Cost of Living Comparison Between Szentendre and Budapest Cost of Living Comparison Between Szentendre and Budapest

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,111 per month in Szentendre vs $1,463 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,732 per month in Szentendre vs $2,209 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,353 per month in Szentendre vs $2,955 in Budapest, rent included.

Szentendre is about 24% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Szentendre sits 17% below the global median, while Budapest is 10% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.69 Ft 3,676

$11.48 Ft 3,611

1.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.0 Ft 17.6K

$56.4 Ft 17.8K

-0.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 Ft 2,703

$8.73 Ft 2,747

-1.60%

Cappuccino

$2.15 Ft 675

$2.85 Ft 896

-24.56%

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

$1.42 Ft 448

$1.74 Ft 546

-18.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 Ft 378

$1.31 Ft 412

-8.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 Ft 930

$2.80 Ft 879

5.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 Ft 727

$2.93 Ft 922

-21.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 Ft 333

$1.27 Ft 399

-16.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 Ft 473

$1.75 Ft 550

-14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 Ft 573

$2.11 Ft 665

-13.74%

Eggs

$2.62 Ft 823

$3.16 Ft 994

-17.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.67 Ft 3,041

$9.91 Ft 3,116

-2.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.21 Ft 1,955

$6.32 Ft 1,987

-1.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.27 Ft 3,859

$13.58 Ft 4,272

-9.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.68 Ft 527

$1.91 Ft 600

-12.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 Ft 619

$2.00 Ft 629

-1.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 Ft 591

$2.15 Ft 677

-12.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.28 Ft 1,031

$3.59 Ft 1,129

-8.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 Ft 340

$1.12 Ft 353

-3.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 Ft 380

$1.21 Ft 379

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 Ft 490

$1.54 Ft 485

1.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 Ft 189

$0.55 Ft 172

9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.62 Ft 2,081

$6.79 Ft 2,136

-2.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.03 Ft 1,897

$5.78 Ft 1,818

4.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 Ft 351

$1.20 Ft 377

-6.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 Ft 541

$1.65 Ft 519

4.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 Ft 371

$1.27 Ft 400

-7.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.25 Ft 8,571

$25.94 Ft 8,161

5.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.65 Ft 834

$3.26 Ft 1,024

-18.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.12 Ft 353

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.72 Ft 4,317

$19.21 Ft 6,043

-28.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.79 Ft 562

$1.76 Ft 555

1.70%

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

$24.4K Ft 7.7M

$26.3K Ft 8.3M

-7.20%

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

$31.4K Ft 9.9M

$30.7K Ft 9.6M

2.32%

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

$148 Ft 46.6K

$144 Ft 45.2K

3.28%

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

$26.85 Ft 8,444

$26.33 Ft 8,282

1.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.19 Ft 6,350

$20.06 Ft 6,310

0.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.40 Ft 14.9K

$63.2 Ft 19.9K

-25.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.84 Ft 7,185

$21.87 Ft 6,878

4.44%

Cinema Ticket

$7.40 Ft 2,327

$8.90 Ft 2,800

-16.85%

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

$328 Ft 103.1K

$450 Ft 141.6K

-27.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,452 Ft 1.1M

$12.1K Ft 3.8M

-71.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 Ft 17.7K

$84.6 Ft 26.6K

-33.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.77 Ft 8,736

$42.60 Ft 13.4K

-34.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.5 Ft 20.0K

$98.2 Ft 30.9K

-35.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.1 Ft 21.4K

$104 Ft 32.6K

-34.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 Ft 140.0K

$715 Ft 224.9K

-37.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 Ft 107.6K

$560 Ft 176.2K

-38.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$625 Ft 196.5K

$1,339 Ft 421.1K

-53.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$527 Ft 165.7K

$971 Ft 305.4K

-45.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,222 Ft 1.0M

$6,062 Ft 1.9M

-46.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,017 Ft 1.3M

$4,298 Ft 1.4M

-6.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,569 Ft 493.6K

$1,751 Ft 550.8K

-10.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.03

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

Last update for Szentendre: July 13, 2026

Last update for Budapest: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Szentendre versus $715 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 12% 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 $56.0 in Szentendre versus $56.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $225 vs $241 – making Szentendre 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

Szentendre vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 32%, 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 $1,666 per month in Szentendre and $2,194 in Budapest. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Szentendre, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 5% less in Szentendre. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $328 per month in Szentendre and $450 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 Szentendre, where all-in costs run around $1,111, than in Budapest at $1,463. In Szentendre it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Szentendre – 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 Szentendre. 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.