How Much Does It Cost to Live In Hungary?
Hungary is famous for its unique customs and interesting history.
Budapest, Debrecen, Szeged, and Miskolc, the largest Hungarian cities, are important economic, cultural, and industrial centers.
These cities offer great employment opportunities, especially since the rapid increase in the IT technology sphere.
Hungary offers good salaries as part of working conditions.
The country has been constantly increasing its education and healthcare systems too.
Among the other strong sides of the country, there are an outstanding infrastructure and an enjoyable lifestyle.
The climate in Hungary is typically Eastern European.
Hungary : Cost of Living by City
RESTAURANTS
Meeting the national cuisine of Hungary will be an interesting and exciting event.
Hungarian restaurants are the only ones in Europe where you can try the foie gras cooked by the classic recipe.
The national cuisine is very delicious and healthy.
It is based on rich soups, fish dishes, and sweet pastries.
MARKETS
Hungary has farmer product markets in every city and village.
The largest cities like Budapest have central markets too which are very neat and logically organized.
Many markets are open Sundays which is not typical for most of Europe.
The prices are very affordable, but they don’t accept credit cards.
TRANSPORTATION
Public transport in Hungary is cheap and reliable.
You can use buses, metro, trains, and trams, or go to the airport if you need to fly elsewhere.
The monthly pass is cheap, and there are lots of different discount programs for kids, students, and retired people.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
The utilities in Hungary are not so cheap if you consider the average or the minimum monthly salary.
That is why people learn to save water, electricity, or gas and still make their homes comfortable to live in.
The actual sum always depends on individual consumption, but the average prices are given below.
SPORTS & LEISURE
Hungary is a country of lakes, so it offers a lot of water sports along with the traditional methods of keeping your body fit.
The other popular place of destination in Hungary is a spa resort.
Just like any other European country, Hungary has concert halls, theatres, museums, restaurants, and clubs where you can spend your leisure time and money.
CLOTHING & SHOES
Hungary is not that popular for shopping for clothes and shoes, but it has really low prices in the chain stores and many modern shopping malls, designer stores, and fashion boutiques to visit.
You can pay in cash only in the small shops while the large malls accept credit cards.
The prices are always lower on the markets so if you do not have much to spend you should better head there.
RENT PER MONTH
The apartments in Hungary can be rented from the landlord directly or through the agency where you assign an official rental contract and make it legal according to Hungarian laws.
The prices for housing are often the highest for both native Hungarians and travelers or expatriates.
The latter are often paid much higher salaries than the natives, so the prices of dwellings seem rather low.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Hungary
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $8.27 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $1.7 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $0.95 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $0.92 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.24 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.33 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $0.97 |
| Monthly Pass | $26.20 |
| Gasoline | $1.43 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $143.47 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.08 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $13.67 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $38.60 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $10.47 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $5.79 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $67.83 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $31.85 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $73.25 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $434.4 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $328.83 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $772.22 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Hungary?
The biggest part of the budget of an average Hungarian is put off to be spent on the markets.
This is one of the most common things for most world countries.
People want to eat fresh and high-quality food from the market.
The second big issue for those who do not own their private house or apartment is accommodation rental.
An average Hungarian pays 21.1% of their money to the landlords.
The percentage is given excluding the expenses for education, childcare, and healthcare.
The least money is traditionally spent on shoes and clothes.
Utilities seem quite expensive because they take as much as 7.4% of people’s income.
Average Costs Breakdown
Hungary: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
In Hungary, mortgages can be taken at a local bank for under 6.97% of the yearly interest rate.
You get only 50% – 70% of the purchase price of the property for 20 years and the percentage is fix
Most of the property is offered for a much longer period of 35 years.
The sums and conditions should be checked by a citizen personally, as there are many factors affecting the mortgage price.
The average monthly salary in Hungary is $859.32 but this highly depends on the city you live in and the kind of job you are doing.
The minimum wage was fixed at a level of $714.8 per month.
Hungary Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Hungary Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Cost of Living by City in Hungary
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Budapest | 43.74 |
| Debrecen | 38.05 |
| Szeged | 38.41 |
