Cost of living in Hungary

Hi Rahele-m,

welcome to https://www.expat.com!

You might have a look at other topics on cost of living in Hungary to have an idea.

https://www.expat.com/forum/316-22-cost … ngary.html

Good luck,
Christine
Expat.com

Hard to say exactly.
If you eat out and go out for drinks that can put a dent in ones budget.
We own our flat so that's not a cost each month. I would guess your average rent with common costs is around $400. to $500. a month right now. All depends on location and size.
I would guess you could do it on a budget of $700. to $800. a month with food and a bus pass.
Nothing fancy, just a basic flat and buying food and paying all the bills.
We cook at home and have a car but live rather cheap overall. If we wanted to live large we wouldn't have moved here from the US.
We can do it for about $600. a month sometimes more, sometimes a bit less.
No rent though.
We also are seniors and don't go out clubbing and buy new clothing very often.
Have too much as it is.
In the states we spend allot more and get free rent with our son, things are cheaper in Hungary , mostly food is less. Hard to compare the two countries though, we buy food for 4 in the US and that costs a ton.

I agree with Marilyn.  The highest cost is usually renting accommodation and paying all of those overheads. If you want to live in central Budapest the cost is much higher than the suburbs.
The amount of money spent on food,  entertainment and personal needs always depends on your own personal needs and desires.  Nice clothes cost the same as most places.
I tend to live quite cheaply in Budapest but I cook for myself and walk everywhere for personal fitness.  However public transport is far cheaper than in the uk.

I only have experience with Budapest, I wouldnt say Budapest is cheaper than other countries living expense wise, food definitely is not cheap, clothes not cheap either, acommodation isnt cheap either, its a tourist city, so prices are adjusted for tourists. I have an address card now, dont know if I display it if I will get "local pricing" or even if pricing for locals exist. Dont try to eat at restaurants in the trendy places such as the Castle, its ridiculously expensive!!! Even just having a hot chocolate or gluwein is a ripoff.

It is true that it is more expensive to eat out,  drink coffee and buy snacks in the tourist areas in budapest.  However  compared to the uk I find supermarket shopping up to one third cheaper.  Vegetables and fruit are cheap on the markets and much better quality than what I am used to. As a foreigner with or without an address card you will always be a target for other people's income in relation to goods and services.  Because of this I prefer to do my own decorating etc.  Also the standard of basic home repairs are lower here and less care is taken sometimes.
All electrical goods,  furnishings,  computers and phones are far too expensive in Hungary compared to the uk.
I also find that when people sell second hand furnishings etc here they almost ask for the new prices.  In the uk often people sell second hand items for far less than half price. And even just give stuff away.
Having said all of that it is still far cheaper for someone like me to live in Hungary than in the uk and I don't have to work as much so have a better quality of life.  I live mainly on a modest occupational pension.  This amount would only give me a very basic lifestyle in the uk.  Whereas  in Hungary I can afford more holidays and trips,  days out, whatever I want for the house,   gyms and classes.  But I do not rent a property so my housing costs are lower.
Of course if it gets too expensive here there are other places to move to,  even back to the uk.

My own expenses: about 135000Ft for a flat (100000 rent, 15000 common costs, and the rest is utilities — those are metered, so they vary from month to month; I live alone); 60000Ft for food (I'm rarely eating out, but not trying to save as much as possible). All in all, it's pretty cheap.

Jennifer_BudaVar1014 wrote:

I have an address card now, dont know if I display it if I will get "local pricing" or even if pricing for locals exist.

Flashing a residency card means nothing here in such issues.

What you need to do is "know a guy" here. That is, to get better prices, service, etc. you have to know someone locally. As in tell them "Joe sent me". Then, maybe....

klsallee wrote:

Jennifer_BudaVar1014 wrote:

I have an address card now, dont know if I display it if I will get "local pricing" or even if pricing for locals exist.

Flashing a residency card means nothing here in such issues.

What you need to do is "know a guy" here. That is, to get better prices, service, etc. you have to know someone locally. As in tell them "Joe sent me". Then, maybe....

Address card - absolutely irrelevant to anyone except the government.

