😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,155 in Szentendre versus $1,136 in Castelo Branco.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,758 in Szentendre versus $1,704 in Castelo Branco.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,361 in Szentendre versus $2,273 in Castelo Branco.
😐Living in Szentendre is roughly 2% more expensive than Castelo Branco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Szentendre14% lower, Castelo Branco15% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szentendre
Castelo Branco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73Ft 3,576
$11.44€9.84
2.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.5Ft 16.9K
$41.18€35.43
34.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.85Ft 2,700
$9.56€8.22
-7.43%
Cappuccino
$2.08Ft 634
$1.38€1.18
50.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42Ft 433
$1.70€1.46
-16.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24Ft 379
$1.16€1.00
6.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.90Ft 885
$1.44€1.24
101.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36Ft 719
$3.94€3.39
-40.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szentendre
Castelo Branco
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00Ft 305
$1.06€0.91
-5.66%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57Ft 479
$1.20€1.04
30.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89Ft 577
$1.66€1.43
13.86%
Eggs
$2.71Ft 826
$2.92€2.51
-7.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.86Ft 3,007
$9.02€7.76
9.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.09Ft 1,856
$5.11€4.39
19.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.32Ft 3,756
$8.25€7.10
49.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.72Ft 523
$1.81€1.56
-4.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98Ft 603
$1.30€1.12
52.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80Ft 548
$1.24€1.07
45.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.31Ft 1,008
$2.51€2.16
31.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.08Ft 330
$1.06€0.91
1.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22Ft 371
$1.74€1.49
-29.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48Ft 450
$1.29€1.11
14.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57Ft 174
$0.71€0.61
-19.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.68Ft 2,038
$6.43€5.53
3.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.00Ft 1,830
$3.46€2.98
73.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11Ft 338
$0.79€0.68
40.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73Ft 526
$1.07€0.92
61.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Szentendre
Castelo Branco
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17Ft 358
$1.18€1.02
-0.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.16Ft 8,283
$42.85€36.86
-36.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.55Ft 777
$2.28€1.96
11.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.11Ft 338
$0.71€0.61
56.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.64Ft 4,161
$17.29€14.87
-21.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.81Ft 553
$1.90€1.63
-4.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5KFt 7.5M
$34.2K€29.4K
-28.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KFt 9.5M
$39.5K€34.0K
-21.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szentendre
Castelo Branco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145Ft 44.1K
$98.0€84.3
47.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.47Ft 8,072
$22.17€19.07
19.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.05Ft 6,114
$43.39€37.33
-53.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szentendre
Castelo Branco
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.27Ft 14.4K
$42.38€36.45
11.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.40Ft 7,137
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.37Ft 2,249
$7.16€6.16
2.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szentendre
Castelo Branco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$333Ft 101.4K
$647€557
-48.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,399Ft 1.0M
$16.2K€14.0K
-79.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szentendre
Castelo Branco
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8Ft 17.0K
$58.5€50.3
-4.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.08Ft 8,258
$67.4€58.0
-59.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$63.0Ft 19.2K
$73.5€63.2
-14.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.3Ft 20.8K
$58.8€50.6
16.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szentendre
Castelo Branco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$442Ft 134.9K
$520€447
-14.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$340Ft 103.8K
$381€328
-10.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$631Ft 192.5K
$695€598
-9.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$543Ft 165.5K
$637€548
-14.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,217Ft 981.0K
$1,661€1,429
93.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,023Ft 1.2M
$1,407€1,211
185.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szentendre
Castelo Branco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,647Ft 502.4K
$1,658€1,426
-0.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.03
5.43
29.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Szentendre: May 31, 2026
Last update for Castelo Branco: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $442 in Szentendre and $520 in Castelo Branco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Castelo Branco pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $56.0 in Szentendre vs $41.00 in Castelo Branco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $225 vs $186 per month, with Castelo Branco 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
Szentendre vs Castelo Branco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Castelo Branco cheaper than Szentendre?
Castelo Branco is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Szentendre or Castelo Branco?
On paper, Castelo Branco earns 1% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Szentendre and Castelo Branco?
Rent for a central apartment: $442 in Szentendre versus $520 in Castelo Branco. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Szentendre vs Castelo Branco?
All in, you'll spend $1,155 per month in Szentendre versus $1,136 in Castelo Branco – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Castelo Branco runs roughly 58% less than in Szentendre. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Szentendre or Castelo Branco?
At $1,136 in Castelo Branco versus $1,155 in Szentendre, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Castelo Branco but tight or insufficient in Szentendre. The gap between the two cities makes Castelo Branco the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Szentendre or Castelo Branco?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Szentendre or Castelo Branco?
Safety-wise, Szentendre and Castelo Branco 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Castelo Branco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Szentendre. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Szentendre vs other spots: cost of living compared