Last update: Oct 2026 9.6M

Cost of Living in Hungary

Name: Hungary
Address: HU

Across Hungary, living costs for one person average $1,358 a month, including rent and utilities, which take just under half of the total. Other living expenses average about $25 a day.

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🇭🇺 Hungary

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hungary

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hungary actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends around $1,358 per month with rent on average in Hungary.

$1,358 /mo

A couple spends around $2,109 per month with rent on average in Hungary.

$2,109 /mo

A family of three spends around $2,861 per month with rent on average in Hungary.

$2,861 /mo

Across 44 cities in Hungary, monthly living costs range from $1,006 to $1,641 – a $635 difference that makes location a key factor.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.38 Ft 3,999

$7.74 Ft 2,501

$18.57 Ft 5,999

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.6 Ft 18.3K

$37.76 Ft 12.2K

$94.4 Ft 30.5K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.48 Ft 3,062

$7.90 Ft 2,553

$11.38 Ft 3,676

Cappuccino

$2.63 Ft 850

$1.22 Ft 395

$4.27 Ft 1,379

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

$1.80 Ft 583

$1.10 Ft 355

$2.83 Ft 915

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 Ft 434

$0.92 Ft 297

$2.13 Ft 689

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 Ft 917

$1.27 Ft 409

$4.74 Ft 1,531

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 Ft 887

$1.83 Ft 590

$4.58 Ft 1,480

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 Ft 378

$0.91 Ft 293

$1.44 Ft 466

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 Ft 503

$1.24 Ft 402

$2.50 Ft 807

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 Ft 752

$1.42 Ft 460

$3.03 Ft 981

Eggs

$3.50 Ft 1,129

$2.21 Ft 715

$4.42 Ft 1,428

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.51 Ft 3,397

$7.12 Ft 2,300

$18.56 Ft 5,998

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.52 Ft 2,105

$4.20 Ft 1,358

$9.00 Ft 2,908

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.03 Ft 4,856

$9.40 Ft 3,038

$18.80 Ft 6,075

Apples (1kg)

$2.06 Ft 665

$1.11 Ft 357

$2.53 Ft 817

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 Ft 678

$1.49 Ft 483

$2.75 Ft 889

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 Ft 731

$1.27 Ft 410

$3.48 Ft 1,124

Tomato (1kg)

$3.42 Ft 1,104

$1.47 Ft 475

$4.92 Ft 1,589

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 Ft 354

$0.62 Ft 200

$1.57 Ft 508

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 Ft 406

$0.63 Ft 203

$1.87 Ft 605

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 Ft 489

$0.91 Ft 296

$2.12 Ft 686

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 Ft 192

$0.37 Ft 118

$0.97 Ft 314

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.91 Ft 2,555

$6.96 Ft 2,248

$9.48 Ft 3,064

Wine (Bottle)

$5.36 Ft 1,731

$2.46 Ft 795

$9.46 Ft 3,057

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 Ft 393

$0.90 Ft 292

$1.50 Ft 484

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 Ft 631

$1.18 Ft 380

$3.82 Ft 1,235

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 Ft 459

$1.10 Ft 357

$1.74 Ft 561

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.02 Ft 9,051

$22.72 Ft 7,340

$31.13 Ft 10.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 Ft 1,129

$2.86 Ft 923

$5.09 Ft 1,643

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 Ft 442

$1.22 Ft 394

$1.67 Ft 540

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.70 Ft 6,041

$17.15 Ft 5,540

$22.44 Ft 7,250

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.90 Ft 612

$1.74 Ft 564

$1.98 Ft 638

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

$28.1K Ft 9.1M

$33.0K Ft 10.7M

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

$34.6K Ft 11.2M

$30.5K Ft 9.8M

$38.1K Ft 12.3M

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

$166 Ft 53.5K

$121 Ft 38.9K

$246 Ft 79.3K

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

$26.28 Ft 8,490

$15.43 Ft 4,984

$37.03 Ft 12.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.09 Ft 7,459

$17.56 Ft 5,673

$33.88 Ft 10.9K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.8 Ft 16.7K

$32.08 Ft 10.4K

$76.4 Ft 24.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.94 Ft 5,473

$10.95 Ft 3,538

$25.03 Ft 8,086

Cinema Ticket

$9.17 Ft 2,963

$6.95 Ft 2,246

$11.06 Ft 3,574

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

$380 Ft 122.6K

$183 Ft 59.2K

$794 Ft 256.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.1K Ft 3.6M

$4,858 Ft 1.6M

$28.7K Ft 9.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.2 Ft 28.5K

$37.15 Ft 12.0K

$124 Ft 40.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Ft 11.8K

$18.60 Ft 6,009

$62.0 Ft 20.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 Ft 30.9K

$62.9 Ft 20.3K

$129 Ft 41.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 Ft 32.5K

$62.0 Ft 20.0K

$140 Ft 45.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 Ft 188.7K

$401 Ft 129.6K

$864 Ft 279.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$444 Ft 143.5K

$304 Ft 98.2K

$653 Ft 211.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$969 Ft 313.1K

$607 Ft 196.1K

$1,700 Ft 549.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$792 Ft 255.9K

