft 867

$3.62 Ft 1,126

-22.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 Ft 331

$1.12 Ft 350

-5.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 Ft 358

$1.21 Ft 376

-4.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.43 Ft 445

$1.48 Ft 460

-3.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 Ft 136

$0.58 Ft 180

-24.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.30 Ft 1,960

$6.56 Ft 2,038

-3.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.19 Ft 993

$5.74 Ft 1,784

-44.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 Ft 290

$1.15 Ft 356

-19.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 Ft 438

$1.66 Ft 515

-15.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 Ft 366

$1.27 Ft 396

-7.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.23 Ft 7,842

$26.28 Ft 8,171

-4.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 Ft 864

$3.13 Ft 973

-11.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.18 Ft 367

$1.11 Ft 345

6.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.61 Ft 5,474

$18.94 Ft 5,888

-7.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.68 Ft 522

$1.78 Ft 554

-5.62%

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

$25.9K Ft 8.1M

$25.7K Ft 8.0M

0.82%

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

$25.4K Ft 7.9M

$30.4K Ft 9.5M

-16.40%

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

$106 Ft 32.9K

$148 Ft 46.0K

-28.41%

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

$25.31 Ft 7,868

$26.66 Ft 8,287

-5.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.43 Ft 5,729

$19.96 Ft 6,206

-7.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.09 Ft 14.3K

$63.9 Ft 19.9K

-27.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.61 Ft 5,163

$21.92 Ft 6,815

-24.22%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 Ft 2,086

$8.74 Ft 2,716

-23.23%

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

$218 Ft 67.7K

$463 Ft 144.0K

-53.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,263 Ft 1.9M

$12.2K Ft 3.8M

-48.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.6 Ft 20.4K

$85.9 Ft 26.7K

-23.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.67 Ft 7,049

$43.25 Ft 13.4K

-47.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 Ft 22.7K

$95.7 Ft 29.7K

-23.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.6 Ft 24.4K

$104 Ft 32.3K

-24.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$369 Ft 114.6K

$736 Ft 228.6K

-49.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$292 Ft 90.8K

$560 Ft 174.0K

-47.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$596 Ft 185.4K

$1,355 Ft 421.1K

-55.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$528 Ft 164.0K

$972 Ft 302.3K

-45.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,546 Ft 1.1M

$5,938 Ft 1.8M

-40.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,277 Ft 1.0M

$4,194 Ft 1.3M

-21.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,559 Ft 484.8K

$1,737 Ft 539.8K

-10.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.85

7.03

-16.79%

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

Last update for Szekesfehervar: April 27, 2026

Last update for Budapest: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $369 in Szekesfehervar 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 11% 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 $58.0 in Szekesfehervar versus $58.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $216 vs $239 – making Szekesfehervar 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

Szekesfehervar vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 43%, 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 $1,504 per month in Szekesfehervar 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 Szekesfehervar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 4% less in Szekesfehervar. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $218 per month in Szekesfehervar and $463 in Budapest. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Szekesfehervar, where all-in costs run around $1,002, than in Budapest at $1,438. In Szekesfehervar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Szekesfehervar – 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 Szekesfehervar. 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.