Cost of Living in Hungary - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Hungary
Address: HU

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends around $1,122 per month with rent on average in Hungary.

A couple spends around $1,705 per month with rent on average in Hungary.

A family of three spends around $2,288 per month with rent on average in Hungary.

Across 44 cities in Hungary, monthly living costs range from $895 to $1,433 – a $538 difference that makes location a key factor.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.35 Ft 3,602

$7.10 Ft 2,253

$14.84 Ft 4,709

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.8 Ft 16.4K

$34.52 Ft 11.0K

$86.3 Ft 27.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.46 Ft 2,685

$7.06 Ft 2,240

$9.87 Ft 3,133

Cappuccino

$2.39 Ft 759

$1.18 Ft 373

$3.79 Ft 1,203

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

$1.59 Ft 504

$1.03 Ft 326

$2.35 Ft 746

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 Ft 372

$0.73 Ft 231

$2.18 Ft 693

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 Ft 709

$1.12 Ft 355

$3.63 Ft 1,153

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 Ft 935

$1.77 Ft 562

$4.12 Ft 1,308

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 Ft 366

$0.88 Ft 279

$1.53 Ft 486

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 Ft 484

$1.02 Ft 323

$2.61 Ft 830

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.98 Ft 628

$1.16 Ft 368

$2.91 Ft 923

Eggs

$2.94 Ft 931

$1.75 Ft 556

$3.87 Ft 1,229

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 Ft 3,041

$5.77 Ft 1,830

$17.29 Ft 5,487

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.82 Ft 1,846

$3.92 Ft 1,244

$8.39 Ft 2,664

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.27 Ft 3,895

$7.12 Ft 2,258

$18.82 Ft 5,970

Apples (1kg)

$1.68 Ft 534

$0.98 Ft 311

$2.25 Ft 714

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 Ft 592

$1.25 Ft 395

$2.63 Ft 834

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 Ft 628

$1.12 Ft 356

$3.37 Ft 1,068

Tomato (1kg)

$3.25 Ft 1,030

$1.32 Ft 418

$5.87 Ft 1,863

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 Ft 355

$0.71 Ft 226

$1.70 Ft 540

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 Ft 389

$0.85 Ft 270

$1.71 Ft 543

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 Ft 456

$0.87 Ft 276

$2.33 Ft 739

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Ft 176

$0.35 Ft 111

$0.88 Ft 280

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.48 Ft 2,055

$5.91 Ft 1,875

$7.88 Ft 2,502

Wine (Bottle)

$5.12 Ft 1,624

$2.49 Ft 790

$8.84 Ft 2,804

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 Ft 359

$0.81 Ft 256

$1.45 Ft 461

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 Ft 469

$0.99 Ft 314

$2.25 Ft 715

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 Ft 407

$1.05 Ft 332

$1.71 Ft 541

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.25 Ft 8,330

$24.51 Ft 7,776

$29.17 Ft 9,256

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 Ft 1,036

$2.67 Ft 846

$4.45 Ft 1,412

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 Ft 365

$1.05 Ft 333

$1.31 Ft 417

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.87 Ft 5,987

$15.72 Ft 4,989

$18.87 Ft 5,987

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.72 Ft 546

$1.58 Ft 502

$1.84 Ft 583

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

$28.7K Ft 9.1M

$26.0K Ft 8.2M

$32.1K Ft 10.2M

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

$30.1K Ft 9.5M

$25.6K Ft 8.1M

$34.2K Ft 10.8M

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

$149 Ft 47.4K

$105 Ft 33.2K

$228 Ft 72.4K

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

$26.91 Ft 8,539

$14.60 Ft 4,631

$35.03 Ft 11.1K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.82 Ft 6,605

$14.63 Ft 4,643

$29.27 Ft 9,287

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.7 Ft 16.7K

$34.61 Ft 11.0K

$72.1 Ft 22.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.90 Ft 5,678

$10.85 Ft 3,444

$27.12 Ft 8,606

Cinema Ticket

$8.59 Ft 2,727

$6.59 Ft 2,092

$10.03 Ft 3,182

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

$382 Ft 121.1K

$198 Ft 62.8K

$707 Ft 224.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,978 Ft 3.2M

$4,514 Ft 1.4M

$20.4K Ft 6.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.3 Ft 25.8K

$29.16 Ft 9,252

$129 Ft 40.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.24 Ft 11.8K

$17.39 Ft 5,518

$69.9 Ft 22.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.3 Ft 28.7K

$58.5 Ft 18.6K

$117 Ft 37.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.1 Ft 30.5K

$58.3 Ft 18.5K

$146 Ft 46.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 Ft 182.5K

$403 Ft 128.0K

$864 Ft 274.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 Ft 144.0K

$320 Ft 101.5K

$611 Ft 193.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$958 Ft 304.0K

$567 Ft 179.9K

$1,701 Ft 539.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$763 Ft 242.1K

$517 Ft 163.9K

$1,148 Ft 364.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,760 Ft 1.2M

$2,232 Ft 708.2K

$6,287 Ft 2.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,835 Ft 899.6K

$1,720 Ft 545.8K

$4,778 Ft 1.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,361 Ft 432.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.35

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

Last update: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom averages $449 nationally. In Budapest, expect around $725, while Nyiregyhaza – the country's most affordable city overall – comes in at $526.

