Cost of Living in Budapest

Budapest is safe, my kids have been going to and back from school and other activities alone from 1st grade in school. It’s dangerous only in certain parts like 8th district and of course caution needed during night hours. But this holding at gunpoint in daylight is absolute nonsense. I have lived here for the past 17 years, much safer than any city in Western Europe.

The Post September 15 2024

I agree with that post because I've lived in Budapest my entire life.
Yes Budapest is extremely dangerous robberies at gunpoint are normal even during daylight hours and many dangerous gangs throughout Budapest it's true. Yes any posters here who say Budapest is safe is lieing.They've never visited let alone lived here. Home break-ins are frequent especially after dark.

Don't believe the liars here making statements of how safe Budapest is. I've lived in Budapest all of my life it's very dangerous.

Budapest citizen.

Anonymous on Feb 20
"Is it safe to visit Budapest in 2024 with a family? There are lots of reports of crime and multiple dangerous neighbourhoods in and around the city centre, we are nervous to travel with children."

I don't know if this is still relevant, but for future readers too: Budapest is safe. "Eastern Europe" is not some exotic weird place you've got to be scared of. Even compared to neighboring countries, it's *still* safe - especially in the tourist areas I assume most people will be staying at, you'll be fine. It's a modern capital city, even districts with shady areas like the 8th have been improving in recent years. Being "nervous to travel with children" is, no offense, way overblowing it. (Especially that I assume you'll be mostly going around in the daytime, perhaps for a restaurant dinner at the latest, and not clubbing or anything)
There are lots of reports of crime everywhere in the world. I'm a woman in my 20s and easily take to the city and the night buses at 3 AM alone and am still alive and unharmed. Exercise the same caution you would anywhere else, perhaps watch a video on common scams on YouTube (again, goes for everywhere you'd travel to).

Way over priced on everything high crime just like everywhere else.Budapest has never been a tourist destination anyway.

Looking forward to visit Hungary with my wife and 9yo child.
But all those comments makes me a little bit nervous regarding safety.

Hi Faten,
I believe you can hardly get by with that salary if you have to pay room rental fee. It is not impossible if you need to pay though. Yet keep in mind that food price are very high and you won't be able to save any.
Regards,
Gabor

I wonder if those people who write here have ever been to the country? My God! Who thinks that Budapest is dangerous? Budapest is one of the safest city in Europe! Of course, if you get off the plane and immediately go to buy drugs and women, you might end up in the wrong neighborhood. Many people write very bad things here, which are not true. I have lived in the city for 20 years. I don't understand those who spend 400K HUF on food either. What do they eat, gold? Who rents an apartment for 2000€..and where...in the parliament? Who says that Hungarians are primitive and shoot in the street? My God! It would have been better not to see this page! I had no idea that people are so malicious! Please, if you come to Budapest, don't read anything here! Budapest is a very cool city!

Budapest has mostly lower prices with higher salaries than Athens, Greece. Wow!

hoping to visit Hungary with my wife. Thanks for the info

Your monthly income would need to be atleast 15,000 eur to accomplish that.International school per child averages 2,000 eur monthly not including school supplies which is 300 eur monthly per child. Remember the Hungarian government taxes income abroad at 17% which is normal.We live in Budapest anything outside of Budapest is much cheaper but infrastructure is severely lacking wouldn't recommend it.

Hi, well the English speaking community varies really where you live and what is the group of people you interact. In Budapest there are lots of international companies, the younger generation (in their 30s and under) has quite a good coverage. Though you might run into troubles e.g. bus stations or basic shops and smaller groceries. In the city center you are quite ok, but if you leave Budapest - unless you leave for any university towns like, Pécs, Szeged, Debrecen, Székesfehérvár, Győr, or during the summer Balaton - you probably will have difficulties to find someone to have meaningful conversation with.

Man, the majority of these comments are completely unhinged. Budapest is safer or just as safe as any major Western European city. The sketchiest parts do not even come close to the sketchiest parts of Paris for example.

