Cost of Living

Budapest, Hungary

Live cost-of-living data for Budapest — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
31/ 10069% cheaper than New York
+21% rent since Jul 2026
$1,629/mo
Median Income
77/100
Safety
15%
Income Tax
humid continental
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
50/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$790/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$530/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,420/month
Food & Groceries
37/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.1/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.28/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.6/kg
Transportation
25/100
Monthly Transit Pass$45/month
One-Way Ticket$1.62/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.1/km
Utilities
35/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$120/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$35/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$25/month
Healthcare
70/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$55/visit
Dentist Visit$70/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
50/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$400/month
International Primary School (yearly)$10,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$350/course
Entertainment
45/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$8/ticket
Theater Ticket$30/ticket
Museum Entry$12/ticket
Clothing
50/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$55/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$35/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$75/pair
Personal Care
40/100
Haircut (Men)$15/cut
Haircut (Women)$32/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$4/bottle
Dining Out
42/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$10/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$45/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$7.5/meal
Childcare
55/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$650/month
Babysitter (per hour)$12/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$16/pack
Fitness & Sports
40/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$35/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$15/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$6/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

128 Mbps
Internet Speed
$190
Coworking/Month
excellent
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
72/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: District V (Inner City), District VI (Terézváros), District VII (Jewish Quarter)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Budapest cheap to live in?

Budapest has a cost of living index of 31/100, where New York = 100. It is 69% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,100–$1,540 per month.

How much does rent cost in Budapest?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Budapest costs approximately $790/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $530/month.

Is Budapest good for digital nomads?

Budapest has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 128 Mbps, café wifi reliability is excellent, and coworking spaces run about $190/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Budapest?

The median net monthly salary in Budapest is approximately $1,629 USD. The income tax rate is around 15%.

How does Budapest compare to New York for cost of living?

Budapest (cost index 31) is 69% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,725/month by moving from New York to Budapest.

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