Cost of Living Comparison Between Zalaegerszeg and Budapest Cost of Living Comparison Between Zalaegerszeg and Budapest

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $964 per month in Zalaegerszeg vs $1,435 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,458 per month in Zalaegerszeg vs $2,204 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,952 per month in Zalaegerszeg vs $2,972 in Budapest, rent included.

Zalaegerszeg is about 33% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Zalaegerszeg sits 28% below the global median, while Budapest is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.32 Ft 3,582

$11.54 Ft 3,651

-1.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.7 Ft 18.6K

$58.0 Ft 18.3K

1.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 Ft 2,668

$8.89 Ft 2,812

-5.17%

Cappuccino

$2.21 Ft 700

$2.73 Ft 863

-19.05%

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

$1.62 Ft 514

$1.71 Ft 541

-5.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.25 Ft 397

$1.28 Ft 405

-2.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.82 Ft 575

$2.93 Ft 927

-37.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 Ft 597

$2.87 Ft 906

-34.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 Ft 328

$1.21 Ft 382

-14.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 Ft 449

$1.76 Ft 557

-19.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 Ft 655

$2.08 Ft 657

-0.48%

Eggs

$3.10 Ft 981

$3.06 Ft 969

1.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.67 Ft 3,059

$10.19 Ft 3,225

-5.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 Ft 1,476

$6.06 Ft 1,917

-22.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.14 Ft 2,259

$13.38 Ft 4,233

-46.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.40 Ft 442

$1.92 Ft 608

-27.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 Ft 606

$1.90 Ft 600

1.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 Ft 575

$2.18 Ft 691

-16.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.48 Ft 1,102

$3.47 Ft 1,098

0.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 Ft 373

$1.12 Ft 354

5.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 Ft 399

$1.25 Ft 395

0.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 Ft 367

$1.56 Ft 495

-25.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Ft 169

$0.58 Ft 183

-6.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.66 Ft 2,106

$6.81 Ft 2,155

-2.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.27 Ft 1,983

$6.26 Ft 1,981

0.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 Ft 285

$1.21 Ft 381

-25.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 Ft 461

$1.67 Ft 529

-12.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 Ft 344

$1.33 Ft 420

-18.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.44 Ft 5,517

$25.93 Ft 8,205

-32.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.22 Ft 1,020

$3.08 Ft 976

4.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 Ft 322

$1.11 Ft 352

-8.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.83 Ft 5,956

$18.67 Ft 5,906

0.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 Ft 574

$1.85 Ft 586

-1.62%

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

$26.2K Ft 8.3M

$25.4K Ft 8.1M

3.15%

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

$31.6K Ft 10.0M

$31.5K Ft 10.0M

0.43%

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

$135 Ft 42.6K

$148 Ft 46.8K

-8.93%

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

$26.61 Ft 8,418

$25.98 Ft 8,220

2.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.00 Ft 6,327

$20.22 Ft 6,398

-1.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.31 Ft 11.5K

$63.0 Ft 19.9K

-42.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.25 Ft 10.8K

$22.23 Ft 7,034

54.07%

Cinema Ticket

$7.07 Ft 2,237

$8.90 Ft 2,815

-20.56%

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

$200 Ft 63.2K

$464 Ft 146.8K

-56.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,237 Ft 2.0M

$12.4K Ft 3.9M

-49.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.12 Ft 9,213

$85.1 Ft 26.9K

-65.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.62 Ft 7,157

$43.25 Ft 13.7K

-47.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.89 Ft 15.2K

$95.6 Ft 30.2K

-49.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.0 Ft 16.1K

$104 Ft 32.9K

-50.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$317 Ft 100.3K

$738 Ft 233.5K

-57.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 Ft 86.2K

$559 Ft 176.7K

-51.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 Ft 134.4K

$1,337 Ft 423.0K

-68.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 Ft 90.4K

$965 Ft 305.4K

-70.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,887 Ft 596.9K

$5,941 Ft 1.9M

-68.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 Ft 502.8K

$4,265 Ft 1.3M

-62.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$784 Ft 247.9K

$1,732 Ft 547.9K

-54.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.03

-0.43%

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

Last update for Zalaegerszeg: July 25, 2026

Last update for Budapest: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $317 in Zalaegerszeg 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 121% 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 $59.0 in Zalaegerszeg versus $58.0 in Budapest. Groceries tell a different story – $199 in Zalaegerszeg vs $239 in Budapest – so Zalaegerszeg wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Zalaegerszeg vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 49%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,446 per month in Zalaegerszeg 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 Zalaegerszeg, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 49% less in Zalaegerszeg. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $200 per month in Zalaegerszeg and $464 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 Zalaegerszeg, where all-in costs run around $964, than in Budapest at $1,435. In Zalaegerszeg it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zalaegerszeg – 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 Zalaegerszeg. 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.