Today I paid 1500 For a bottle of water at Budapest airport. You might say, airports are always more expensive. Ok, the second airport I travelled to was Stockholm, 35 Kn for the same type of water here. That's the equivalent of 1315 Ft today. Are we serious here? Prices in this airport are cheaper than in Budapest. Can you guys illustrate how your data is gathered because I guarantee 100% that it's absolutely wrong. For a mediocre restaurant in Budapest you don't pay less than 4000 Ft nowadays. Please someone prove me wrong with receipts from regular places in Budapest city centre. I am not even going to start discussing rent and the other parameters. Can someone from you team look into the accuracy of this data? thank you!

Hi Guys,

13.2M HUF gross is a good salary in Budapest for 5+ yrs of experience moving from India?

bp is a neglected city.buildings crumbling everywhere.it was nice 100 years ago.even then ,not because ppl wanted nice buildings but it was the law to spend 20 % of your cost on the facade. just look behind front doors. all shitty .
it is also expensive unless u r a foreigner. takes 100 years work to save enough to buy a modest apartment. city is drab oct through may.greed everywhere

Hi, guys is a 16 million HUF/month gross a good salary in Budapest for 7+ years of experience moving from India?

Is 1,200,000 per month salary enough for 2 people? If they want to do good savings also

France has more money, modern infrastructure, and high tech luxuries than Hungary will ever have.Hungary is primitive by far compared to France. Very low salaries are common throughout Hungary for good reason. Look at how Hungarians live in ramshackle dwellings outdated by atleast 50 years. Not to forget how Hungarians dress no tailored clothing right down to their primitive shoes that even animals wouldn't wear. Major hanus crimes happen daily which normally go unpunished in Hungaria.Many Hungarians seem to be allergic to hot water and soap. Body odor is plentiful in Hungaria and gladly displayed in public places

Who really wants to live in Budapest anyway? Nobody in their right mind would. The HUF currency like Hungary is continuing on a downward spiral to the point of no return. The land of nothingless, mismanaged over 35 years and it continues to get worse by the day not the year.Hungarians can forget about moving to the USA I've had my application just to visit USA almost 7 years now Hungarians aren't welcome in the United States anymore

Budapest has always been dangerous but believing people online that has never been there are getting visitors killed. I've been a taxi driver over 37 years I see alot of violent crimes throughout Budapest many times and its never slowed down.

Crime rates aren't accurate listed here so they should be much high.Cost of living is also important obviously. Many move to Budapest to start a new life nothing wrong with that but most depend upon others online. People who believe crime statistics here are in for a terrifying experience once reality sets in especially in Budapest. Remote areas obviously have much less crime. Anyone interested in moving to Budapest should contact the main police department in Budapest in person. An accurate list of burglaries robberies rapes etc will be provided quarterly or annually. If unable to appear in person get their crime blotter website print it off and make your own decisions. Most promoters of Budapest tend to paint a rose picture of how safe Budapest is only to gain subscribers nothing more. FYI it's best to know crime statistics first before anything else no matter which country it is worldwide. Depending upon someone else's guess work concerning crime has ended many a person's life. So look at factual statistics concerning real crime statistics instead of being a statistic.

Anonymous police officer Budapest

@Laci: Yes, criminality does not exist if one does not want to see it. If you spend most of your time on Vaci Utca or other posh neighborhood, you would probably never see serious crimes. But if you open your eyes and take an objective look at reality, you will realize that it is not as peaceful as you want it to be.
On another note you are right about the living costs, 500k is more than enough for a single person to live(decently) in the city center.

I have a family of 6 members with 4 daughters. I have an offer in Hungary , would 6,000 euro enough per month given international schooling for my daughters and 3 bedrooms rent in city center?

Thanks for your valuable information. Hope see you soon ☺️

I don't know what the standards of some people are, but minimal wage is 167 000 HUF in Hungary currectly, so you can scrape by with that (somehow). Accordingly, anything over 500 000 HUF would be enough to rent a nice flat and live a comfortable life, without having to worry about money too much. If that is not enough, then ask yourself why you need to spend several times as much money on yourself than the average local.

