🙂A single person spends $1,223 per month in Szekszard vs $1,730 in Budapest, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,884 per month in Szekszard vs $2,693 in Budapest, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,546 per month in Szekszard vs $3,657 in Budapest, rent included.
🙂Szekszard is about 29% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Szekszard sits 11% below the global median, while Budapest is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szekszard
Budapest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.68Ft 3,972
$14.32Ft 4,486
-11.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.40Ft 15.2K
$63.2Ft 19.8K
-23.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.35Ft 2,930
$11.22Ft 3,515
-16.67%
Cappuccino
$1.65Ft 515
$3.42Ft 1,070
-51.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98Ft 621
$2.17Ft 680
-8.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25Ft 392
$2.00Ft 626
-37.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.13Ft 981
$3.90Ft 1,222
-19.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00Ft 940
$3.81Ft 1,193
-21.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szekszard
Budapest
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24Ft 390
$1.22Ft 383
1.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52Ft 478
$1.99Ft 624
-23.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.53Ft 792
$2.54Ft 794
-0.39%
Eggs
$3.13Ft 981
$4.22Ft 1,320
-25.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.48Ft 3,595
$12.13Ft 3,800
-5.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.70Ft 2,098
$7.06Ft 2,211
-5.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20Ft 4,448
$15.32Ft 4,799
-7.31%
Apples(1kg)
$1.81Ft 567
$2.03Ft 636
-10.84%
Banana(1kg)
$2.13Ft 666
$2.22Ft 695
-4.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.06Ft 647
$2.44Ft 765
-15.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.91Ft 911
$4.05Ft 1,268
-28.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.09Ft 342
$1.03Ft 323
5.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.37Ft 429
$1.05Ft 330
30.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.84Ft 577
$1.70Ft 533
8.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50Ft 156
$0.65Ft 205
-23.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.17Ft 2,561
$8.36Ft 2,619
-2.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.24Ft 1,956
$6.36Ft 1,994
-1.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22Ft 381
$1.35Ft 421
-9.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63Ft 511
$2.22Ft 695
-26.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Szekszard
Budapest
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.31Ft 410
$1.64Ft 514
-20.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.30Ft 9,177
$29.37Ft 9,201
-0.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.18Ft 995
$3.44Ft 1,078
-7.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.65Ft 516
$1.43Ft 448
15.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.49Ft 6,105
$21.27Ft 6,664
-8.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.96Ft 615
$1.93Ft 605
1.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4KFt 10.8M
$32.0KFt 10.0M
7.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KFt 11.2M
$35.3KFt 11.1M
1.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szekszard
Budapest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$130Ft 40.8K
$174Ft 54.6K
-25.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.84Ft 5,900
$25.65Ft 8,036
-26.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.29Ft 7,609
$24.58Ft 7,700
-1.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szekszard
Budapest
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.67Ft 15.6K
$71.2Ft 22.3K
-30.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.61Ft 6,770
$19.93Ft 6,243
8.43%
Cinema Ticket
$7.74Ft 2,426
$10.18Ft 3,188
-23.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szekszard
Budapest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$260Ft 81.4K
$563Ft 176.4K
-53.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,674Ft 2.4M
$17.3KFt 5.4M
-55.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szekszard
Budapest
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.2Ft 20.1K
$110Ft 34.3K
-41.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.66Ft 8,038
$45.47Ft 14.2K
-43.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8Ft 29.7K
$119Ft 37.2K
-20.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.5Ft 25.5K
$125Ft 39.1K
-34.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szekszard
Budapest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$547Ft 171.3K
$846Ft 265.1K
-35.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$415Ft 130.0K
$658Ft 206.2K
-36.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$747Ft 233.9K
$1,673Ft 524.0K
-55.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653Ft 204.5K
$1,292Ft 404.8K
-49.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,660Ft 520.1K
$5,932Ft 1.9M
-72.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,272Ft 398.5K
$4,104Ft 1.3M
-69.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szekszard
Budapest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$974Ft 305.2K
$1,734Ft 543.0K
-43.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.25
6.56
25.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Szekszard: September 7, 2026
Last update for Budapest: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $547 in Szekszard versus $846 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 78% 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 $48.00 in Szekszard versus $63.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $274 – making Szekszard 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
Szekszard vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Budapest cheaper than Szekszard?
Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 41%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,834 per month in Szekszard and $2,594 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 Szekszard, 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 0% less in Szekszard. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $260 per month in Szekszard and $563 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 Szekszard or in Budapest?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Szekszard, where all-in costs run around $1,223, than in Budapest at $1,730. In Szekszard it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Szekszard or Budapest more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Szekszard – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Szekszard 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 Szekszard. 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.