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Cost of living Budapest

Groceries cost around the same as other parts of Europe if bought in supermarkets. Cheaper products are available as local markets and some of the small shops. Many expatriates working for international companies or diplomatic missions live very comfortably in Hungary as their salaries are usually several times higher than those of local workers.

Typical costs - a list of essentials

  • 1 kilo loaf of bread: 200-300 Ft / 0,8-1,2 EUR
  • 1 liter milk: 190-240 Ft / 0,7-1 EUR
  • 6 eggs: 200 Ft | 0,8 EUR
  • 1 kilo sugar: 140 Ft / 0,6 EUR
  • 1 bottle of beer: 200 Ft / 0,8 EUR
  • 1 bottle of table wine: 500-3000 Ft / 2-12 EUR
  • 1 litre of petrol / gasoline (octane 95): 290 Ft
  • High-speed internet per month: 6-12,000 Ft / 24 - 28 EUR per month
  • single bus ticket: 230 Ft / 0,9 EUR
  • monthly pass: 7,350 Ft / 30 EUR
  • student monthly pass: 2,950 Ft / 12 EUR
  • cinema ticket: 1,200 Ft / 5 EUR
  • museum entry fee: 500-1,200 Ft / 2-5 EUR
  • pool entry fee: 1,200 - 3,000 Ft / 5 - 12 EUR

Student's basic budget:

Accommodation: 40,000-60,000 Ft / 160-240 EUR + utilities
Food and drink: 20,000 - 40,000 Ft / 80 EUR
Mobility: 3,000 Ft / 8 EUR
Insurance: 15,000 Ft / 60 EUR
Leisure activity / recreation: 2,000-12,000 Ft / 8-44 EUR
Other (phone, internet, clothing, medical expenses, etc.): 15,000-30,000 Ft / 60-120 EUR
Total: 85,000-150,000 Ft | 340-600 EUR

On a limited student's budget, if you want to pay your rent, go out once or twice a month, and have the odd meal at a cheap restaurant, you need at least 100,000 Ft (400 EUR) monthly.

Family housing expenses:

4 bedroom single standing home outside of Budapest city limits: 250,000 Ft / 1,000 EUR monthly + utilities
4 bedroom single standing home in district 12: 750,000 - 1,500,000 Ft / 3,000 - 6,000 EUR monthly + utilities

The currency used in this section is the Hungarian Forint (HUF or Ft) which is the official currency in Hungary. The Euro has been the standard currency of most of the countries of the European Community since January 2002, and it is expected that Hungary will start to switch to the Euro in 2010.

Comparison: Budapest, the capital city of Hungary is the 52th most expensive city in the world: EIU surveys

Incomes in Hungary

The minimum payable wage in Hungary is 65,500 Ft (260 EUR) per month. In fact you have to do a lot of math to make it last until the end of the month.

In East Hungary, an average of 40 working hours per week, blue-collar workers earn an average of EUR 370, while white-collar workers make an average of EUR 700 per month (both are gross salaries).  In the same region, electricity costs EUR 4-5/kWh/month, industrial water costs EUR 1/m3, drinking water costs EUR 0.7/m3, sewage costs EUR 2-3/m3, gas costs EUR 5-6/MJ/h. If you do green-field investment, you will need to cover the one-time utility development fee as well, based on the required capacity.

Average salary after taxes in Hungary per worker per month:

  • 85,000 Ft / 340, EUR monthly