What kind of crazy nonsense is this about BUD being "dangerous"?? Tbh I can see why foreigners from certain countries would think so based on what they see when wandering around at night. Sure, it can be quiet outside the central area especially during certain seasons, and you might come across a ranom person here or there which can startle some people, but I wouldn't call it dangerous and as a single female, I would say Tunis, while the ppl there are generally very friendly, I don't feel safe wandering around on my own as much as I would in BUD.
Some districts not far outside the centre can seem seedy at night and there are homeless ppl making all kinds of noise but just walk past, don't make eye contact, and remember: homeless ppl are eveywhere in the world, especially in any big city.
I live in Toronto where there are shootings and stabbings almost everyday. It wasn't always like this, and no one I know has been shot or stabbed but it goes to show that it really depends where you are. Here, it can happen anywhere, and in BUD if it's going to happen, it's not likely to happen in some random place. Not to mention, shootings and stabbings are pretty rare.
BUD is an incredible city, and Hungary is beautiful! Even if your salary doesn't cover your monthly expenses, find a way to make it work or even just go for as long as you can last! BUD is that great~ I've been a few times and it's amazing!

I don't know why anybody says bullshitts, what an interest drives him to say these silly words here about Budapest, but Budapest is definitely not a primitive place and if you compare Budapest with Tunis, it is a different dimension. Budapest cleaner and safer than the most of west European cities. There is not a bad, or dangerous "no go " zone. There are advanced commercial and cultural facilities. There is no as same maintained building as in Germany or Austria but significantly more developed than Tunis or most of the place around the world. Budapest is not as cheap as was 10 years ago but, Budapest is still a cheap place compare with the west European cities.

I need tips where I can search for studio apartments for rent within 9th district in Budapest. Or, places near 9th district. Workplace will be Mill Park Office Building. Thank you

A basic search on any website like Ingatlan, Alberlet or even Facebook groups are enough to see that the prices on here are very relatable to the actual market. Go seek help :)

Hi, does 825,000 HUF (Gross salary) good enough for a family of 2 persons to have a healthy life in Budapest?

I'm not sure where some of the commenters live but it's certainly not Budapest that's for sure. The reason there isn't anybody out nowadays is the nationwide curfew from 8 pm. In the before times, the city centre was packed every night non stop.

There are no random groups of people going around shooting stuff. That is simply a lie and it's amazing how you can even write such things down. Contrary to popular belief, the cops aren't quite so bribable, as many of them are young and despise bribery. Use your common sense people, don't believe such egregious made up lies from people that never lived in the city.

Hi everyone,

My wife and I are moving to Budapest. Just us to. I met €1300 and she would still need to find work there.

Is it possible to survive on this?

When some commenter from France says Budapest is dangerous (it is not) and goes back to Paris where there was bombing, cathedral set on fire, and vandalism by protesters. :D

Hello,

A single can live in Budapeste with 546.000 HUF (net) montlhy? Including rent

Hi YD,

I am assuming that you will be making 2700 EUR net and your wife is not working. This is around 965,000 HUF, which puts you well into the top 3% of earners in Hungary. Generally, this amount of money is the combined earnings of both parents for a middle class family in Hungary.

Rent for a nice flat with two children will be about 250-300k HUF in a decent area, including bills.
Groceries for a family of four will be at least 150k, but if you want to eat healthy, then it is closer to 200-250k. If in addition you also want to eat out regularly, then around 300-350k will be needed.
Maintaining a car is relatively cheap, I think 50k a month should be enough if you only drive on weekends.

Entertainment and holidays are relative, so I'm not going to give numbers. Basically, once you pay for a good flat, decent food and a car, you'll have about 1000EUR left over for holidays, entertainment, etc.

If your wife doesn't work, you won't be exactly rich off of your salary, but it will be a good middle class life.

I hope this helps.

The information above is really quite out of date after the last 8 months