$526 Ft 169.9K

$1,238 Ft 399.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,765 Ft 1.2M

$2,288 Ft 739.2K

$6,142 Ft 2.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,809 Ft 907.5K

$1,693 Ft 547.1K

$4,618 Ft 1.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,331 Ft 430.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.17

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

Last update: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Hungary $1,358

Accommodation & Living

$444 32.7%

Groceries & Markets

$248 18.3%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

$215 15.8%

Eating Out

$191 14.1%

Clothing & Footwear

$144 10.6%

Sport & Entertainment

$70 5.2%

Getting Around

$44 3.2%

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom averages $515 nationally. In Budapest, expect around $832, while Gyongyos – the country's most affordable city overall – comes in at $405.

The average net salary in Hungary is $1,196 – below average monthly costs of $1,358. Many locals rely on dual incomes or shared housing. Remote workers earning abroad find strong purchasing power here.

Groceries average around $243 per month nationally. A mid-range dinner for two costs about $52.0.

Most affordable: Gyongyos at $1,006 per month. The capital, Budapest, sits at $1,641. Across the country, monthly costs span roughly $635 between the cheapest and priciest cities.

Cost Highlights

Overall cost of living ($1,358) is 0% above the global median of $1,355.

Average rent ($515) is 22% below the global median of $663.

Public transport ($25.00) is 24% below the global median of $33.00.

Good to know

🕒 Local time

00:04 12:04 AM

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

9,599,744

💱 Currency

Hungarian Forint HUF Ft

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 HUF = 3.1 USD

1,000 HUF = 2.75 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

By City in Hungary

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Ajka	26408	59	$685	$1,204	$1,618	$2,387	88.62	186.26
2	Békéscsaba	54460	55	$613	$1,125	$1,560	$2,169	89.81	242.67
3	Budaors	29398	73	$776	$1,509	$1,994	$3,001	21.47	264.69
4	Budapest	1686222	80	$837	$1,641	$2,111	$3,483	256.4	306.61
5	Csongrad	15409	64	$744	$1,309	$1,934	$2,764	25.03	165.76
6	Dabas	17542	63	$725	$1,294	$1,778	$2,607	57.56	333.86
7	Debrecen	201704	67	$746	$1,384	$1,863	$2,944	211.94	266.32
8	Dunaföldvár	8800	63	$746	$1,297	$1,873	$2,663	6.41	178.82
9	Dunakeszi	42747	63	$724	$1,286	$1,818	$2,633	64.47	301.67
10	Dunaujvaros	41394	59	$662	$1,215	$1,668	$2,459	90.45	316.33
11	Eger	49499	60	$687	$1,240	$1,680	$2,445	46.88	255.08
12	Érd	71338	56	$711	$1,145	$1,927	$2,775	161.83	296.04
13	Esztergom	28642	63	$746	$1,295	$1,870	$2,668	319.42	194.93
14	Godollo	32524	68	$758	$1,413	$1,878	$2,969	283.35	237.55
15	Gyongyos	27645	49	$609	$1,006	$1,542	$2,253	98.22	277.56
16	Gyor	130191	63	$757	$1,308	$1,890	$2,820	124.55	210.22
17	Heviz	4500	66	$791	$1,367	$2,009	$2,833	42.26	218.61
18	Hodmezovasarhely	41781	61	$710	$1,262	$1,845	$2,648	130.63	230.21
19	Kalocsa	14433	63	$742	$1,299	$1,865	$2,667	26.94	239.49
20	Kaposvár	58830	58	$645	$1,199	$1,580	$2,389	97.67	180.95
21	Kecskemet	109450	57	$657	$1,195	$1,595	$2,331	104.67	163.33
22	Kiskunfelegyhaza	28562	64	$741	$1,317	$1,929	$2,758	219.92	137.35
23	Kisvarda	14888	61	$694	$1,259	$1,759	$2,565	104.23	186.36
24	Lake Balaton	275000	54	$619	$1,112	$1,571	$2,246	139.01	115.86
25	Miskolc	143502	58	$681	$1,212	$1,714	$2,496	45.06	272.38
26	Mohacs	17200	60	$695	$1,250	$1,790	$2,583	138.09	256.14
27	Nagykanizsa	42502	52	$686	$1,073	$1,749	$2,250	119.93	220.93
28	Nyiregyhaza	115359	50	$662	$1,037	$1,725	$1,857	103.21	246.84
29	Paks	17917	56	$612	$1,143	$1,506	$2,293	205.58	251.06
30	Paszto	9500	64	$744	$1,314	$1,932	$2,766	210.35	176.12
31	Pecs	140330	66	$747	$1,365	$1,949	$2,828	36.08	267.37
32	Siofok	24021	61	$800	$1,266	$2,014	$2,825	51.33	240.86
33	Sopron	61589	65	$697	$1,354	$1,762	$2,658	80.64	247.27
34	Szeged	157930	60	$729	$1,239	$1,901	$2,634	44.79	228.16
35	Szekesfehervar	96024	53	$666	$1,102	$1,731	$2,513	87.08	302.15
36	Szekszard	29707	58	$678	$1,209	$1,699	$2,491	88.51	245.29
37	Szentendre	28444	71	$742	$1,455	$1,891	$2,759	96.98	255.22
38	Szolnok	66426	54	$663	$1,122	$1,668	$2,319	34.31	302.32
39	Szombathely	77757	60	$727	$1,231	$1,854	$2,683	22.07	227.02
40	Tamási	8000	55	$622	$1,138	$1,635	$2,414	38.7	217.97
41	Tatabanya	65861	59	$688	$1,218	$1,688	$2,491	26.59	299.51
42	Vac	34001	64	$769	$1,333	$2,235	$3,167	166.29	233.74
43	Veszprem	56029	62	$683	$1,278	$1,762	$2,538	123.38	210.32
44	Zalaegerszeg	55152	53	$648	$1,092	$1,724	$2,179	159.3	230.5