Our first contact with a potential supplier is usually always Mrs Fluffy first as she's a local and can detect their behaviour/demeanour.  Then when we get a written offer (a price quotation).  We would only ever reveal my involvement when we have enough offers to compare.  The rule of thumb is 3 offers should requested for anything substantial. Only last week by doing that, we saved 400K HUF and got better services.

Having a address card is only for gov. info.
Businesses and restaurants are private and not going to give discounts to locals. Even the WC's are privately owned operations.
Most locals know better then to eat in tourist spots unless they want to show out of town guests or waste a few bucks.
My husband had to pull his " no thanks, I'll take a walk while you eat" attitude when my cousin and his wife visited Budapest. They wanted to treat us to lunch in the castle district, my husband couldn't swallow seeing them waste money so he refused their treat. We decided to all eat somewhere else and just go local style to make my husband happy. He hates to see waste of any sort even if he isn't paying for it.
One evening we ate out with my cuz and paid more on two bottles of wine then I usually spend on wine in a month of drinking at home. Sometimes you just have to let the moths out of the wallet.
I know as a tourist in Paris, Milan and other big cities,we were often scammed for a meal but then again it was to be expected eating in a cafe with a view of the city lights.
I still remember eating in 1986 in Venice at a sidewalk cafe. Our 10 year old son was with us. 2 meatless pasta dishes, one bowl of watery soup( gulash actually) 2 cokes and one water, total price for a simple lunch in 1986, $120. sort of high end when one could eat that in a local cafe for a fraction of the cost. The memory is still with me so not sure if paying so much for so little keeps it alive in my mind or if it really was a great experience.
In some casinos in Vegas they charge $10 for a tiny bottle of water.
Locals know it is better to play the machines and get free drinks with a small few bucks on tips instead. No tips, and the cocktail flow will be cut off.
Vegas is one of the original Tourist Towns.

Yes.  Even when I am on holiday I book places where I can do my own cooking. Because I dislike foods containing animal fats and chemicals.  I also dislike messed about cookery with too much fat and sugar.  And I hate it when people put huge portions in front of me and waste half a loaf of bread by slapping  it on the table. (rant over).
Being older than average I have never understood fast food and the coffee shop mentality. It adds big bucks to anyone's budget.
However,  I occasionally will sit and have a drink at a cafe in particularly scenic spot.  But there is usually a public area available in those places anyway.
In my hometown,  wherever it is,  I very rarely even stop for a coffee and if I'm particularly thirsty I am more likely to bring my own water or nip into a supermarket for a snack or drink.
Things are different when I have visitors who come to stay with me and always want to take me out for a dinner or two.  In that case I always accept graciously but steer them to the cheaper places where I know they do simple good food. Or cook proper Indian food.

Must say it spoils the experience because everything is such a ripoff any place in Budapest that is a bit touristy / nice / scenic in a country that is supposed to be cheap. Not everyone comes from a country with a strong currency like € / £ / $

I think that you will find  high prices in any tourist area, like the centre of any major city. I find gym memberships are usually the same as in the UK about 6 euros a session. However if you want to go to one of the famous spas it's at least 14 euros and rising. All of these things are cheaper in the countryside as is accommodation. Compared to the UK there are some things that are cheaper such as public transport and some things that are more expensive such as purchasing electronic and electrical goods.
It's irritating to live anywhere that is unaffordable especially if you have to work long hours but from what I can see most working incomers seem to have a reasonable lifestyle in Budapest.

fluffy2560 wrote:

The rule of thumb is 3 offers should requested for anything substantial. Only last week by doing that, we saved 400K HUF and got better services.

Brilliant. Good for you.

Jennifer_BudaVar1014 wrote:

Must say it spoils the experience because everything is such a ripoff any place in Budapest that is a bit touristy / nice / scenic in a country that is supposed to be cheap. Not everyone comes from a country with a strong currency like € / £ / $

Hungary as a cheap destination is very 1990's. Has not been like that for a long time. Many German/Austrians where I live that bought houses pre-20000 because Hungary was "inexpensive" then, have now long ago figured out is is no longer true, and sold out and moved elsewhere (often it seems, to Croatia).

