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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $993 per month in Zalaegerszeg vs $1,451 in Budapest, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,463 per month in Zalaegerszeg vs $2,210 in Budapest, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,934 per month in Zalaegerszeg vs $2,969 in Budapest, rent included.

Zalaegerszeg is about 32% cheaper than Budapest, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Zalaegerszeg sits 26% below the global median, while Budapest is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.42 Ft 3,455

$11.64 Ft 3,521

-1.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.8 Ft 17.5K

$58.5 Ft 17.7K

-1.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.50 Ft 2,571

$8.61 Ft 2,604

-1.28%

Cappuccino

$2.22 Ft 673

$2.83 Ft 857

-21.55%

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

$1.68 Ft 509

$1.81 Ft 547

-7.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 Ft 373

$1.35 Ft 410

-8.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.82 Ft 551

$2.96 Ft 897

-38.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 Ft 577

$2.92 Ft 884

-34.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 Ft 313

$1.27 Ft 385

-18.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 Ft 432

$1.66 Ft 504

-13.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 Ft 650

$2.04 Ft 618

5.39%

Eggs

$3.13 Ft 946

$3.16 Ft 955

-0.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.71 Ft 2,936

$9.88 Ft 2,988

-1.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 Ft 1,396

$6.17 Ft 1,868

-25.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.02 Ft 2,122

$13.46 Ft 4,072

-47.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 Ft 446

$1.86 Ft 562

-20.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 Ft 575

$1.91 Ft 578

-0.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 Ft 553

$2.08 Ft 628

-12.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.58 Ft 1,085

$3.61 Ft 1,092

-0.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 Ft 341

$1.14 Ft 344

-0.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 Ft 382

$1.22 Ft 368

3.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 Ft 355

$1.54 Ft 467

-24.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Ft 163

$0.53 Ft 162

1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.57 Ft 1,987

$6.88 Ft 2,081

-4.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.70 Ft 1,724

$5.98 Ft 1,808

-4.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 Ft 273

$1.20 Ft 362

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 Ft 443

$1.65 Ft 501

-11.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 Ft 312

$1.31 Ft 398

-21.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.18 Ft 5,199

$25.92 Ft 7,843

-33.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 Ft 963

$3.23 Ft 978

-1.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 Ft 319

$1.13 Ft 341

-6.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.69 Ft 5,654

$18.91 Ft 5,722

-1.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 Ft 525

$1.75 Ft 528

-1.14%

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

$25.9K Ft 7.8M

$25.5K Ft 7.7M

1.60%

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

$31.6K Ft 9.6M

-0.12%

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

$136 Ft 41.1K

$145 Ft 44.0K

-6.56%

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

$26.54 Ft 8,031

$26.44 Ft 8,001

0.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.47 Ft 6,193

$19.87 Ft 6,012

3.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.66 Ft 11.4K

$63.7 Ft 19.3K

-40.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.97 Ft 10.3K

$22.23 Ft 6,724

52.81%

Cinema Ticket

$7.06 Ft 2,137

$9.09 Ft 2,750

-22.33%

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

$201 Ft 60.8K

$460 Ft 139.3K

-56.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,382 Ft 1.9M

$12.2K Ft 3.7M

-47.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.45 Ft 8,608

$87.3 Ft 26.4K

-67.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.94 Ft 6,940

$42.04 Ft 12.7K

-45.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.75 Ft 14.1K

$97.7 Ft 29.6K

-52.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.2 Ft 15.8K

$104 Ft 31.4K

-49.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$318 Ft 96.3K

$743 Ft 224.8K

-57.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$278 Ft 84.2K

$543 Ft 164.3K

-48.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 Ft 132.1K

$1,353 Ft 409.4K

-67.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 Ft 88.6K

$977 Ft 295.5K

-70.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,944 Ft 588.2K

$6,134 Ft 1.9M

-68.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,652 Ft 499.7K

$4,404 Ft 1.3M

-62.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$826 Ft 249.9K

$1,800 Ft 544.5K

-54.10%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Budapest: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $318 in Zalaegerszeg versus $743 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 118% 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 $58.0 in Zalaegerszeg versus $59.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $199 vs $238 – making Zalaegerszeg 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

Zalaegerszeg vs Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 46%, 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 $1,489 per month in Zalaegerszeg and $2,177 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 51% less in Zalaegerszeg. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Zalaegerszeg and $460 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 $993, than in Budapest at $1,451. 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.