Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and Budapest
For one person, living is cheaper in Budapest: $1,621 a month against $2,785 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $14,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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United States Living Index133Cost of Living Index in the United StatesLearn more -
Budapest Living Index79Cost of Living Index in BudapestLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: The United States is 41% more expensive than Budapest without rent, and 71.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: The United States is 37.7% more expensive than Budapest without rent, and 48.4% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Budapest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$13.99 Ft 4,555
44.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.1 $81.1
$60.3 Ft 19.7K
34.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.12 $12.12
$9.96 Ft 3,244
21.69%
Cappuccino
$5.36 $5.36
$3.38 Ft 1,102
58.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.13 Ft 693
30.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.87 Ft 609
11.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$3.75 Ft 1,222
55.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 $7.92
$3.57 Ft 1,163
121.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Budapest
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.13 Ft 369
-7.96%
White Bread (500g)
$3.56 $3.56
$1.84 Ft 600
93.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$2.39 Ft 777
96.23%
Eggs
$4.43 $4.43
$3.83 Ft 1,246
15.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 $12.91
$11.33 Ft 3,689
13.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.20 $12.20
$6.74 Ft 2,194
81.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.00 $17.00
$14.69 Ft 4,784
15.72%
Apples (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$1.84 Ft 598
188.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 $1.67
$2.01 Ft 654
-16.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$2.36 Ft 767
90.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.05 $5.05
$3.77 Ft 1,227
33.95%
Potato (1kg)
$2.83 $2.83
$0.96 Ft 314
194.79%
Onion (1kg)
$3.00 $3.00
$1.03 Ft 335
191.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.28 $2.28
$1.56 Ft 509
46.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$0.66 Ft 216
243.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.33 $10.33
$7.96 Ft 2,594
29.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$6.01 Ft 1,956
144.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.30 Ft 422
57.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$2.08 Ft 677
75.96%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Budapest
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 $2.33
$1.50 Ft 490
55.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.1 $65.1
$27.61 Ft 8,991
135.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 $3.60
$3.30 Ft 1,075
9.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 $1.90
$1.30 Ft 424
46.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.81 $29.81
$19.78 Ft 6,442
50.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.81 Ft 591
-43.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K $35.1K
$29.3K Ft 9.6M
19.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$34.1K Ft 11.1M
-22.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Budapest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$216 $216
$170 Ft 55.3K
27.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.3 $62.3
$23.98 Ft 7,809
159.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.6 $74.6
$23.42 Ft 7,628
218.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Budapest
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.70 $44.70
$66.2 Ft 21.6K
-32.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.55 $22.55
$19.18 Ft 6,245
17.57%
Cinema Ticket
$15.19 $15.19
$9.52 Ft 3,101
59.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Budapest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,440 $1,440
$537 Ft 174.8K
168.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.2K $25.2K
$16.6K Ft 5.4M
51.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Budapest
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 $53.7
$101 Ft 33.0K
-47.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.44 $42.44
$42.99 Ft 14.0K
-1.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.4 $93.4
$113 Ft 36.7K
-17.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$119 Ft 38.7K
-3.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Budapest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,622 $1,622
$805 Ft 262.2K
101.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,357 $1,357
$629 Ft 204.9K
115.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,681 $2,681
$1,549 Ft 504.6K
73.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,170 $2,170
$1,167 Ft 380.1K
85.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,294 $3,294
$5,618 Ft 1.8M
-41.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,674 $2,674
$3,968 Ft 1.3M
-32.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Budapest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,242 $4,242
$1,626 Ft 529.5K
160.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.43
1.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United States: October 6, 2026
Last update for Budapest: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
United States $1.4K 49.4%
Budapest $629 38.7% 53.6% $727
Groceries & Markets
United States $411 15%
Budapest $258 15.8% 37.3% $153
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States $353 12.9%
Budapest $217 13.4% 38.4% $136
Eating Out
United States $327 11.9%
Budapest $224 13.8% 31.4% $103
Clothing & Footwear
United States $137 5%
Budapest $169 10.4% 23.4% $32
Getting Around
United States $87 3.2%
Budapest $43 2.7% 50.4% $44
Sport & Entertainment
United States $75 2.7%
Budapest $85 5.2% 13.6% $10
Accommodation & Living
United States $2.2K 41.3%
Budapest $1.2K 34.1% 46.2% $1K
Groceries & Markets
United States $942 17.9%
Budapest $607 17.7% 35.5% $335
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States $415 7.9%
Budapest $241 7.1% 41.9% $174
Eating Out
United States $1.1K 20.3%
Budapest $753 22% 29.4% $314
Clothing & Footwear
United States $304 5.8%
Budapest $376 11% 23.4% $71
Getting Around
United States $180 3.4%
Budapest $90 2.6% 50% $90
Sport & Entertainment
United States $173 3.3%
Budapest $190 5.5% 9.9% $17
Good to know
🇺🇸 United States
🇭🇺 Budapest
Weather
Population
340,110,988
1,686,222 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- United States Budapest 8,220 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
- United States
- Budapest
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
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