Cost Of Living For a Couple in Budapest 2025

Average monthly spending for couples in Budapest

How much money does a couple need in a month to survive in Budapest?

Couples in Budapest spend around 950,000 HUF per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a couple can survive with a monthly budget as low as 320,000 HUF or as high as 5M HUF. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Couple expenditure to income ratio in Budapest

Analysing the how affordable it is for couples to live in Budapest

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Couples usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a couple of four ranges between 70% to 80%.

Couples in Budapest spend around 87% of their monthly income. Some couples spend as low as 78% of their income while some as high as 96%.

How do couples spend their money in Budapest?

We asked thousands of couples about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for couples

Couples in Budapest typically spend from 21% to 38% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 28% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 320,000 HUF with expenditure ranging from 110,000 HUF to 1.7M HUF. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for couples

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Budapest ranges from 5% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average for most couples. The average monthly cost of utilities is 43,000 HUF with 13,000 HUF and 280,000 HUF being the upper and lower limits for a couple of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for couples

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a couple resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a couple would expect to spend from 38,000 HUF to 610,000 HUF in a month on commuting with 110,000 HUF being the norm for most couples. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 9% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 14%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for couples

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical couple in a month in Budapest is 130,000 HUF. The cost of groceries can range between 44,000 HUF to 710,000 HUF. Couples spend on average about 17% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 12% and 22% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for couples

Couples in Budapest allocate 8% to 18% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 14%. The range of medical expenses range from 35,000 HUF to 550,000 HUF with 100,000 HUF being the norm for most couples.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for couples

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 19,000 HUF to 300,000 HUF with 57,000 HUF being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 1% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most couples.

Education and schooling expenditure for couples

Spending on education can vary drastically between different couples. On average, education constitutes 1% of the monthly expenditure of couples with 0.00% and 3% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 19,000 HUF per month with 6,300 HUF being the minimum spent amount and 100,000 HUF being the maximum.

What percentage of couples in Budapest are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of couples that reported their ability to save money

Almost 66% of surveyed couples in Budapest said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 35% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do couples manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples that are able to save money can put anywhere from 13% to 35% of their monthly income to their savings, with 22% being the average for most couples. The average monthly amount of money that couples can put aside is 340,000 HUF with 110,000 HUF and 1.8M HUF being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Budapest

Reasons that make it difficult for couples to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping couples from maximizing their savings in Budapest. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 5% of the couples said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 8% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 15% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 11% of couples blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 19% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 12% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for couples in Budapest

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Budapest

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked couples one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Budapest?

Around 72% of surveyed couples think that living in Budapest is affordable with proper budgeting while 28% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Budapest

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked couples how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options65%

Few low-cost options35%

Based on the survey, 65% of the couples living in Budapest have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 35% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Couples

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked couples of Budapest whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes72%

No28%

Based on the survey, 28% of the couples living in Budapest said that they don't have an emergency fund while 72% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Hungary

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy61%

We asked couple guardians and parents in Budapest whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 39% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 61% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether couples of Hungary have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 30% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 70% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance30%

Easily manages finances70%

Financial goals of couples in Budapest

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Budapest, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 8% of couples said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 39% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 9% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 7% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 18% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 7% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 8% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 12% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Budapest

Percentage of couples who are in debt

According to the survey, 26% of the couples in Budapest have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 74% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Budapest

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 32% of a couple's monthly income in Budapest goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Budapest pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 16% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 13% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 15% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 12% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Budapest

10% of debtors in Budapest confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 28% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 18% of people and personal loans rose at 41%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Budapest.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Budapest

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked couples of Budapest how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Budapest

Rent Cost in Budapest

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

71,000 HUF

110,000 HUF

280,000 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$200

$290

$780

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

110,000 HUF

170,000 HUF

430,000 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$290

$470

$1,200

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

140,000 HUF

210,000 HUF

570,000 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$390

$590

$1,600

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

170,000 HUF

280,000 HUF

780,000 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$470

$780

$2,100

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

340,000 HUF

850,000 HUF

1.7M HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$940

$2,300

$4,700

Townhouse monthly rent cost

280,000 HUF

430,000 HUF

1.2M HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$780

$1,200

$3,300

House monthly rent cost

340,000 HUF

850,000 HUF

1.7M HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$940

$2,300

$4,700

Villa monthly rent cost

430,000 HUF

1.1M HUF

1.7M HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,200

$2,900

$4,700

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Budapest ranges between 71,000 HUF and 280,000 HUF, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 110,000 HUF to 430,000 HUF. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 140,000 HUF and 570,000 HUF per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 170,000 HUF to 780,000 HUF. The average rent of a townhouse in Budapest is around 430,000 HUF while house rental costs can be as high as 850,000 HUF per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 430,000 HUF to 1.7M HUF per month.

