Cost of Living Comparison Between Budapest and Warsaw 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Warsaw is 4.9% higher than in Budapest (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Warsaw is 13.8% higher than in Budapest | |
| Rent Prices in Warsaw are 41.7% higher than in Budapest | |
| Restaurant Prices in Warsaw are 3.0% higher than in Budapest | |
| Groceries Prices in Warsaw are 2.6% lower than in Budapest | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Warsaw is 18.9% higher than in Budapest | |
Restaurants | Budapest Edit |
Warsaw Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
3,950.00 Ft (43.46 zł) |
3,635.45 Ft (40.00 zł) |
-8.0 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
22,500.00 Ft (247.56 zł) |
19,086.12 Ft (210.00 zł) |
-15.2 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
3,000.00 Ft (33.01 zł) |
3,181.02 Ft (35.00 zł) |
+6.0 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
1,000.00 Ft (11.00 zł) |
1,635.95 Ft (18.00 zł) |
+63.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
1,100.00 Ft (12.10 zł) |
1,635.95 Ft (18.00 zł) |
+48.7 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
983.48 Ft (10.82 zł) |
1,442.58 Ft (15.87 zł) |
+46.7 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
633.61 Ft (6.97 zł) |
738.69 Ft (8.13 zł) |
+16.6 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
528.06 Ft (5.81 zł) |
720.20 Ft (7.92 zł) |
+36.4 % |
Markets | Budapest Edit |
Warsaw Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
404.18 Ft (4.45 zł) |
382.60 Ft (4.21 zł) |
-5.3 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
544.45 Ft (5.99 zł) |
430.21 Ft (4.73 zł) |
-21.0 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
376.60 Ft (4.14 zł) |
287.22 Ft (3.16 zł) |
-23.7 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
1,147.53 Ft (12.63 zł) |
1,278.98 Ft (14.07 zł) |
+11.5 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
1,587.58 Ft (17.47 zł) |
1,610.45 Ft (17.72 zł) |
+1.4 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
1,053.89 Ft (11.60 zł) |
1,110.34 Ft (12.22 zł) |
+5.4 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
2,103.06 Ft (23.14 zł) |
2,361.87 Ft (25.99 zł) |
+12.3 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
328.50 Ft (3.61 zł) |
213.04 Ft (2.34 zł) |
-35.1 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
317.58 Ft (3.49 zł) |
279.58 Ft (3.08 zł) |
-12.0 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
339.42 Ft (3.73 zł) |
318.09 Ft (3.50 zł) |
-6.3 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
530.60 Ft (5.84 zł) |
488.04 Ft (5.37 zł) |
-8.0 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
179.47 Ft (1.97 zł) |
154.25 Ft (1.70 zł) |
-14.1 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
199.47 Ft (2.19 zł) |
179.56 Ft (1.98 zł) |
-10.0 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
535.70 Ft (5.89 zł) |
517.98 Ft (5.70 zł) |
-3.3 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
192.79 Ft (2.12 zł) |
239.12 Ft (2.63 zł) |
+24.0 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
2,000.00 Ft (22.01 zł) |
2,726.59 Ft (30.00 zł) |
+36.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
409.74 Ft (4.51 zł) |
482.96 Ft (5.31 zł) |
+17.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
604.54 Ft (6.65 zł) |
674.07 Ft (7.42 zł) |
+11.5 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
2,400.00 Ft (26.41 zł) |
1,999.50 Ft (22.00 zł) |
-16.7 % |
Transportation | Budapest Edit |
Warsaw Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
500.00 Ft (5.50 zł) |
372.63 Ft (4.10 zł) |
-25.5 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
9,000.00 Ft (99.02 zł) |
9,997.49 Ft (110.00 zł) |
+11.1 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
1,100.00 Ft (12.10 zł) |
908.86 Ft (10.00 zł) |
-17.4 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
708.11 Ft (7.79 zł) |
731.34 Ft (8.05 zł) |
