Cost of Living in Hungary: Updated Prices, Other Countries Comparison

In the last few decades, there has a significant growth in studying abroad as most aspiring students choose to study in Hungary for their higher education. Most students make one common mistake, which is only calculating the accommodation cost and tuition fees. To study abroad in Hungary you also need to calculate and analyse the cost of living in Hungary as it can highly differ.

If you have decided to relocate to Hungary for your higher studies, you should be familiar with the recently updated data on the cost of living in Hungary. So for the student’s best interest, today’s blog is all about the cost of living in Hungary. Continue reading to unveil more details related to it. 

Cost of Living in Hungary Overview

The cost of living in Hungary is around HUF 249,742, including rent and it can vary depending on various factors, such as your lifestyle, preferences, and needs. However, to give you an idea of how much you can expect to spend in Hungary as a student, we have compiled a table with some average monthly costs of living in Hungary for various categories:

Also Read: Cost of Living in Ireland: Updated Prices and Comparison with Other Countries

Cost of Accommodations in Hungary

Keeping in mind the cost of accommodation is one of the biggest expenses in the entire study abroad journey and you need to get a good accommodation option as per your budget. The accommodation cost completely depends on several factors like type, size, features offered, location and so on. Getting an apartment in Hungary is usually cheaper than staying in a dormitory or a hotel.  It covers the major portion of the cost of living in Hungary.

The average monthly accommodation cost for a one-bedroom apartment in a city centre is HUF 180,660 whereas outside the city centre, it is HUF 143,427. Alternatively, you can also save money by opting for on-campus accommodations of respective Universities. To assist you, we have compiled data on the average cost of apartments both in the city centre and outside the city centre.

Apartment	Location	Approx. Monthly Cost
Apartment of One-bedroom	in the City Centre	HUF 180,660
Apartment of One-bedroom	Outside of Centre	HUF 143,427
Apartment of Three-bedroom	in the City Centre	HUF 293,163
Apartment of Three-bedroom	Outside of Centre	HUF 235,784

Cost of Transportation in Hungary

In terms of transportation Hungary has a well-developed public transportation system. As most of the cities and towns of Hungary are covered you do not need to worry about it. The cost of transportation widely varies depending on the city and transportation type such as buses, trams, and metro trains. Transportation expenses are a significant part of the cost of living in Hungary.

The average price for a one-way ticket is HUF 450 and you can even save money by opting for a monthly transportation pass which can cost you around HUF 8,950. However, an average taxi fair also starts from HUF 1,100 and discounted tickets and passes are available for students and senior citizens.

Cost of Food in Hungary

Food is another essential in a study abroad journey, as it is a basic necessity for every human being. Although the cost of living in Hungary is low compared to other European countries if you choose to eat outside daily you will end up losing a lot of money. 

The average cost of a meal is HUF 3,500 when you get it from an inexpensive restaurant and the cost can be even higher when choosing a fine-dining restaurant. Alternatively, you can save a lot of money by choosing to cook your own food. The average monthly cost of food for one person is HUF 80,500 which includes all types of groceries. 

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Cost of Grocery in Hungary

As the essential food costs are covered above, now we will take a look at some of the essential grocery items’ costs in Hungary. The cost of groceries in Hungary is relatively low compared to other European cities, and it harshly impacts your cost of living in Hungary.

The average monthly price of groceries for a student living in Hungary is about HUF 22,500 and the grocery amount can vary because it depends on your eating habits and preferences. Here is a table with some average prices of essential food/grocery items in Hungary:

Grocery Items	Approx Cost
Milk (regular), (1 litre)	HUF 393.53
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)	HUF 528.37
Rice (white), (1kg)	HUF 677.82
Eggs (regular) (12)	HUF 974.33
Apples (1kg)	HUF 549.44
Banana (1kg)	HUF 641.83
Oranges (1kg)	HUF 663.68
Tomato (1kg)	HUF 1071.44
Potato (1kg)	HUF 419.63
Onion (1kg)	HUF 467.62
Lettuce (1 head)	HUF 455.22
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	HUF 173.86

Cost of Utilities Bills in Hungary

The cost of utility bills depends on the size and condition of the apartment, as well as the consumption habits of the residents. The average monthly cost of utilities for an international student living in Hungary is about HUF 53,844, which is lower than the cost of living in Hungary. Moreover, it is nearly half for an international student living in a shared apartment in Hungary. Here’s an individual breakdown:

Utilities	Approx Cost
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment	HUF 14,300
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	HUF 9,229
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	HUF 6,033

Also Read- How To Reduce Cost of Living As An International Student?