Apartment and house prices in Budapest

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

14M HUF

21M HUF

43M HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$39,000

$59,000

$120,000

1-bedroom apartment price

17M HUF

28M HUF

110M HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$47,000

$78,000

$290,000

2-bedroom apartment price

28M HUF

85M HUF

170M HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$78,000

$230,000

$470,000

3-bedroom apartment price

95M HUF

140M HUF

430M HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$260,000

$390,000

$1.2M

Townhouse price

120M HUF

280M HUF

1,100M HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$330,000

$780,000

$2.9M

House price

140M HUF

850M HUF

1,200M HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$390,000

$2.3M

$3.3M

Villa price

170M HUF

950M HUF

1,400M HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$470,000

$2.6M

$3.9M

The average price of a studio apartment in Budapest can range from 14M HUF to 43M HUF depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 17M HUF to 110M HUF. A villa can cost you 950M HUF on average with prices ranging from 170M HUF to 1,400M HUF.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Budapest can be x120 to x224 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x120 multiples of the average monthly salary in Budapest.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Budapest is around 34%. This means that people pay 34% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 23% to 45% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Budapest

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Budapest

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

13,000 HUF

43,000 HUF

280,000 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$35

$120

$760

Internet and cable cost

3,900 HUF

7,800 HUF

10,000 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$11

$21

$28

Mobile phone bill and charges

3,100 HUF

5,200 HUF

16,000 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$8.5

$14

$43

The average monthly energy and water consumption of couples is around 43,000 HUF. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 3,900 HUF to 10,000 HUF with 7,800 HUF being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 5,200 HUF but can range between 3,100 HUF and 16,000 HUF depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Budapest is around 6.5%. This means that people pay 6.5% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3.3% to 11% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Budapest

Prices and cost of goods and services in Budapest

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

780 HUF

1,600 HUF

2,600 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.1

$4.3

$7.1

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Budapest is approximatly 1,600 HUF with meal cost ranging from 780 HUF to 2,600 HUF. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

2,700 HUF

4,100 HUF

8,200 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$7.4

$11

$22

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 2,700 HUF and 8,200 HUF with 4,100 HUF being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Budapest.

Fine dining meal for one price

5,400 HUF

8,200 HUF

33,000 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$15

$22

$89

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 5,400 HUF to 33,000 HUF with the average cost being 8,200 HUF for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Budapest.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

650 HUF

1,000 HUF

1,600 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.8

$2.8

$4.3

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Budapest is around 1,000 HUF. Price ranges between 650 HUF and 1,600 HUF depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

520 HUF

620 HUF

780 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.4

$1.7

$2.1

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Budapest is 620 HUF. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 780 HUF and the minimum being 520 HUF depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

390 HUF

520 HUF

780 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1

$1.4

$2.1

A dozen eggs costs around 520 HUF on average with 390 HUF and 780 HUF being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

880 HUF

1,100 HUF

1,600 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.4

$3.1

$4.4

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Budapest is between 880 HUF and 1,600 HUF depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 1,100 HUF.

Pack of beef price

1,000 HUF

1,600 HUF

3,100 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.8

$4.3

$8.5

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 1,600 HUF. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

420 HUF

570 HUF

810 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1

$1.6

$2.2

A bag of rice in Budapest costs around 570 HUF on average with prices rangeing between 420 HUF and 810 HUF depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

160 HUF

210 HUF

390 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.43

$0.57

$1.1

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 160 HUF to 390 HUF. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

280 HUF

360 HUF

600 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.76

$0.99

$1.6

A bag of apples costs 360 HUF on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Budapest is around 28%. This means that couples spend 28% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 20% to 35% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for couples