Cost Of Living For a Student in Hungary 2025

Average monthly spending for students in Hungary

How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Hungary?

Students in Hungary spend around 380,000 HUF per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 58,000 HUF or as high as 2.5M HUF. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

How do students spend their money in Hungary?

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

Housing and accomodation expenditure for students

Students in Hungary typically spend from 15% to 26% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 20% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 92,000 HUF with expenditure ranging from 14,000 HUF to 610,000 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

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Hungary ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 15,000 HUF with 2,300 HUF and 100,000 HUF being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students

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 4,100 HUF to 180,000 HUF in a month on commuting with 27,000 HUF being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 5% of total spending on average but can go as low as 5% or as high as 11%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Hungary is 76,000 HUF. The cost of groceries can range between 12,000 HUF to 510,000 HUF. Students spend on average about 22% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 16% and 26% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students

Students in Hungary allocate 5% to 11% 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 8%. The range of medical expenses range from 3,500 HUF to 150,000 HUF with 23,000 HUF being the norm for most students.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for students

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 2,900 HUF to 130,000 HUF with 19,000 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

Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 19% of the monthly expenditure of students with 12% and 24% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 72,000 HUF per month with 11,000 HUF being the minimum spent amount and 480,000 HUF being the maximum.

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

Low-cost alternatives in Hungary

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 Hungary 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.

Affordable living in Hungary

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Hungary?

Around 66% of surveyed students think that living in Hungary 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 Hungary

Rent Cost in Hungary

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

66,000 HUF

98,000 HUF

260,000 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$180

$270

$720

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

98,000 HUF

160,000 HUF

390,000 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$270

$430

$1,100

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

130,000 HUF

200,000 HUF

530,000 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$360

$540

$1,400

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

160,000 HUF

260,000 HUF

720,000 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$430

$720

$2,000

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

320,000 HUF

790,000 HUF

1.6M HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$860

$2,200

$4,300

Townhouse monthly rent cost

260,000 HUF

390,000 HUF

1.1M HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$720

$1,100

$3,100

House monthly rent cost

320,000 HUF

790,000 HUF

1.6M HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$860

$2,200

$4,300

Villa monthly rent cost

390,000 HUF

980,000 HUF

1.6M HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,100

$2,700

$4,300

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Hungary ranges between 66,000 HUF and 260,000 HUF, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 98,000 HUF to 390,000 HUF. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 130,000 HUF and 530,000 HUF per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 160,000 HUF to 720,000 HUF. The average rent of a townhouse in Hungary is around 390,000 HUF while house rental costs can be as high as 790,000 HUF per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 390,000 HUF to 1.6M HUF per month.

Apartment and house prices in Hungary

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

13M HUF

20M HUF

39M HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$36,000

$54,000

$110,000

1-bedroom apartment price

16M HUF

26M HUF

98M HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$43,000

$72,000

$270,000

2-bedroom apartment price

26M HUF

79M HUF

160M HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$72,000

$220,000

$430,000

3-bedroom apartment price

88M HUF

130M HUF

390M HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$240,000

$360,000

$1.1M

Townhouse price

110M HUF

260M HUF

980M HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$310,000

$720,000

$2.7M

House price

130M HUF

790M HUF

1,100M HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$360,000

$2.2M

$3.1M

Villa price

160M HUF

880M HUF

1,300M HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$430,000

$2.4M

$3.6M

The average price of a studio apartment in Hungary can range from 13M HUF to 39M HUF depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 16M HUF to 98M HUF. A villa can cost you 880M HUF on average with prices ranging from 160M HUF to 1,300M HUF.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Hungary can be x111 to x206 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x111 multiples of the average monthly salary in Hungary.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Hungary is around 31%. This means that people pay 31% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 21% to 41% 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.

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 Hungary 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 Hungary 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%

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Hungary

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

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student

2,300 HUF

15,000 HUF

100,000 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6.4

$42

$280

Internet and cable cost

3,900 HUF

7,900 HUF

11,000 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$11

$22

$29

Mobile phone bill and charges

3,200 HUF

5,300 HUF

16,000 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$8.6

$14

$43

The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 15,000 HUF. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 3,900 HUF to 11,000 HUF with 7,900 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

The average utility-to-income ratio in Hungary is around 6%. This means that people pay 6% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3% to 10% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Hungary

Prices and cost of goods and services in Hungary

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

Fast food combo meal price

790 HUF

1,600 HUF

2,600 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.2

$4.3

$7.2

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Hungary is approximatly 1,600 HUF with meal cost ranging from 790 HUF to 2,600 HUF. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

2,600 HUF

3,900 HUF

7,900 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$7.2

$11

$22

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 2,600 HUF and 7,900 HUF with 3,900 HUF being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Hungary.

Fine dining meal for one price

5,300 HUF

7,900 HUF

32,000 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$14

$22

$86

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 5,300 HUF to 32,000 HUF with the average cost being 7,900 HUF for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Hungary.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

660 HUF

1,100 HUF

1,600 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.8

$2.9

$4.3

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Hungary is around 1,100 HUF. Price ranges between 660 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

530 HUF

630 HUF

790 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.4

$1.7

$2.2

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Hungary is 630 HUF. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 790 HUF and the minimum being 530 HUF depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

390 HUF

530 HUF

790 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1

$1.4

$2.2

A dozen eggs costs around 530 HUF on average with 390 HUF and 790 HUF being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

890 HUF

1,200 HUF

1,600 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.5

$3.2

$4.5

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Hungary is between 890 HUF and 1,600 HUF depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 1,200 HUF.

Pack of beef price

1,100 HUF

1,600 HUF

3,200 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.9

$4.3

$8.6

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

580 HUF

820 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.2

$1.6

$2.2

A bag of rice in Hungary costs around 580 HUF on average with prices rangeing between 420 HUF and 820 HUF depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

160 HUF

210 HUF

390 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.43

$0.58

$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

370 HUF

610 HUF

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.77

$1

$1.7

A bag of apples costs 370 HUF on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for students