Moving/retiring to Hungary

I do appreciate the more honest discussion, I experienced very similar sentiments in Korea. But frankly despite the difficulties and constant griping from expatriates on daily basis, I tried to maintain a "stiff upper lip" and ultimately loved the country. In other words I remained an optimist. This summer I traveled in Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong, it was close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit daily. It was not clean by Western standards, it was very crowded, it was chaotic, the sweat dripped off our faces at 9 pm. The sun was amazingly intense. The air conditioning was frigid and prices were frequently high. It was still the best trip I have ever had.

I appreciate the honesty from everyone. It does help to make an informed decision. I am specifically referring to people that live in a country and make little attempt to assimilate linguistically or otherwise, but none the less are filled with biting criticism of their host society.
In any case I feel as though I have learned a great deal in this forum and appreciate it immensely.

Chikagoan wrote:

.....I am specifically referring to people that live in a country and make little attempt to assimilate linguistically or otherwise, but none the less are filled with biting criticism of their host society....

Oops...that'd be me then I guess.....but I think after 23 years involvement in HU, I'm entitled to complain a bit about the way things are.  I wouldn't say biting criticism but more just whinging.  It's a land of extremism at the moment and that's the anathema I'm more complaining about. 

I think I'm leftist-capitialist-liberal - and 1/2 the population (those against Orban and sympathetic to CEU) are as well!

It used to be 7 years when we bought our flat, heard  it was lowered it to 5 years but wasn't sure.

I live in the heart of Budapest and for a city I suppose the crime isn't bad like in some cities in the US.
I have seen a few people getting the C beat out of them on the sidewalk from my window but it seemed like a gang thing, there was  also  some Englishmen beating up one of their own then hugging him afterwards, weird, drugs or a gang thing. Maybe a lovers quarrel?
I have not heard as much about cars being stolen as was happening years back. Even our car was broken into while parked in the afternoon on King St. 15 years ago, we now drive a very "old person" old car that doesn't interest anyone, laying low so to speak.
Allot of the petty odd crimes we used to hear of are not in the news any longer.
Crimes like people stealing large car with large petrol tanks and using them to smuggle in cheap petrol, crazy crimes that one never even thinks about in the west. These crimes have been replaced with more sophisticated ones. ( We had a big Audi at the time with a huge gas tank)
I know in the mid 70's the US FBI was looking into crimes done in Ca. by Hungarians, credit card scams etc. Way ahead of other crime families, Hungarians are smart, even with their crimes.
A few deportations of a few imported people to hang it on and all forgotten.( They would bring in people to take the heat, pay them off and have them take the fall) Same old story almost like the Godfather.

Chikagoan wrote:

biting criticism

I personally don't see biting criticism in any replies here.

It is wise to avoid trying to overinterpret or project anything written by others at forums or other social media. You can not really know what is in another's mind or heart by a few short comments they make here or there.

Chikagoan wrote:

make little attempt to assimilate linguistically or otherwise

"Little attempt" and "otherwise" are more pretty ambiguous words. Don't you think you are casting a very wide net about people here based on just comments which is really limited information? I mean, seriously, you have not meet any of us, you don't have a whole, complete, and holistic picture, so how would you know? Isn't that maybe undeserved "biting criticism"?

Chikagoan wrote:

I tried to maintain a "stiff upper lip" and ultimately loved the country.

Everybody is different.

Some like to keep a stiff upper lip. And become happy over time.

Others like to complain about every little thing. And that act of complaining is a release for them, and they are then quite happy.

And others, like me, who usually use humor in the face of adversity (like a lot of Hungarians).

I am a live and let live kind of person. I don't assume everyone reaches happiness the same way. I may not be fond of the stiff upper lip type of personality myself (because they don't appreciate my bad jokes and puns -- and seriously, who could not like my bad joke and puns? ). But I respect their choice of how to react to life's issues. So I would never criticize another just because they respond differently than me on their own happiness path.

My biggest problem with forum groups like this is that a lot of members who live in Budapest tend to talk about their own experiences as though they applied to the country as a whole. Most Brits will be aware that London is unlike any other UK  city and similarly, Budapest is unlike any other place in Hungary.

There is a Facebook group called Hungary Expats and members there often ask for advice on shops or tradesmen without even mentioning that they are in Budapest. They are so insular in their outlook that they forget the rest of Hungary exists!

fidobsa wrote:

My biggest problem with forum groups like this is that a lot of members who live in Budapest tend to talk about their own experiences as though they applied to the country as a whole.

If it helps, some Hungarians where I live think the same, but about other Hungarians. The rough translation of the term they use is "the Budapest crowd". Meaning those living in Budapest come for the weekend and think things will be just like in Budapest.

