Staying connected to your loved ones back home is very important to an expat. Thankfully, connectivity in Hungary will definitely be no issue: the country has an extensive cellular network and consistently ranks among the top 20 globally for fixed broadband speeds, with average download speeds exceeding 300 Mbps. Most people choose to combine their TV, phone and internet into a package from a single provider. Before choosing one, however, make sure to check offers, pricing, and availability, as the market can be quite competitive depending on where you are located in the country.
Telecoms in Hungary
When it comes to telecoms, Hungary has two major providers: One (formerly Vodafone, Digi, and UPC), and Magyar Telekom (formerly T-Mobile), with Yettel (formerly Telenor) as a strong alternative. These same main operators provide both mobile services and home landline/internet bundles. Be sure to have your paperwork in order before trying to acquire a phone line, as most providers will ask for proof of documentation. This may take the form of your residence permit (or registration certificate, if you're an EU/EFTA citizen) and your social security or tax card (consult our section on Taxation in Hungary), as well as a bank card.
Landlines and mobile phones in Hungary
Some companies will even require that you provide proof you've been living in Hungary for at least three months through a utility bill. Visiting the websites of the major telecom players will give you a better sense of the services on offer, as well as the costs. Not all areas have coverage from multiple providers, but it is always useful to check your available alternatives.
To get a SIM card, you can get prepaid ones at any provider shop using your passport.
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While Magyar Telekom is known for the best English support, be aware that an address card (lakcímkártya – the plastic card you get after your residence permit) is now a strict requirement for all post-paid monthly contracts. If you are waiting for yours to be issued, Telekom's Domino prepaid cards are an excellent temporary solution, though, as you can register them with just a passport.
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Internet in Hungary
Internet services come in packages, as is the case in most countries. In Hungary, you can find simple internet packages for 5-6,000 HUF (13-15 euros) a month. The most common practice is to combine your internet, television and phone in one package from the same company, as this will end up costing you less. For phone, you should expect something around 8-10,000 HUF (20-25 euros) per month for a mid-tier plan. As a backup internet option, consider something like Yettel's portable wifi called “OtthonNet” if you absolutely need to make sure there are no outages during your work. Thanks to this, 5G wireless is now a popular alternative to old DSL connections in downtown Budapest and other parts of the country without fiber. One also offers such home internet solutions.
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Postal services and private alternatives in Hungary
Hungary has made great strides in digitalization in recent years, which means postal services now have a significantly smaller impact on an expat's daily life than they might have expected in the past. The “client gate” (Ügyfélkapu) online platform and the Digital Citizenship (DÁP) app allow you to manage most official correspondence and governmental actions without having to rely on the postal services. You can even pay utility bills via a QR code through the iCsekk app, so you don't have to visit a post office branch.
Magyar Posta, the Hungarian Post, also handles magazine subscriptions, stamp collections, official documents (a service for which you don't have to pay any VAT), and everything else you may need.
There are administration points throughout the country, but you can also place your orders through their webshop and have them delivered directly to your door. More commonly, parcel delivery companies like DHL, DPD, or GLS (among others) are the preferred choices for purchase deliveries, however. Though a recent law mandates webshop owners to display Magyar Posta as a delivery option (and standard government-regulated prices for this service are often around 1,990 HUF for home delivery), many private shops add a "handling fee" to that amount to favor GLS or DPD. The widespread availability of parcel terminals (including that of Magyar Posta, or MPL) also makes it less likely that you'd have to visit a post office regularly.
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