Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Helsinki 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Helsinki is 32.8% higher than in Budapest (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Helsinki is 33.6% higher than in Budapest | |
| Rent Prices in Helsinki are 36.0% higher than in Budapest | |
| Restaurant Prices in Helsinki are 46.8% higher than in Budapest | |
| Groceries Prices in Helsinki are 34.6% higher than in Budapest | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Helsinki is 31.6% higher than in Budapest | |
Restaurants | Budapest Edit |
Helsinki Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
4,495.00 Ft (€12.76) |
5,284.76 Ft (€15.00) |
+17.6 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
20,500.00 Ft (€58.19) |
31,708.54 Ft (€90.00) |
+54.7 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
3,000.00 Ft (€8.52) |
4,580.12 Ft (€13.00) |
+52.7 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
1,200.00 Ft (€3.41) |
2,818.54 Ft (€8.00) |
+134.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
1,200.00 Ft (€3.41) |
2,466.22 Ft (€7.00) |
+105.5 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
1,096.44 Ft (€3.11) |
1,660.04 Ft (€4.71) |
+51.4 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
646.92 Ft (€1.84) |
1,068.70 Ft (€3.03) |
+65.2 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
635.38 Ft (€1.80) |
843.60 Ft (€2.39) |
+32.8 % |
Markets | Budapest Edit |
Helsinki Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
399.24 Ft (€1.13) |
431.90 Ft (€1.23) |
+8.2 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
518.52 Ft (€1.47) |
697.38 Ft (€1.98) |
+34.5 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
374.67 Ft (€1.06) |
364.59 Ft (€1.03) |
-2.7 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
1,252.99 Ft (€3.56) |
1,210.56 Ft (€3.44) |
-3.4 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
1,691.51 Ft (€4.80) |
1,524.67 Ft (€4.33) |
-9.9 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
1,021.49 Ft (€2.90) |
1,924.00 Ft (€5.46) |
+88.4 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
2,172.79 Ft (€6.17) |
3,179.94 Ft (€9.03) |
+46.4 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
311.74 Ft (€0.88) |
392.46 Ft (€1.11) |
+25.9 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
314.81 Ft (€0.89) |
308.44 Ft (€0.88) |
-2.0 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
353.25 Ft (€1.00) |
357.23 Ft (€1.01) |
+1.1 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
521.20 Ft (€1.48) |
555.04 Ft (€1.58) |
+6.5 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
156.82 Ft (€0.45) |
173.01 Ft (€0.49) |
+10.3 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
157.30 Ft (€0.45) |
242.42 Ft (€0.69) |
+54.1 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
523.06 Ft (€1.48) |
666.76 Ft (€1.89) |
+27.5 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
198.54 Ft (€0.56) |
527.15 Ft (€1.50) |
+165.5 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
1,800.00 Ft (€5.11) |
4,840.84 Ft (€13.74) |
+168.9 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
412.55 Ft (€1.17) |
1,152.12 Ft (€3.27) |
+179.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
692.55 Ft (€1.97) |
1,291.92 Ft (€3.67) |
+86.5 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
2,570.00 Ft (€7.29) |
4,227.81 Ft (€12.00) |
+64.5 % |
Transportation | Budapest Edit |
Helsinki Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
500.00 Ft (€1.42) |
1,127.41 Ft (€3.20) |
+125.5 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
9,000.00 Ft (€25.55) |
25,402.06 Ft (€72.10) |
+182.2 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
1,100.00 Ft (€3.12) |
5,073.37 Ft (€14.40) |
+361.2 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
708.11 Ft (€2.01) |
646.38 Ft (€1.83) |
-8.7 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
6,600.00 Ft (€18.73) |
24,098.49 Ft (€68.40) |
+265.1 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
592.97 Ft (€1.68) |
678.40 Ft (€1.93) |
+14.4 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
9,400,000.00 Ft (€26,680.51) |
11,522,883.87 Ft (€32,706.00) |
+22.6 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
11,635,789.47 Ft (€33,026.47) |
11,804,760.72 Ft (€33,506.07) |
+1.5 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Budapest Edit |
Helsinki Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
55,322.60 Ft (€157.03) |
37,548.46 Ft (€106.58) |
-32.1 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
8,141.87 Ft (€23.11) |
8,755.08 Ft (€24.85) |
+7.5 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
7,793.11 Ft (€22.12) |
8,146.89 Ft (€23.12) |
+4.5 % |
Sports And Leisure | Budapest Edit |
Helsinki Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
22,915.41 Ft (€65.04) |
15,015.10 Ft (€42.62) |
-34.5 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
6,000.00 Ft (€17.03) |
11,228.35 Ft (€31.87) |
+87.1 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
3,100.00 Ft (€8.80) |
5,989.39 Ft (€17.00) |
+93.2 % |
Childcare | Budapest Edit |
Helsinki Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
165,833.33 Ft (€470.69) |
148,677.83 Ft (€422.00) |
-10.3 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
5,160,155.86 Ft (€14,646.34) |
3,991,312.62 Ft (€11,328.75) |
-22.7 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Budapest Edit |
Helsinki Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
35,619.05 Ft (€101.10) |
28,885.94 Ft (€81.99) |
-18.9 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
14,817.67 Ft (€42.06) |
13,913.59 Ft (€39.49) |
-6.1 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
37,272.73 Ft (€105.79) |
33,763.72 Ft (€95.83) |
-9.4 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
38,705.88 Ft (€109.86) |
49,330.60 Ft (€140.02) |
+27.4 % |
Rent Per Month | Budapest Edit |
Helsinki Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
282,666.67 Ft (€802.31) |
393,869.82 Ft (€1,117.94) |
+39.3 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
214,464.88 Ft (€608.73) |
274,455.04 Ft (€779.00) |
+28.0 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
539,600.00 Ft (€1,531.57) |
758,656.21 Ft (€2,153.33) |
+40.6 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
410,000.00 Ft (€1,163.72) |
540,020.85 Ft (€1,532.77) |
+31.7 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Budapest Edit |
Helsinki Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
174,406.14 Ft (€495.03) |
281,282.54 Ft (€798.38) |
+61.3 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
126,872.18 Ft (€360.11) |
128,381.44 Ft (€364.39) |
+1.2 % |
Salaries And Financing | Budapest Edit |
Helsinki Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
552,819.27 Ft (€1,569.10) |
972,321.24 Ft (€2,759.79) |
+75.9 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.79 | 4.04 | -40.5 % |
| Last update: | 10 June 2026 | 9 June 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 328 | 134 | |
Moving to Budapest? Explore:
Moving to Helsinki? Explore:
Cities near Budapest: | Cost of Living in Budaörs (Budaors) | 6.22 miles |
| Cost of Living in Budakeszi | 6.63 miles |
| Cost of Living in Üröm | 8.34 miles |
| Cost of Living in Törökbálint | 10.23 miles |
| Cost of Living in Dunakeszi | 11.51 miles |
| Cost of Living in Halásztelek | 12.34 miles |
| Cost of Living in Szentendre | 12.89 miles |
| Cost of Living in Pomáz | 13.08 miles |
| Cost of Living in Érd | 18.53 miles |
| Cost of Living in Godollo | 20.02 miles |
Cities near Helsinki: | Cost of Living in Espoo | 13.21 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hameenlinna | 63.23 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lahti | 64.66 miles |
| Cost of Living in Turku | 104.08 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tampere | 110.85 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lappeenranta | 139.27 miles |
| Cost of Living in Jyvaskyla | 167.57 miles |
| Cost of Living in Seinajoki | 223.59 miles |
| Cost of Living in Kuopio | 242.82 miles |