Cost of Living in Hungary - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Hungary
Address: HU

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends around $1,123 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 $2,287 per month with rent on average in Hungary.

Across 44 cities in Hungary, monthly living costs range from $883 to $1,431 – a $548 difference that makes location a key factor.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.37 Ft 3,545

$7.11 Ft 2,217

$14.87 Ft 4,635

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.0 Ft 16.2K

$34.67 Ft 10.8K

$86.7 Ft 27.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 Ft 2,677

$7.16 Ft 2,233

$10.02 Ft 3,124

Cappuccino

$2.39 Ft 746

$1.18 Ft 367

$3.80 Ft 1,183

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

$1.54 Ft 480

$1.00 Ft 311

$2.28 Ft 711

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 Ft 369

$0.74 Ft 229

$2.21 Ft 688

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.26 Ft 704

$1.13 Ft 352

$3.67 Ft 1,145

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 Ft 881

$1.70 Ft 529

$3.95 Ft 1,233

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 Ft 359

$0.88 Ft 273

$1.53 Ft 476

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 Ft 481

$1.03 Ft 322

$2.65 Ft 825

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.02 Ft 629

$1.18 Ft 369

$2.96 Ft 924

Eggs

$2.83 Ft 881

$1.69 Ft 526

$3.73 Ft 1,163

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.36 Ft 2,917

$5.63 Ft 1,756

$16.89 Ft 5,264

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.00 Ft 1,870

$4.04 Ft 1,260

$8.65 Ft 2,698

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.57 Ft 3,918

$7.29 Ft 2,271

$19.27 Ft 6,007

Apples (1kg)

$1.74 Ft 542

$1.01 Ft 315

$2.32 Ft 724

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 Ft 579

$1.24 Ft 387

$2.62 Ft 817

Oranges (1kg)

$2.07 Ft 644

$1.17 Ft 365

$3.51 Ft 1,095

Tomato (1kg)

$3.22 Ft 1,003

$1.31 Ft 408

$5.82 Ft 1,816

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 Ft 362

$0.74 Ft 231

$1.77 Ft 551

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 Ft 391

$0.87 Ft 271

$1.75 Ft 545

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 Ft 434

$0.84 Ft 263

$2.25 Ft 702

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 Ft 160

$0.32 Ft 101

$0.82 Ft 255

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.74 Ft 2,103

$6.15 Ft 1,918

$8.21 Ft 2,560

Wine (Bottle)

$5.19 Ft 1,617

$2.52 Ft 787

$8.95 Ft 2,789

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 Ft 354

$0.81 Ft 253

$1.46 Ft 455

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 Ft 464

$1.00 Ft 310

$2.27 Ft 707

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.33 Ft 413

$1.08 Ft 337

$1.76 Ft 550

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.48 Ft 7,943

$23.78 Ft 7,415

$28.31 Ft 8,826

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 Ft 977

$2.56 Ft 798

$4.27 Ft 1,332

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 Ft 359

$1.05 Ft 327

$1.31 Ft 409

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.63 Ft 5,808

$15.52 Ft 4,839

$18.63 Ft 5,808

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.71 Ft 534

$1.58 Ft 492

$1.83 Ft 571

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

$28.2K Ft 8.8M

$25.5K Ft 7.9M

$31.5K Ft 9.8M

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

$29.9K Ft 9.3M

$25.5K Ft 8.0M

$34.0K Ft 10.6M

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

$148 Ft 46.1K

$104 Ft 32.3K

$226 Ft 70.5K

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

$26.33 Ft 8,210

$14.28 Ft 4,453

$34.29 Ft 10.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.08 Ft 6,262

$14.12 Ft 4,402

$28.24 Ft 8,803

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 Ft 16.3K

$34.25 Ft 10.7K

$71.3 Ft 22.2K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.28 Ft 5,698

$11.08 Ft 3,456

$27.70 Ft 8,636

Cinema Ticket

$8.55 Ft 2,667

$6.56 Ft 2,046

$9.98 Ft 3,112

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

$393 Ft 122.5K

$204 Ft 63.5K

$728 Ft 226.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.2K Ft 3.2M

$4,600 Ft 1.4M

$20.8K Ft 6.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.5 Ft 25.1K

$28.88 Ft 9,003

$128 Ft 39.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.69 Ft 11.8K

$17.60 Ft 5,488

$70.8 Ft 22.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.3 Ft 27.2K

$56.5 Ft 17.6K

$113 Ft 35.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.1 Ft 29.9K

$58.2 Ft 18.2K

$146 Ft 45.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 Ft 182.1K

$409 Ft 127.7K

$877 Ft 273.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$453 Ft 141.1K

$319 Ft 99.5K

$610 Ft 190.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$984 Ft 306.7K

$582 Ft 181.5K

$1,746 Ft 544.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$770 Ft 240.1K

$521 Ft 162.6K

$1,159 Ft 361.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,793 Ft 1.2M

$2,255 Ft 702.9K

$6,351 Ft 2.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,791 Ft 870.0K

$1,704 Ft 531.4K

$4,735 Ft 1.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,417 Ft 441.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.35

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

Last update: June 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom averages $449 nationally. In Budapest, expect around $726, while Nyiregyhaza – the country's most affordable city overall – comes in at $524.