The average net salary in Hungary is $1,210 – enough to cover average monthly costs of $1,122, but with limited room for savings. Margins vary widely by city.

Groceries average around $216 per month nationally. A mid-range dinner for two costs about $44.00.

Most affordable: Nyiregyhaza at $895 per month. The capital, Budapest, sits at $1,433. Across the country, monthly costs span roughly $538 between the cheapest and priciest cities.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($1,122) is 16% below the global median of $1,336.

Average rent ($449) is 29% below the global median of $632.

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

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	55	$724	$1,074	$1,340	$2,184	88.62	186.26
2	Békéscsaba	54460	54	$475	$1,057	$1,373	$2,122	89.81	242.67
3	Budaors	29398	69	$764	$1,368	$1,538	$2,734	21.47	264.69
4	Budapest	1686222	72	$681	$1,433	$2,116	$3,021	256.4	306.61
5	Csongrad	15409	59	$675	$1,158	$1,634	$2,398	25.03	165.76
6	Dabas	17542	59	$680	$1,176	$1,743	$2,332	57.56	333.86
7	Debrecen	201704	61	$578	$1,218	$1,472	$2,478	211.94	266.32
8	Dunaföldvár	8800	60	$594	$1,208	$1,630	$2,431	6.41	178.82
9	Dunakeszi	42747	58	$700	$1,154	$1,764	$2,342	64.47	301.67
10	Dunaujvaros	41394	56	$629	$1,110	$1,702	$2,212	90.45	316.33
11	Eger	49499	53	$568	$1,047	$1,380	$2,152	46.88	255.08
12	Érd	71338	53	$601	$1,071	$1,403	$2,462	161.83	296.04
13	Esztergom	28642	58	$666	$1,169	$1,635	$2,302	319.42	194.93
14	Godollo	32524	61	$598	$1,205	$1,802	$2,287	283.35	237.55
15	Gyongyos	27645	50	$572	$1,006	$1,482	$2,172	98.22	277.56
16	Gyor	130191	60	$722	$1,211	$1,878	$2,632	124.55	210.22
17	Heviz	4500	61	$613	$1,202	$1,969	$2,534	42.26	218.61
18	Hodmezovasarhely	41781	57	$681	$1,144	$1,564	$2,307	130.63	230.21
19	Kalocsa	14433	60	$701	$1,173	$1,603	$2,400	26.94	239.49
20	Kaposvár	58830	55	$597	$1,100	$1,645	$2,146	97.67	180.95
21	Kecskemet	109450	52	$617	$1,027	$1,328	$2,019	104.67	163.33
22	Kiskunfelegyhaza	28562	59	$643	$1,185	$1,597	$2,341	219.92	137.35
23	Kisvarda	14888	57	$617	$1,150	$1,382	$2,220	104.23	186.36
24	Lake Balaton	275000	56	$625	$1,108	$1,576	$2,278	139.01	115.86
25	Miskolc	143502	55	$648	$1,086	$1,510	$2,246	45.06	272.38
26	Mohacs	17200	56	$638	$1,121	$1,689	$2,240	138.09	256.14
27	Nagykanizsa	42502	50	$657	$1,018	$1,608	$2,069	119.93	220.93
28	Nyiregyhaza	115359	45	$629	$895	$1,381	$2,066	103.21	246.84
29	Paks	17917	57	$710	$1,132	$1,393	$2,179	205.58	251.06
30	Paszto	9500	59	$774	$1,205	$1,889	$2,388	210.35	176.12
31	Pecs	140330	60	$582	$1,200	$1,787	$2,442	36.08	267.37
32	Siofok	24021	54	$595	$1,081	$1,380	$2,257	51.33	240.86
33	Sopron	61589	62	$643	$1,220	$1,599	$2,390	80.64	247.27
34	Szeged	157930	53	$688	$1,076	$1,638	$2,236	44.79	228.16
35	Szekesfehervar	96024	51	$614	$1,006	$1,499	$2,290	87.08	302.15
36	Szekszard	29707	53	$679	$1,074	$1,620	$2,149	88.51	245.29
37	Szentendre	28444	57	$628	$1,130	$1,549	$2,371	96.98	255.22
38	Szolnok	66426	46	$476	$909	$1,194	$1,832	34.31	302.32
39	Szombathely	77757	57	$743	$1,106	$1,844	$2,164	22.07	227.02
40	Tamási	8000	51	$620	$1,036	$1,559	$2,108	38.7	217.97
41	Tatabanya	65861	56	$582	$1,132	$1,537	$2,182	26.59	299.51
42	Vac	34001	56	$550	$1,099	$1,695	$2,449	166.29	233.74
43	Veszprem	56029	57	$528	$1,143	$1,549	$2,119	123.38	210.32
44	Zalaegerszeg	55152	49	$578	$962	$1,457	$1,981	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 $895 in smaller cities to $1,433 in major hubs. 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 $895 per month. Not the cheapest option out there, but far from the most expensive – a reasonable balance of cost and quality of life.