Cost of living comparison by household budget Budapest

Average prices in Budapest

Cost of living in Budapest

Budapest is a beautiful city in the center of Europe, which in recent years has become just a kind of mecca for tourists and for long-term stays. Several factors contribute to this: a rich history and culture, a large number of interesting places, excellent cuisine and a low cost of living. It is the last parameter that attracts many people from all over Europe, including from Russia. Many remain to live in Budapest for months or even years, unable to imagine their life without the calm waters of the Danube. Let us analyze how much life in Budapest costs and how much a specialist can be paid.

Salaries in Budapest

Budapest is a rather large city, and there is a lot of varied work, including from large foreign companies that have their offices here. According to statistics, for 2021, the average salary in Budapest is about 220 thousand forints (approximately 600€/$730). There is a minimum wage threshold set by the state. For unskilled workers in 2020, it was 161,000 forints per month (this is 450€/$530), for skilled workers 210,000 (580€/$700). However, taxes must also be deducted from these amounts - to the pension fund, income tax, insurance, which in total is about 33%. In fact, the minimum wage after all taxes will be approximately 290€/$350. Best of all, the situation with income is, which is logical, among IT specialists. They can have the highest income in Budapest: an average of 2-3 thousand euros per month, and some even 5. Dentists are also one of the most demanded professions in Hungary, since many Europeans go to the country to treat their teeth due to more affordable prices. As for wages in the mass segment, for example, supermarket cashiers and movers can count on about 500€/$600.

Housing cost

Budapest is divided into two banks by the Danube River, and the highest property values are in those houses that are located near the water and the main tourist attractions. If we consider the districts more distant from the center, then you can buy a good apartment in a new building with an elevator at a price that is quite acceptable for Europe (a one-room apartment will cost about 8 million rubles).

Renting an apartment for a long time in Budapest is usually not a problem, and prices here are also relatively cheap compared to, for example, Moscow ones. Due to the quarantine, rental prices have dropped significantly, and now you can rent an apartment 30% cheaper than a year ago. For example, a good one-room apartment in the city center can be rented for 220,000 forints (600€/$730), and closer to the outskirts, but next to the metro, you can easily find them for 130,000 forints (360€/$430).

Product cost

The next rather important item in the budget of everyone living in Budapest is food. There are several large international supermarket chains operating in the city, where you can buy almost anything. The average bill for a grocery basket for a week is about 12 thousand forints (33€/$40). We can say that the prices for basic food products are about the same as in Russia. Locals also like to buy fresh vegetables and fruits from the markets. The most famous and largest is the Lehel market, which is located a little far from the center.

Budapest is famous for its cuisine and many restaurants of different types. The average bill in middle-class establishments is usually about 50 euros for two for a light dinner, which is significantly lower than in neighboring Germany or Austria.

Transport

Getting around Budapest is easy and comfortable. Mostly tourists and locals resort to metro services - it allows you to quickly get from one end of the city to the other. There is also a system of bus routes, trams and a funicular. A single trip costs 350 forints (about 1€/$1.15). There are many options to save money by buying 10 tickets at once and getting a discount, or by taking a travel card for a week or a month. Taxis in Budapest are generally inexpensive by European standards. So, for a trip within the central part of the city, you will need to pay about 3000 forints (8.3€/$10).

Average prices in Budapest (USD)
Public transport ticket : Budapest 1.26
Taxi (5km) : Budapest 7.28
Train (200km) : Budapest 15.1
Restaurant (2 persons) : Budapest 60
5* hotel : Budapest 220
3* hotel : Budapest 70
Appartment rent : Budapest 640
Women haircut : Budapest 22.85
Men haircut : Budapest 12.63
Weekend city break (2 persons, 1 hotel night, without flights) : Budapest 430
Food budget : Budapest 289
Clothing budget : Budapest 290
Appliances budget : Budapest 800
Electronics budget : Budapest 3110
Housing budget : Budapest 640
Services budget : Budapest 311