✦ Cost of living
Budapest
Budapest, Hungary
US = 100
In plain terms: Budapest is about 33% cheaper than a typical US city. A one-bedroom in the centre runs around $700/month.
▤ Category breakdown
Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.
- Housing65−35%
- Food & groceries68−32%
- Transport50−50%
- Utilities95−5%
- Healthcare55−45%
- Goods & services72−28%
Is Budapest expensive?
No — Budapest indexes at 67 against a US average of 100, about 33% below it. Rent is the line that moves most, and a US or Western European salary stretches noticeably further here.
Of the 87 cities we track, Budapest ranks #70 by overall cost — 17 of them are cheaper.
What a month in Budapest costs
One person
$1,720/mo
A one-bedroom outside the centre, modest everyday spending.
Couple
$2,490/mo
A one-bedroom in the centre, two adults sharing the bills.
Family of four
$4,330/mo
A three-bedroom in the centre, two adults and two children.
| Monthly line | One person | Couple | Family of four |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | $520 | $700 | $1,350 |
| Food & groceries | $310 | $460 | $760 |
| Transport | $300 | $440 | $740 |
| Utilities | $190 | $290 | $480 |
| Healthcare | $150 | $230 | $380 |
| Goods & services | $250 | $370 | $620 |
| Total per month | $1,720 | $2,490 | $4,330 |
Estimates, not quotes. Rent comes from this city's own figures; every other line is a US-average household basket (shaped by the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey) scaled by this city's category index. Your own total moves with the neighbourhood, your habits and whether you run a car. How we calculate these figures →
Good to know before you move to Budapest
Grand Habsburg boulevards, thermal baths and ruin bars split by the Danube — one of the EU's best-value capitals, with a flat 15% tax and the White Card pulling in a fast-growing nomad crowd.
- Currency
- Hungarian forint (Ft HUF)
- Languages
- Hungarian
- Time zone
- UTC+1
- Internet
- 200 Mbps
- English
- Fairly common
- Safety
- 72/100
- Climate
- ❄ 0°C · ☀ 22°C · 200 sunny days/yr
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Power
- F · 230V
- Driving
- Right-hand side
- Popular areas
- District VII · District V · District XIII · Buda Hills
About
“Pearl of the Danube”
Grand Habsburg boulevards, thermal baths and ruin bars split by the Danube — one of the EU's best-value capitals, with a flat 15% tax and the White Card pulling in a fast-growing nomad crowd.
- Currency
- Hungarian forint · HUF
- Languages
- Hungarian
- Coordinates
- 47.50, 19.04
- Emergency
- 112
What things cost
Housing
Taxes
15%
Income tax
flat
27%
VAT / sales
9%
Corporate
$900
Avg net salary
per month
9% corporate tax is the lowest in the EU.
Visas & residency
A flat 15% income tax and the White Card digital-nomad residence permit.
✈ Schengen 90/180 for many passports.
Remote workers, ~$3,000/mo income.
Permanent residence after ~3 yrs. Citizenship after ~8 yrs.
Quality of life
Quality of life
67/100
Safety
72/100
Healthcare
60/100
Pollution
50/100
Internet
200 Mbps
Jan avg
0 °C
Jul avg
+22 °C
Sunny days
200/yr
Walkability
80/100
Public transit
82/100
Family-friendly
65/100
Living there
- English spoken
- Moderate
- Expat community
- Large
- Coworking spaces
- 40
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
Popular areas
Relocation & documents
Where to look
Updated: · Sources: Cost/quality survey (placeholder) · Economy: World Bank Open Data (GDP per capita, life expectancy, inflation) · Minimum wage (EU + Türkiye): Eurostat earn_mw_cur, 2026-S2 · Taxes: national tax authority / OECD (headline figures)
Can you live in Budapest without a car?
81/100
Car-free score
80/100
Walkability
82/100
Public transport
Yes — Budapest scores 81/100 on our car-free score, so commuting, errands and nights out all work on foot or by public transport. Most residents here can skip car ownership entirely, and the savings go straight into the rest of the budget.
Transport in Budapest indexes at 50 against a US average of 100 — about 50% cheaper than a typical US city. That line covers fares, fuel and running a vehicle, so it is the one that moves most when you drop the car.
Budapest ranks #28 of 87 cities we track for walkability. See the most walkable cities →
The car-free score is our own composite: 60% walkability, 40% public transport, both on a 0–100 scale. Like the rest of our quality-of-life figures, they are calibrated estimates, not official statistics.
Cost of living in Budapest — in your currency
- 1-bed rent, city centre$700
- 1-bed rent, outside centre$520
- Inexpensive meal$8
- Monthly transit pass$30
- Utilities (monthly)$190
Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).
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? Frequently asked questions
Is Budapest, HU expensive to live in?
Budapest, HU's cost-of-living index is 67 (US average = 100) — about 33% cheaper than a typical US city — and it ranks #70 of the 87 cities we track. On our estimates one person needs around $1,720 a month and a family of four around $4,330, rent included.
How much does it cost to live in Budapest, HU?
Budapest, HU's cost-of-living index is 67 (US average = 100) — about 33% cheaper than a typical US city. A one-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around $700 per month.
What are the average living costs in Budapest, HU?
Living costs in Budapest, HU are about 33% cheaper than the US average — its cost-of-living index is 67 (US = 100). Monthly living expenses scale with that, and housing is the biggest line: a one-bedroom in the centre runs around $700. See the category breakdown above for where the money goes.
What is the average rent in Budapest, HU?
A one-bedroom in the city centre averages about $700 per month, and around $520 outside the centre.
What taxes would I pay in Hungary?
Hungary has a top income-tax rate of 15% and a VAT or sales tax of 27%. See the taxes section above for the full breakdown.
What is the weather like in Budapest, HU?
Budapest, HU averages around 0 °C in January and +22 °C in July, with roughly 200 sunny days a year.
Is Budapest, HU safe?
Budapest, HU scores 72 out of 100 on our safety index, where higher means safer.
Can you live in Budapest, HU without a car?
Budapest, HU scores 81/100 on our car-free score — 80/100 for walkability and 82/100 for public transport. The higher the score, the more of daily life you can cover on foot or by transit instead of paying to run a car.
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Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.