Prague vs Budapest for Expats
Cross-border city comparison — Czechia vs Hungary — across 7 dimensions using granular city-level data.
Last updated: February 2026
Quick Verdict
- •Prague is more affordable (13 points lower cost index)
- •Prague scores 8 points higher on safety
- •Prague has stronger healthcare (+13 points)
- •Prague leads in transport & infrastructure (+7 points)
- •Budapest has a more favorable climate (+6 points)
Overall, Prague edges ahead on aggregate scoring, but the best choice depends on your personal priorities.
Score Comparison
Affordability index -- lower cost of living scores higher
Crime rates, safety perceptions, and neighborhood security
Hospital access, quality of care, and insurance options
School quality, university access, and language programs
Job market, co-working spaces, and remote work infrastructure
Temperature, sunshine hours, and air quality
Public transit, walkability, and ride-hailing availability
Key Metrics
| Metric | 🇨🇿 Prague | 🇭🇺 Budapest |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Index | 55 | 68 |
| Safety Index | 80 | 72 |
| Healthcare Index | 78 | 65 |
| Education Index | 75 | 70 |
| Career Index | 62 | 52 |
| Climate Index | 52 | 58 |
| Transport Index | 85 | 78 |
| Air Quality Index | 58 | 55 |
| Family Index | 75 | 65 |
Price Comparison (USD)
| Item | 🇨🇿 Prague | 🇭🇺 Budapest |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent (City Centre) | $950/mo | $750/mo |
| 1-Bed Rent (Outside Centre) | $650/mo | $500/mo |
| Inexpensive Meal | $8 | $7 |
| Cappuccino | $3 | $2 |
| Monthly Transport Pass | $28 | $32 |
| Coworking (Monthly) | $200 | $160 |
| Internet Speed | 115 Mbps | 130 Mbps |
The Expat Vibe
🇨🇿 Prague
A fairy-tale-beautiful city with a mature expat community, strong beer culture, and a well-established tech scene — more affordable than Western Europe but no longer the bargain it was.
🇭🇺 Budapest
A grand, affordable, and achingly beautiful city split by the Danube — famous for its ruin bars, thermal baths, and a vibrant international community, though political trends create uncertainty for some expats.
Housing & Rentals
🇨🇿 Prague
Vinohrady and Karlin are the expat favourites. A furnished 1-bed runs CZK 20,000-30,000 (EUR 800-1,200). Bezrealitky.cz lets you deal directly with landlords (avoiding agency fees). Heating costs in older buildings can be shocking in winter.
Top neighborhoods: Vinohrady, Zizkov, Karlin, Smichov, Letna
🇭🇺 Budapest
Still very affordable by EU standards. A furnished 1-bed in Districts V-VII runs EUR 500-850. Ingatlan.com is the main platform. Many landlords prefer cash payments and informal arrangements. Utility costs in winter (gas heating) can nearly equal rent in older buildings.
Top neighborhoods: District VII (Jewish Quarter/Party District), District V (Belvaros), District VI (Terezvaros), District IX (Ferencvaros), District II (Buda Hills)
Getting Around
🇨🇿 Prague
Excellent DPP network: metro (3 lines), trams (the number 22 scenic route), and buses. Litacka card monthly pass is CZK 550 (EUR 22). The city is very walkable and increasingly bike-friendly. Bolt works well.
🇭🇺 Budapest
Excellent BKK network: metro (4 lines, M1 is a UNESCO site), trams (lines 4/6 run 24/7), buses, and trolleybuses. Monthly pass is HUF 9,500 (EUR 25). Very affordable taxis via Bolt. The Danube bike paths are lovely.
Cost of Living Details
🇨🇿 Prague
No longer dirt-cheap but still great value. A couple can live on EUR 2,200-3,200/mo. Czech beer in a pub costs CZK 50-70 (EUR 2-3). A svickova lunch at a local hospoda costs CZK 200 (EUR 8).
🇭🇺 Budapest
Outstanding value. A couple can live well on EUR 1,800-2,800/mo including rent. A pint of local beer costs EUR 1.50-3. The langos (fried dough) at Central Market Hall costs EUR 2-4.
Climate & Weather
🇨🇿 Prague
Continental — cold winters (-5 to 3°C with occasional snow) and warm summers (22-30°C). Spring (April-May) sees the city burst into bloom. Autumn fog and golden light on the spires is magical.
🇭🇺 Budapest
Continental — hot, sometimes stifling summers (28-38°C) and cold winters (-5 to 5°C) with the Danube fog creating atmospheric but damp conditions. Spring and autumn are delightful.
Food & Dining
🇨🇿 Prague
Svickova (marinated beef with cream sauce and dumplings) at Lokal or U Medvidku is the quintessential Czech meal. Trdlo (chimney cake) is actually a tourist invention — locals prefer kolache. Manifesto Market in Smichov and Florenc for street food. Pilsner Urquell and Budvar on tap everywhere. Prague's craft beer scene (Beer Geek, Pivovar Marina) is booming.
🇭🇺 Budapest
Central Market Hall (Nagy Vasarcsarnok) for langos and paprika spices. Goulash is a soup here, not a stew — try it at Hungarikum Bistro. Bors GasztroBar for creative soups. Ruin bars (Szimpla Kert) are more about the atmosphere than the food, but the Sunday farmers market at Szimpla is excellent. Chimney cake (kurtoskalacs) on Vaci utca.
Insider Tips
🇨🇿 Prague
Never exchange money at the booths on Wenceslas Square or near tourist sites — they charge 10-15% commission. Use ATMs (Fio Banka or Equa Bank have the best rates) or Wise/Revolut. Also, tipping in Czech restaurants is typically 10% — just round up or add 10% to the bill.
🇭🇺 Budapest
Skip Szechenyi baths on weekends (packed, party atmosphere). Go to Rudas or Gellert for a more authentic thermal experience. Rudas' rooftop pool has the best views of the Danube. Also, buy a Budapest Card if you're exploring — it includes unlimited transport, museum entries, and bath discounts.
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