Cost of Living Comparison Between Szolnok and Budapest Cost of Living Comparison Between Szolnok and Budapest

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,128 per month in Szolnok vs $1,666 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,754 per month in Szolnok vs $2,657 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,379 per month in Szolnok vs $3,649 in Budapest, rent included.

Szolnok is about 32% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Szolnok sits 18% below the global median, while Budapest is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.07 Ft 3,205

$14.41 Ft 4,583

-30.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.72 Ft 15.2K

$63.2 Ft 20.1K

-24.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.44 Ft 2,684

$11.21 Ft 3,567

-24.71%

Cappuccino

$2.43 Ft 774

$3.56 Ft 1,131

-31.74%

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

$1.98 Ft 631

$2.16 Ft 687

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 Ft 410

$2.01 Ft 639

-35.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.62 Ft 832

$3.85 Ft 1,223

-31.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 Ft 920

$3.84 Ft 1,220

-24.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 Ft 294

$1.25 Ft 397

-26.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 Ft 406

$1.87 Ft 595

-31.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 Ft 509

$2.55 Ft 811

-37.25%

Eggs

$3.29 Ft 1,045

$4.10 Ft 1,305

-19.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.68 Ft 2,444

$11.93 Ft 3,796

-35.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.64 Ft 2,111

$6.88 Ft 2,188

-3.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.63 Ft 4,336

$15.30 Ft 4,868

-10.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 Ft 494

$2.00 Ft 635

-22.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 Ft 589

$2.19 Ft 696

-15.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 Ft 498

$2.52 Ft 802

-38.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 Ft 793

$4.14 Ft 1,317

-39.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 Ft 212

$1.00 Ft 318

-33.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 Ft 234

$1.03 Ft 327

-28.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 Ft 339

$1.67 Ft 532

-35.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 Ft 114

$0.70 Ft 222

-48.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.12 Ft 2,264

$8.18 Ft 2,602

-12.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.68 Ft 1,172

$6.31 Ft 2,006

-41.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 Ft 306

$1.31 Ft 417

-26.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 Ft 413

$2.11 Ft 670

-38.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 Ft 334

$1.57 Ft 498

-33.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.38 Ft 8,391

$28.14 Ft 8,951

-6.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 Ft 940

$3.50 Ft 1,113

-15.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.31 Ft 734

$1.35 Ft 431

71.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.42 Ft 4,904

$20.69 Ft 6,581

-25.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.86 Ft 592

$1.94 Ft 617

-4.12%

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

$28.3K Ft 9.0M

$31.6K Ft 10.0M

-10.26%

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

$38.4K Ft 12.2M

$34.6K Ft 11.0M

10.86%

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

$130 Ft 41.4K

$174 Ft 55.4K

-25.17%

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

$29.76 Ft 9,466

$25.89 Ft 8,235

14.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.16 Ft 7,366

$24.46 Ft 7,781

-5.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.60 Ft 13.6K

$70.3 Ft 22.3K

-39.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.82 Ft 5,988

$19.50 Ft 6,204

-3.49%

Cinema Ticket

$3.41 Ft 1,085

$9.59 Ft 3,051

-64.44%

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

$161 Ft 51.2K

$555 Ft 176.5K

-70.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,981 Ft 1.6M

$17.5K Ft 5.6M

-71.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.6 Ft 27.5K

$105 Ft 33.4K

-17.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.5 Ft 16.4K

$43.79 Ft 13.9K

17.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.5 Ft 29.4K

$117 Ft 37.3K

-21.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 Ft 38.9K

$121 Ft 38.6K

0.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$417 Ft 132.7K

$860 Ft 273.6K

-51.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$334 Ft 106.3K

$655 Ft 208.4K

-48.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$659 Ft 209.7K

$1,690 Ft 537.7K

-60.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$523 Ft 166.4K

$1,262 Ft 401.5K

-58.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,117 Ft 673.3K

$5,865 Ft 1.9M

-63.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,705 Ft 542.5K

$4,017 Ft 1.3M

-57.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 Ft 344.3K

$1,735 Ft 551.8K

-37.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.69

6.56

17.23%

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

Last update for Szolnok: September 13, 2026

Last update for Budapest: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $417 in Szolnok versus $860 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 60% 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 Szolnok versus $63.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $271 – making Szolnok 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

Szolnok vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 48%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,692 per month in Szolnok and $2,499 in Budapest. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 7% less in Szolnok. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $161 per month in Szolnok and $555 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 Szolnok, where all-in costs run around $1,128, than in Budapest at $1,666. In Szolnok it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Szolnok – 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 Szolnok. 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.