Cost Of Living For a Student in Budapest 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: HUF
Average monthly spending for students in Budapest
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Budapest?
Students in Budapest spend around 520,000 HUF per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 79,000 HUF or as high as 5.7M HUF. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Budapest
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
| 920 HUF | 1,800 HUF | 3,100 HUF |
Restaurant meal for one
| 3,200 HUF | 4,800 HUF | 9,600 HUF |
Fine dining meal for one
| 6,200 HUF | 9,200 HUF | 37,000 HUF |
Cappuccino or latte
| 790 HUF | 1,300 HUF | 1,900 HUF |
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
| 1,100 HUF | 1,400 HUF | 2,000 HUF |
Pack of beef
| 1,300 HUF | 2,000 HUF | 4,000 HUF |
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
| 810 HUF | 970 HUF | 1,900 HUF |
Average car full tank
| 4,600 HUF | 6,200 HUF | 12,000 HUF |
Average car 1-day rental
| 4,300 HUF | 5,800 HUF | 8,600 HUF |
Average car price
| 2.2M HUF | 4.4M HUF | 5.9M HUF |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
| 6,000 HUF | 9,000 HUF | 18,000 HUF |
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
| 2,800 HUF | 18,000 HUF | 200,000 HUF |
Internet and cable
| 4,800 HUF | 9,700 HUF | 13,000 HUF |
Mobile phone charges
| 3,200 HUF | 5,300 HUF | 16,000 HUF |
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
| 2,100 HUF | 2,700 HUF | 4,100 HUF |
One month gym membership
| 7,600 HUF | 9,500 HUF | 19,000 HUF |
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
| 5,700 HUF | 8,100 HUF | 12,000 HUF |
Woman dress
| 5,500 HUF | 7,600 HUF | 25,000 HUF |
Woman shoes
| 4,900 HUF | 6,600 HUF | 15,000 HUF |
Men's shoes
| 4,300 HUF | 5,300 HUF | 11,000 HUF |
Men suit
| 4,800 HUF | 6,100 HUF | 32,000 HUF |
Regular t-shirt
| 2,500 HUF | 3,300 HUF | 9,900 HUF |
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 89,000 HUF | 130,000 HUF | 360,000 HUF |
1-bedroom apartment
| 140,000 HUF | 220,000 HUF | 550,000 HUF |
2-bedroom apartment
| 190,000 HUF | 280,000 HUF | 740,000 HUF |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
1-bedroom apartment
| $63,000 | $100,000 | $390,000 |
2-bedroom apartment
| 36M HUF | 110M HUF | 210M HUF |
| $97,000 | $290,000 | $580,000 |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 91,000 HUF | 110,000 HUF | 150,000 HUF |
Double Bed
| 62,000 HUF | 94,000 HUF | 120,000 HUF |
Single Bed
| 56,000 HUF | 74,000 HUF | 96,000 HUF |
Living Room
| 110,000 HUF | 140,000 HUF | 490,000 HUF |
Dining Table
| 46,000 HUF | 61,000 HUF | 110,000 HUF |
Sofa or Couch
| 62,000 HUF | 85,000 HUF | 190,000 HUF |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 63,000 HUF | 94,000 HUF | 190,000 HUF |
Fridge or Freezer
| 57,000 HUF | 88,000 HUF | 120,000 HUF |
Washing Machine
| 69,000 HUF | 100,000 HUF | 180,000 HUF |
Stove or Cooker
| 66,000 HUF | 84,000 HUF | 110,000 HUF |
Mobile Phone
| 78,000 HUF | 94,000 HUF | 130,000 HUF |
Laptop or Computer
| 88,000 HUF | 110,000 HUF | 190,000 HUF |
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
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
How do students spend their money in Budapest?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost19%
19% of total expenses on average (14% to 25%)
| LOW | $52 19,000 HUF |
| AVERAGE | $340 120,000 HUF |
| HIGH | $3,800 1.4M HUF |
| Per Month |
Students in Budapest typically spend from 14% to 25% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 19% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 120,000 HUF with expenditure ranging from 19,000 HUF to 1.4M HUF. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities6%
6% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $7.7 2,800 HUF |
| AVERAGE | $50 18,000 HUF |
| HIGH | $560 200,000 HUF |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Budapest ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 18,000 HUF with 2,800 HUF and 200,000 HUF being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel4%
4% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $14 5,300 HUF |
| AVERAGE | $94 34,000 HUF |
| HIGH | $1,000 380,000 HUF |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 5,300 HUF to 380,000 HUF in a month on commuting with 34,000 HUF being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 10%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost23%
23% of total expenses on average (17% to 27%)
| LOW | $40 15,000 HUF |
| AVERAGE | $260 96,000 HUF |
| HIGH | $2,900 1.1M HUF |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Budapest is 96,000 HUF. The cost of groceries can range between 15,000 HUF to 1.1M HUF. Students spend on average about 23% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 17% and 27% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare9%
9% of total expenses on average (6% to 12%)
| LOW | $11 3,900 HUF |
| AVERAGE | $70 26,000 HUF |
| HIGH | $780 280,000 HUF |
| Per Month |
Students in Budapest allocate 6% to 12% 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 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 3,900 HUF to 280,000 HUF with 26,000 HUF being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping3%
3% of total expenses on average (2% to 7%)
| LOW | $10 3,700 HUF |
| AVERAGE | $66 24,000 HUF |
| HIGH | $730 270,000 HUF |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 3,700 HUF to 270,000 HUF with 24,000 HUF being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling18%
18% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $38 14,000 HUF |
| AVERAGE | $250 91,000 HUF |
| HIGH | $2,800 1M HUF |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 91,000 HUF per month with 14,000 HUF being the minimum spent amount and 1M HUF being the maximum.
