Cost of Living Comparison Between Szombathely and Budapest Cost of Living Comparison Between Szombathely and Budapest

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,149 per month in Szombathely vs $1,435 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,635 per month in Szombathely vs $2,204 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,121 per month in Szombathely vs $2,972 in Budapest, rent included.

Szombathely is about 20% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Szombathely sits 14% below the global median, while Budapest is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.41 Ft 2,661

$11.54 Ft 3,650

-27.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.60 Ft 13.5K

$58.0 Ft 18.3K

-26.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 Ft 2,717

$8.89 Ft 2,812

-3.37%

Cappuccino

$2.11 Ft 667

$2.73 Ft 863

-22.71%

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

$1.11 Ft 350

$1.71 Ft 541

-35.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 Ft 313

$1.28 Ft 405

-22.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 Ft 496

$2.93 Ft 927

-46.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 Ft 703

$2.87 Ft 906

-22.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 Ft 338

$1.21 Ft 382

-11.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 Ft 496

$1.76 Ft 557

-10.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 Ft 597

$2.08 Ft 657

-9.13%

Eggs

$2.41 Ft 761

$3.06 Ft 969

-21.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.26 Ft 2,929

$10.19 Ft 3,225

-9.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.85 Ft 1,849

$6.06 Ft 1,917

-3.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.18 Ft 4,487

$13.38 Ft 4,232

5.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 Ft 610

$1.92 Ft 608

0.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 Ft 577

$1.90 Ft 600

-4.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 Ft 691

Tomato (1kg)

$2.92 Ft 925

$3.47 Ft 1,098

-15.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 Ft 369

$1.12 Ft 354

4.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 Ft 387

$1.25 Ft 395

-2.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.81 Ft 573

$1.56 Ft 495

16.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 Ft 184

$0.58 Ft 183

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.07 Ft 2,238

$6.81 Ft 2,154

3.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.78 Ft 1,513

$6.26 Ft 1,981

-23.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 Ft 361

$1.21 Ft 381

-5.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 Ft 493

$1.67 Ft 529

-6.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 Ft 248

$1.33 Ft 420

-40.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.17 Ft 5,747

$25.93 Ft 8,204

-29.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 Ft 811

$3.08 Ft 976

-16.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.16 Ft 366

$1.11 Ft 352

4.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.12 Ft 6,997

$18.67 Ft 5,905

18.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.66 Ft 524

$1.85 Ft 586

-10.27%

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

$27.6K Ft 8.7M

$25.4K Ft 8.0M

8.59%

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

$26.0K Ft 8.2M

$31.5K Ft 10.0M

-17.33%

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

$162 Ft 51.2K

$148 Ft 46.8K

9.52%

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

$27.23 Ft 8,615

$25.98 Ft 8,219

4.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.40 Ft 6,137

$20.22 Ft 6,397

-4.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.24 Ft 14.3K

$63.0 Ft 19.9K

-28.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 Ft 5,372

$22.23 Ft 7,034

-23.62%

Cinema Ticket

$4.27 Ft 1,351

$8.90 Ft 2,814

-52.02%

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

$396 Ft 125.2K

$464 Ft 146.8K

-14.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,137 Ft 2.3M

$12.4K Ft 3.9M

-42.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.9 Ft 29.4K

$85.1 Ft 26.9K

9.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.71 Ft 14.1K

$43.25 Ft 13.7K

3.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.8 Ft 29.0K

$95.6 Ft 30.2K

-3.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 Ft 31.7K

$104 Ft 32.9K

-3.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 Ft 136.1K

$738 Ft 233.4K

-41.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 Ft 99.0K

$559 Ft 176.7K

-43.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 Ft 138.4K

$1,337 Ft 422.9K

-67.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 Ft 108.3K

$965 Ft 305.3K

-64.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,488 Ft 787.1K

$5,941 Ft 1.9M

-58.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,085 Ft 659.4K

$4,265 Ft 1.3M

-51.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,219 Ft 385.6K

$1,732 Ft 547.8K

-29.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

7.03

6.69%

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

Last update for Szombathely: July 28, 2026

Last update for Budapest: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Szombathely versus $738 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 42% 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 $43.00 in Szombathely versus $58.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $239 – making Szombathely 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

Szombathely vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 25%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,723 per month in Szombathely and $2,152 in Budapest. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 43% less in Szombathely. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $396 per month in Szombathely and $464 in Budapest. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Szombathely, where all-in costs run around $1,149, than in Budapest at $1,435. In Szombathely it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Szombathely – 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 Szombathely. 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.