😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,485 in Szentendre versus $1,155 in Castelo Branco.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,171 in Szentendre versus $1,754 in Castelo Branco.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,857 in Szentendre versus $2,354 in Castelo Branco.
🌍Living in Szentendre is roughly 29% more expensive than in Castelo Branco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Szentendre is 8% above, Castelo Branco is 16% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szentendre
Castelo Branco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.91Ft 4,016
$11.46€9.85
12.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.4Ft 18.2K
$40.39€34.73
44.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.45Ft 2,939
$9.86€8.47
-4.16%
Cappuccino
$2.71Ft 843
$1.34€1.15
102.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98Ft 615
$1.41€1.22
40.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25Ft 387
$1.27€1.09
-1.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38Ft 1,053
$1.13€0.97
199.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02Ft 940
$2.36€2.03
27.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szentendre
Castelo Branco
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26Ft 392
$1.22€1.05
3.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57Ft 488
$1.33€1.14
18.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.43Ft 755
$1.50€1.29
62.00%
Eggs
$3.31Ft 1,030
$4.05€3.49
-18.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.22Ft 3,801
$9.52€8.18
28.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.59Ft 2,050
$6.05€5.20
8.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.23Ft 4,427
$9.00€7.74
58.11%
Apples(1kg)
$2.09Ft 652
$2.19€1.89
-4.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.14Ft 664
$1.33€1.14
60.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19Ft 682
$1.85€1.59
18.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.19Ft 1,303
$2.42€2.08
73.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03Ft 321
$1.73€1.48
-40.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.04Ft 323
$1.56€1.34
-33.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.58Ft 492
$1.23€1.06
28.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55Ft 170
$0.81€0.70
-32.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.32Ft 2,590
$6.08€5.23
36.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.23Ft 1,939
$3.46€2.98
80.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25Ft 390
$1.21€1.04
3.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71Ft 532
$2.01€1.73
-14.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Szentendre
Castelo Branco
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25Ft 389
$1.32€1.13
-5.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.51Ft 9,183
$23.05€19.81
28.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11Ft 966
$2.39€2.05
30.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38Ft 430
$0.83€0.72
66.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.15Ft 5,959
$17.52€15.06
9.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86Ft 580
$2.19€1.88
-15.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9KFt 9.9M
$34.8K€30.0K
-8.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.2KFt 10.9M
$42.4K€36.4K
-17.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szentendre
Castelo Branco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$161Ft 50.1K
$125€107
29.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.69Ft 9,858
$19.42€16.70
63.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.84Ft 7,728
$34.33€29.51
-27.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szentendre
Castelo Branco
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.56Ft 14.8K
$39.88€34.28
19.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.83Ft 6,482
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.79Ft 2,424
$7.17€6.17
8.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szentendre
Castelo Branco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$512Ft 159.3K
$705€606
-27.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5KFt 5.5M
$17.7K€15.3K
-1.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szentendre
Castelo Branco
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.0Ft 28.6K
$81.2€69.8
13.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.43Ft 8,844
$46.95€40.36
-39.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103Ft 31.9K
$85.2€73.2
20.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112Ft 34.7K
$69.2€59.5
61.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szentendre
Castelo Branco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$632Ft 196.6K
$477€410
32.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$576Ft 179.1K
$384€330
50.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$785Ft 244.4K
$848€729
-7.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$739Ft 229.9K
$648€557
14.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,223Ft 1.0M
$1,643€1,412
96.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,969Ft 1.2M
$1,410€1,213
181.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szentendre
Castelo Branco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,604Ft 499.0K
$1,695€1,457
-5.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.68
3.79
76.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Szentendre: August 30, 2026
Last update for Castelo Branco: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $632 in Szentendre and $477 in Castelo Branco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Castelo Branco pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $58.0 in Szentendre vs $40.00 in Castelo Branco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $257 vs $212 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, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Szentendre or Castelo Branco?
On paper, salaries run 6% lower in Castelo Branco. 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: $632 in Szentendre versus $477 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 and in Castelo Branco?
All in, you'll spend $1,485 per month in Szentendre versus $1,155 in Castelo Branco – a 29% 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 28% 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 living in Szentendre or in Castelo Branco?
At $1,155 in Castelo Branco versus $1,485 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 in 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 29% 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