Other Expenses18%
18% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
| LOW | $32 12,000 HUF |
| AVERAGE | $210 76,000 HUF |
| HIGH | $2,300 840,000 HUF |
| Per Month |
Affordable living in Budapest
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Budapest?
Around 66% of surveyed students think that living in Budapest is affordable with proper budgeting while 34% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Budapest
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Budapest
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 89,000 HUF | 130,000 HUF | 360,000 HUF |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 140,000 HUF | 220,000 HUF | 550,000 HUF |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 190,000 HUF | 280,000 HUF | 740,000 HUF |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 230,000 HUF | 380,000 HUF | 1M HUF |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 440,000 HUF | 1.1M HUF | 2.2M HUF |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 360,000 HUF | 530,000 HUF | 1.5M HUF |
House monthly rent cost
| 440,000 HUF | 1.1M HUF | 2.2M HUF |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 530,000 HUF | 1.3M HUF | 2.1M HUF |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Budapest ranges between 89,000 HUF and 360,000 HUF, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 140,000 HUF to 550,000 HUF. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 190,000 HUF and 740,000 HUF per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 230,000 HUF to 1M HUF. The average rent of a townhouse in Budapest is around 530,000 HUF while house rental costs can be as high as 1.1M HUF per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 530,000 HUF to 2.1M HUF per month.
Apartment and house prices in Budapest
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
1-bedroom apartment price
| $63,000 | $100,000 | $390,000 |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 36M HUF | 110M HUF | 210M HUF |
| $97,000 | $290,000 | $580,000 |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 120M HUF | 180M HUF | 550M HUF |
Townhouse price
| 160M HUF | 370M HUF | 1,400M HUF |
House price
| 190M HUF | 1,100M HUF | 1,600M HUF |
Villa price
| 230M HUF | 1,300M HUF | 1,900M HUF |
The average price of a studio apartment in Budapest can range from 19M HUF to 56M HUF depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 23M HUF to 140M HUF. A villa can cost you 1,300M HUF on average with prices ranging from 230M HUF to 1,900M HUF.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Budapest will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 52 | x151 monthly income | 280 |
Property prices in Budapest can be x151 to x280 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x151 multiples of the average monthly salary in Budapest.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Budapest is around 37%. This means that people pay 37% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 25% to 49% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
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.
Housing Affordability Index
29% 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.
| 1,600 HUF | 16,000 HUF | 240,000 HUF |
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.
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 students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options60%
Few low-cost options40%
Based on the survey, 60% of the students living in Budapest have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 40% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Emergency Funds For Students
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 students whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes66%
No34%
Based on the survey, 34% of the students living in Budapest said that they don't have an emergency fund while 66% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in
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 student 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 students of 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%
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Budapest
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
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
| 920 HUF | 1,800 HUF | 3,100 HUF |
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 1,800 HUF with meal cost ranging from 920 HUF to 3,100 HUF. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
| 3,200 HUF | 4,800 HUF | 9,600 HUF |
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 3,200 HUF and 9,600 HUF with 4,800 HUF being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Budapest.
Fine dining meal for one price
| 6,200 HUF | 9,200 HUF | 37,000 HUF |
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 6,200 HUF to 37,000 HUF with the average cost being 9,200 HUF for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Budapest.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
| 790 HUF | 1,300 HUF | 1,900 HUF |
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Budapest is around 1,300 HUF. Price ranges between 790 HUF and 1,900 HUF depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Budapest is 770 HUF. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 960 HUF and the minimum being 640 HUF depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 610 HUF on average with 460 HUF and 920 HUF being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
| 1,100 HUF | 1,400 HUF | 2,000 HUF |
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Budapest is between 1,100 HUF and 2,000 HUF depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 1,400 HUF.
Pack of beef price
| 1,300 HUF | 2,000 HUF | 4,000 HUF |
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 2,000 HUF. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Budapest costs around 670 HUF on average with prices rangeing between 490 HUF and 940 HUF depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 190 HUF to 460 HUF. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 440 HUF on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 15,000 HUF to 1.1M HUF with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Budapest
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Budapest
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
| 2,800 HUF | 18,000 HUF | 200,000 HUF |
Internet and cable cost
| 4,800 HUF | 9,700 HUF | 13,000 HUF |
Mobile phone bill and charges
| 3,200 HUF | 5,300 HUF | 16,000 HUF |
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 18,000 HUF. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 4,800 HUF to 13,000 HUF with 9,700 HUF being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 5,300 HUF but can range between 3,200 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
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Budapest is around 7.1%. This means that people pay 7.1% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3.5% to 12% depending on salary and location.
Published: December 23, 2024 Last Update: May 28, 2025