Average Tuition Fees in Hungary

Apart from the affordable cost of living in Hungary, it offers an amazing education system and prestigious universities for international students, which are not just known for their rich history and vibrant culture but also for their affordable education.

For students, the main expenses in Hungary are usually the tuition fees at its universities. We’ve gathered the average tuition fees from several universities in Hungary to make things easier for you. Here are some of the average tuition fees of some of the top Universities in Hungary:

University Names	Average Tuition fees per year
Budapest Metropolitan University	HUF 2344006 to HUF 3125341
Budapest University of Technology and Economics	HUF 1953338 to HUF 3125341
Corvinus University of Budapest	HUF 1953338 to HUF 4297344
Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE)	HUF 4,000 to HUF 3125341
Semmelweis University	HUF 2872335 to HUF 6462754
Szent István University	HUF 3,000 to HUF 2344006
University of Miskolc	HUF 1953338 to HUF 7,000
University of Debrecen	HUF 1974730 to HUF 3051856
University of Pécs	HUF 1562670 to HUF 3125341
University of Szeged	HUF 1172003 to HUF 12344006

Cost of Living in Hungary Compared to Other Countries

Hungary may be an ideal country for many students, but they should be aware that the cost of living in Hungary reflects its popularity and it is considerably lower than other countries. Therefore, it is essential for individuals to thoroughly research the cost of living in nearby regions to ensure their financial goals align with their lifestyle in Hungary.

To give you an idea of how affordable it is to live in Hungary for higher education compared to other cities, we’ve provided a cost of living (without rent) comparison with cities such as the USA, Canada, South Africa, the UK, Germany, Romania, Poland, Australia and Ireland. Please take a look for your reference:

Cost of living Country-wise	Approx Costs	Comparison Cost of Living in Hungary
Cost of Living in the USA	HUF 419421	Higher than Hungary
Cost of Living in Canada	HUF 379722	Higher than Hungary
Cost of Living in South Africa	HUF 206366	Lower than Hungary
Cost of Living in the UK	HUF 373053	Higher than Hungary
Cost of Living in Germany	HUF 382794	Higher than Hungary
Cost of Living in Romania	HUF 230325	Lower than Hungary
Cost of Living in Poland	HUF 262652	Higher than Hungary
Cost of Living in Australia	HUF 399971	Higher than Hungary
Cost of Living in Ireland	HUF 383849	Higher than Hungary

Why Choose Hungary to Study Abroad?

Along with the affordable cost of living in Hungary, it has a well-developed education system and many aspiring students in recent times have chosen this place to be their study-abroad destination. Now let us take a look at some of the key benefits of studying in Hungary:

• Hungary is a part of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), which means that its degrees are recognized and compatible with other European countries.
• When compared to other European countries, Hungary has low tuition fees for international students. Studying here can save you a lot of money and help you in reducing your tuition expenses.
• Another important factor in Hungary is that the cost of living here is low when compared to other countries. This can in total save you a lot of money and reduce your financial burden.
• Lastly, you get quality education at affordable rates than most countries.

Things to Know When Moving to Hungary

Hungary offers an exceptional range of world-class education programmes at its universities, along with the affordable cost of living in Hungary. The following are a few things that you should be aware of before moving to Hungary:

• You should be familiar with the laws of Hungary as if you break any law unknowingly it might affect your Student Visa status.
• Hungarian is the official language of Hungary. Although English is widely spoken here, you can consider learning their native language to have better communication with the natives.
• Open a local bank account in Hungary. This will help you to save a lot of currency conversion charges and extra hidden charges.
• Lastly, consider getting health insurance in Hungary as it is better to have one for unplanned emergencies.

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FAQs on Cost of Living in Hungary

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