I tend to get over excited then totally put the entire affair behind me, might even forget what happened in detail.
believe me, I do not think many people could of put up with or lived through my family visits in Hungary with my in-laws during the old commie days.
Being a young women who was on her own at 18 and then having everyone come in while I was bathing like I need help.
Over whelming for sure to have no one at all speak any English for 6 weeks and having family in your face 24/7 almost did me in.
These days it is so easy for people who do not speak Hungarian, even road signs are in English in many places now.
When I visited here twice in HU during the communist years, there was zero to nothing to buy that interested me at all. Things were rather really cheap with US dollars but the shoes, clothing everything was not my style. In fact I felt embarrassed to even buy baby clothing because I was buying allot of things at once, people were staring at me like I was going to buy the whole shop and nothing would be left inside for others to buy.
No internet then, no phones allowed to make calls outside of HU without first getting permission to make a call from the post office, knowing the whole time someone was listening to the call.
Sometimes I admit, I wish those times were back, only because things were not so crowded and the shops were more for the everyday people, not just exclusive pricey clothing shops geared for the rich or for the tourists.
So many little stands for having a drink or snack are long gone, now big international chains like Starbucks, Burger King etc. all over the place, it's sort of sad to see Budapest going capitalist , I seriously am considering a move to the countryside to get away from what i left in the US.

Very interesting!  I often have illusions of living full-time in Budapest and I do know the reality that pay is dreadful and prices for apts are way over the top.  1M ft = 1m2!  That is more expensive than expat cities in the West or Asia.
I'm single and have no kids and in my 50s.  I look like I am in my 30s so this helps but from my angle - the gay scene, it's easier to meet men and socialize as in our community a plumber can date a lawyer.

I am a HUN citizen but my language is just conversational.  I find this post interesting because I ask myself can I live there?  Without a real "life" or meaning, I have to agree with Marilyn.
I love visiting and seeing friends but to commit...still on the fence with that one and it does not get any easier the older I become.

blonder wrote:

Very interesting!  I often have illusions of living full-time in Budapest and I do know the reality that pay is dreadful and prices for apts are way over the top.  1M ft = 1m2!  That is more expensive than expat cities in the West or Asia.
I'm single and have no kids and in my 50s.  I look like I am in my 30s so this helps but from my angle - the gay scene, it's easier to meet men and socialize as in our community a plumber can date a lawyer.

I am a HUN citizen but my language is just conversational.  I find this post interesting because I ask myself can I live there?  Without a real "life" or meaning, I have to agree with Marilyn.
I love visiting and seeing friends but to commit...still on the fence with that one and it does not get any easier the older I become.

Isolation could be a problem here.

If you own property back home (not here, wherever you normally live), then best to keep it and rent it out while renting something here for say 1 or 2 years to see what's what.  Then you've not burnt your bridges nor been priced out of the market in case you need to go back.

The government isn't exactly friendly to many groups these days - much more Trump than Trudeau - and the volatility and bad press that generates makes many foreigners nervous. 

I've been living here more or less permanently on and off since 1994 and I would have to think seriously about leaving if I was actually on my own. I also have to contend with the Brexit thing somewhat.

Rent a place for 6 months a year would be about perfect. We used to do that, issue is leaving a job for 6 months.
Suppose it depends on what sort of work one does.
We took jobs that were easy to get when we returned to the US, paid well and no strings attached.
Husband used to be a machinist but turned cab driver in Vegas, fast money , I became a games dealer, also fast money. I was rehired 3 times at the same casino, with a total of 5 times at the same co.
My husband was rehired 7 times at the same cab. co.
Have to be a good worker when your there to get rehired but it is possible.
Of course a more serious sort of job probably wouldn't like you quitting every 6 months. Think the best sort of job these days is something over the internet that you can do anywhere.

blonder wrote:

1M ft = 1m2!  That is more expensive than expat cities in the West or Asia.

Maybe you should be looking outside of Rózsadomb. There are many nice flats for 200-300000/sqrm.

blonder wrote:

but to commit...still on the fence with that one

Looks like you and Hungary need some relationship counseling.   

Totally. I'm a V ker boy!

I am in a similar situation, but older; 63 and retired...  I was born in Hungary and lived there until 18, so I am initiating the same process as you for the citizenship.  Will be moving in about a year.
I learned enough by now to know, that with your income of $3,500 per month (assuming it is net) you will be able to have a fabulous life!  I will only have $1,500 U.S. (net), so I will probably have to work or hopefully sell some paintings.  Best of luck to you!  You will love it!  I know the city well, and look forward to going back...