+3.3 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
6,600.00 Ft (72.62 zł) |
4,544.31 Ft (50.00 zł) |
-31.1 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
599.48 Ft (6.60 zł) |
573.06 Ft (6.31 zł) |
-4.4 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
9,000,000.00 Ft (99,024.85 zł) |
10,906,353.64 Ft (120,000.00 zł) |
+21.2 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
11,482,000.00 Ft (126,333.70 zł) |
11,027,232.39 Ft (121,330.00 zł) |
-4.0 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Budapest Edit |
Warsaw Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
52,800.80 Ft (580.95 zł) |
120,678.13 Ft (1,327.79 zł) |
+128.6 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
9,298.12 Ft (102.31 zł) |
3,530.36 Ft (38.84 zł) |
-62.0 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
7,253.88 Ft (79.81 zł) |
6,086.44 Ft (66.97 zł) |
-16.1 % |
Sports And Leisure | Budapest Edit |
Warsaw Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
22,600.85 Ft (248.67 zł) |
16,666.66 Ft (183.38 zł) |
-26.3 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
6,538.46 Ft (71.94 zł) |
9,740.64 Ft (107.17 zł) |
+49.0 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
3,100.00 Ft (34.11 zł) |
3,181.02 Ft (35.00 zł) |
+2.6 % |
Childcare | Budapest Edit |
Warsaw Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
168,095.24 Ft (1,849.51 zł) |
197,526.18 Ft (2,173.33 zł) |
+17.5 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
5,104,975.27 Ft (56,168.82 zł) |
5,234,576.37 Ft (57,594.79 zł) |
+2.5 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Budapest Edit |
Warsaw Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
33,199.63 Ft (365.29 zł) |
35,307.64 Ft (388.48 zł) |
+6.3 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
13,472.61 Ft (148.24 zł) |
16,809.83 Ft (184.95 zł) |
+24.8 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
33,687.19 Ft (370.65 zł) |
32,474.80 Ft (357.31 zł) |
-3.6 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
37,000.00 Ft (407.10 zł) |
38,941.28 Ft (428.46 zł) |
+5.2 % |
Rent Per Month | Budapest Edit |
Warsaw Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
276,393.94 Ft (3,041.10 zł) |
397,971.74 Ft (4,378.79 zł) |
+44.0 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
209,264.71 Ft (2,302.49 zł) |
309,922.22 Ft (3,410.00 zł) |
+48.1 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
484,677.99 Ft (5,332.80 zł) |
687,369.57 Ft (7,562.96 zł) |
+41.8 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
377,666.67 Ft (4,155.38 zł) |
514,290.99 Ft (5,658.62 zł) |
+36.2 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Budapest Edit |
Warsaw Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
165,977.23 Ft (1,826.21 zł) |
206,246.69 Ft (2,269.28 zł) |
+24.3 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
113,581.78 Ft (1,249.71 zł) |
128,187.05 Ft (1,410.41 zł) |
+12.9 % |
Salaries And Financing | Budapest Edit |
Warsaw Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
530,067.62 Ft (5,832.21 zł) |
717,139.85 Ft (7,890.52 zł) |
+35.3 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.98 | 7.34 | +5.2 % |
| Last update: | 12 December 2025 | 12 December 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 436 | 398 |
Moving to Budapest? Explore:
Moving to Warsaw? 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 Warsaw: | Cost of Living in Minsk Mazowiecki | 25.76 miles |
| Cost of Living in Radom | 63.75 miles |
| Cost of Living in Piotrkow Trybunalski | 84.20 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lodz | 85.40 miles |
| Cost of Living in Opoczno | 86.23 miles |
| Cost of Living in Pabianice | 95.06 miles |
| Cost of Living in Wloclawek | 100.05 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lublin | 104.37 miles |
| Cost of Living in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski | 106.89 miles |
| Cost of Living in Kielce | 110.70 miles |