Hungary Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Hungary - Frequently Asked Questions

Compared with many Western European hubs, Hungary offers a compelling mix of culture, safety, and value for travelers, expats, and digital nomads. In cities like Budapest and beyond, amenities come at a gentler price point, while infrastructure – public transit, healthcare access, and coworking scenes – supports longer stays. The Cost of Living in Hungary tends to be friendlier for those balancing rent, food, and experiences, with seasonal peaks that invite smart planning. Culture, cafes, and outdoor life blend to create a rich daily rhythm without breaking the budget. Tip: Start with a short-term stay in a diverse district to test daily life before committing long-term.

From the housing hunt to groceries and transit, daily life varies by city and neighborhood in Hungary. In Budapest, you may find a wide range of rental options, easy access to supermarkets, and plentiful coworking spaces; in smaller towns, costs and pace drop but amenities may be fewer. The Hungary living cost tends to reflect location, with transit passes and utility bills that are manageable relative to income in many cases. Practical tips: search with lease flexibility, check proximity to metro lines, and sample local markets for meals. Tip: Start with short-term stays near public transport to gauge routines before committing long-term.

To balance life and costs, use a practical budgeting framework like a simple monthly plan: essentials, flexible spending, and savings. In Hungary, neighborhoods near transit hubs, universities, or business districts offer shorter commutes and easier access to services, while outer areas may offer roomier housing at lower rents. Embrace seasonal patterns: outdoor markets and summer events can be cheaper and livelier, while winter costs shift toward heating and indoor activities. Tip: compare neighborhoods by a trial residency, track monthly costs for a couple of weeks, and prioritize amenities you actually use.

Hungary falls in the middle globally – not a bargain destination, not an expensive one. Costs vary a lot by region, which means it works for a wide range of incomes and lifestyles depending on where you settle.

In 2026, monthly costs in Hungary range from $1,006 in the most affordable city to $1,641 in the most expensive one. Where you choose to live makes a dramatic difference – the gap between cheapest and most expensive cities is huge.

Rent in Hungary varies a lot – Budapest has the highest prices, and the gap between capital and provincial rents can be 50% or more. Choosing which city to live in is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make.

In regional cities, $1,000 is plenty. In Budapest? You'll need to plan carefully, especially around housing. Shared apartments or outer neighborhoods are the usual workarounds.

Hungary is mid-range globally, with more affordable cities starting around $1,006 per month. Not the cheapest option out there, but far from the most expensive – a reasonable balance of cost and quality of life.