The average net salary in Hungary is $1,227 – enough to cover average monthly costs of $1,123, 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 $883 per month. The capital, Budapest, sits at $1,431. Across the country, monthly costs span roughly $548 between the cheapest and priciest cities.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($1,123) is 16% below the global median of $1,339.

Average rent ($449) is 29% below the global median of $628.

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	$551	$1,075	$1,450	$2,148	88.62	186.26
2	Békéscsaba	54460	54	$585	$1,050	$1,435	$2,078	89.81	242.67
3	Budaors	29398	69	$642	$1,397	$1,784	$2,751	21.47	264.69
4	Budapest	1686222	72	$797	$1,431	$1,637	$3,022	256.4	306.61
5	Csongrad	15409	59	$690	$1,203	$1,709	$2,416	25.03	165.76
6	Dabas	17542	59	$704	$1,147	$1,778	$2,300	57.56	333.86
7	Debrecen	201704	61	$549	$1,196	$1,399	$2,494	211.94	266.32
8	Dunaföldvár	8800	60	$707	$1,200	$1,948	$2,431	6.41	178.82
9	Dunakeszi	42747	58	$587	$1,171	$1,644	$2,392	64.47	301.67
10	Dunaujvaros	41394	56	$714	$1,121	$1,688	$2,244	90.45	316.33
11	Eger	49499	53	$727	$1,071	$1,664	$2,166	46.88	255.08
12	Érd	71338	53	$662	$1,033	$1,871	$2,395	161.83	296.04
13	Esztergom	28642	58	$593	$1,141	$1,456	$2,238	319.42	194.93
14	Godollo	32524	61	$626	$1,236	$1,672	$2,326	283.35	237.55
15	Gyongyos	27645	50	$635	$973	$1,615	$2,175	98.22	277.56
16	Gyor	130191	60	$642	$1,202	$1,891	$2,574	124.55	210.22
17	Heviz	4500	61	$789	$1,212	$2,002	$2,495	42.26	218.61
18	Hodmezovasarhely	41781	57	$722	$1,136	$1,691	$2,296	130.63	230.21
19	Kalocsa	14433	60	$796	$1,200	$1,736	$2,466	26.94	239.49
20	Kaposvár	58830	55	$594	$1,092	$1,675	$2,152	97.67	180.95
21	Kecskemet	109450	52	$482	$1,045	$1,487	$1,974	104.67	163.33
22	Kiskunfelegyhaza	28562	59	$584	$1,187	$1,502	$2,354	219.92	137.35
23	Kisvarda	14888	57	$556	$1,134	$1,513	$2,290	104.23	186.36
24	Lake Balaton	275000	56	$620	$1,110	$1,558	$2,233	139.01	115.86
25	Miskolc	143502	55	$586	$1,100	$1,657	$2,216	45.06	272.38
26	Mohacs	17200	56	$603	$1,111	$1,672	$2,309	138.09	256.14
27	Nagykanizsa	42502	50	$568	$1,010	$1,481	$2,078	119.93	220.93
28	Nyiregyhaza	115359	45	$505	$883	$1,234	$2,025	103.21	246.84
29	Paks	17917	57	$686	$1,140	$1,483	$2,203	205.58	251.06
30	Paszto	9500	60	$780	$1,200	$1,859	$2,390	210.35	176.12
31	Pecs	140330	60	$763	$1,192	$1,858	$2,412	36.08	267.37
32	Siofok	24021	54	$538	$1,080	$1,371	$2,289	51.33	240.86
33	Sopron	61589	62	$618	$1,243	$1,502	$2,345	80.64	247.27
34	Szeged	157930	53	$554	$1,071	$1,519	$2,264	44.79	228.16
35	Szekesfehervar	96024	51	$618	$1,022	$1,646	$2,326	87.08	302.15
36	Szekszard	29707	53	$655	$1,070	$1,721	$2,202	88.51	245.29
37	Szentendre	28444	57	$682	$1,120	$1,425	$2,358	96.98	255.22
38	Szolnok	66426	46	$479	$909	$1,396	$1,834	34.31	302.32
39	Szombathely	77757	57	$690	$1,122	$1,841	$2,142	22.07	227.02
40	Tamási	8000	51	$604	$1,034	$1,309	$2,115	38.7	217.97
41	Tatabanya	65861	56	$653	$1,129	$1,411	$2,187	26.59	299.51
42	Vac	34001	56	$583	$1,120	$1,763	$2,435	166.29	233.74
43	Veszprem	56029	57	$644	$1,125	$1,517	$2,132	123.38	210.32
44	Zalaegerszeg	55152	49	$527	$989	$1,597	$1,948	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 $883 in smaller cities to $1,431 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 $883 per month. Not the cheapest option out there, but far from the most expensive – a reasonable balance of cost and quality of life.