Hungary is a country with 2nd world incomes, but 1st world EU retail prices. So most retail costs are EU level prices. In fact, with the 27% Hungarian VAT, if you have any real serious shopping to do, it is actually cheaper to take the train to Vienna and pay just 20% VAT. And not just because of VAT, as the gross prices are often cheaper in Austria as well (makes sense even on a basic level -- it takes less diesel fuel to truck the products to Vienna than the extra km to Budapest).

Which, overall, is not so bad. Take the benefits of each city: Budapest and Vienna. They have their own cost savings (cheaper flat prices in Budapest, cheaper retail prices in Vienna), but those are different. And, really, the fast trains to Vienna are nice.

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

The rule of thumb is 3 offers should requested for anything substantial. Only last week by doing that, we saved 400K HUF and got better services.

Brilliant. Good for you.

It was Mrs Fluffy.  She said she didn't like one of the supplier's attitude, she did her research and phoned around.  Result!

klsallee wrote:

..... In fact, with the 27% Hungarian VAT, if you have any real serious shopping to do, it is actually cheaper to take the train to Vienna and pay just 20% VAT. And not just because of VAT, as the gross prices are often cheaper in Austria as well (makes sense even on a basic level -- it takes less diesel fuel to truck the products to Vienna than the extra km to Budapest)...

That's absolutely right.  A good example is Ikea. You can find all the difference prices and their variations for individual items on one web site.  Sometimes the pricing is quite different which makes one wonder.

The question is what proportion of the price difference is attributable to labour market, utilities and profit etc.

Jennifer_BudaVar1014 wrote:

Must say it spoils the experience because everything is such a ripoff any place in Budapest that is a bit touristy / nice / scenic in a country that is supposed to be cheap. Not everyone comes from a country with a strong currency like € / £ / $

You're writing as if someone forced you to come to Hungary!  "Cheap" is relative, there are endless things to consider. Budapest is perfect for me, as it's a HUGE city (lots of things to see/do, you can find anything you'd need), relatively "nice" (hills, castle, old buildings, parks), pretty good public transport, very good public safety, and very low income taxes in my case. I'm a remote freelancer, have been looking for a better place for a few years, haven't found any. The high VAT doesn't bother me, I can order expensive stuff from abroad, and sometimes I'm finding things (electronics/clothing) on sale for much better prices than even in USA, diligence and patience pays. For 20EURs I can have a hell of a night out, enjoy live music in a nice pub and get drunk AF... In Germany you pay 20EUR just as entrance fee or ticket for the music.

Scenic/touristy areas in cities with good infrastructure were never "supposed" to be cheap  , but even in the castle I can get a decent mulled wine from a cart for about 2.5gbp, in London in a boring area (close to London Eye) for 5gbp I got something that had traces of wine in it.    Also, you don't seem to realize how luxurious/special is the area where you bought your apartment. Most hungarians would never think of going to restaurants in the castle, let alone to live there... The people who buy apartments in the castle, mostly buy them to rent them out to tourists. You pay the price for this luxury, don't be surprised.

Yes the castle area is very special.  I did not look at house prices there because Pest was more familiar to me at the time.
However I love to get the bus up to that area.  It is lovely to walk around and in comparison to the uk public transport is very cheap at only 350huf per journey.  Also museum entrance is very cheap in comparison to the Netherlands and the UK. Some of the exhibitions that I have seen there such as the Picasso  was first class.
When I visited last week I went for a coffee and a few crisps and it cost 700huf..freeish at home and probably 500huf near where I live but still only a fraction of the cost in London.

Apologies everyone, I am not ungrateful, I really do appreciate owning a property in the castle area, its just not nice to live in an area where you do not want to go out to enjoy a meal because the restaurants are so expensive. The area is nice and I enjoy spending time there but having to take the bus to Zell Kalman Ter everytime I want a meal isnt nice.

When I do find myself at my apartment, I usually go to the grocery store and buy supplies and prepare my own meals.

The thing is we all do our best on whatever income we have.  And when we spend our money we all choose differently,  even basic foods.  Most cities now are not as cheap as they were and many Hungarian families and students cannot afford to live in the centre of Budapest.
However it is such a beautiful and vibrant city it is possible to just enjoy a good lifestyle just walking around and seeing.  I have some days when I spend very little but it is a great advantage if you own your own place and are not paying the high rentals some city landlords want.