🇭🇺 Budapest vs 🇷🇸 Belgrade
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Belgrade is 25% cheaper than Budapest
Quick answer
Comparing Budapest, Hungary and Belgrade, Serbia: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $1,704 in Budapest versus $1,281 in Belgrade. Belgrade is roughly 25% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $956/mo (Budapest) vs $761/mo (Belgrade). The totals use the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Key facts
- Moderate budget: $1,704/mo in Budapest single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $1,281/mo in Belgrade single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $956/mo in Budapest · $761/mo in Belgrade.
- Cheaper overall: Belgrade ~25% cheaper than Budapest.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics + item-level price snapshots · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇭🇺 Budapest | 🇷🇸 Belgrade | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $1,200/mo | $900/mo | -25% |
| Moderate | $1,704/mo | $1,281/mo | -25% |
| Comfortable | $2,550/mo | $1,900/mo | -25% |
The Moderate row equals the category table below: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending. Budget and Comfortable scale that same basket.
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 🇭🇺 Budapest | 🇷🇸 Belgrade | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $956/mo | $761/mo | -20% |
| Groceries & Food | $230/mo | $160/mo | -30% |
| Dining Out | $115/mo | $80/mo | -30% |
| Transport | $115/mo | $80/mo | -30% |
| Utilities & Internet | $115/mo | $80/mo | -30% |
| Healthcare | $92/mo | $64/mo | -30% |
| Leisure & Personal | $81/mo | $56/mo | -31% |
Category sum = Moderate budget. Basis: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Housing (1-bed, center)
Budapest
$956
Belgrade
$761
Groceries & Food
Budapest
$230
Belgrade
$160
Dining Out
Budapest
$115
Belgrade
$80
Transport
Budapest
$115
Belgrade
$80
Utilities & Internet
Budapest
$115
Belgrade
$80
Healthcare
Budapest
$92
Belgrade
$64
Leisure & Personal
Budapest
$81
Belgrade
$56
Detailed Price Comparison
Sources: KSH (Hungary), Eurostat / SORS (Serbia), World Bank. Updated Jan 2026.
Groceries
| Item | 🇭🇺 Budapest | 🇷🇸 Belgrade | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of bread (500g) | $1 | $1 | -28% |
| Milk (1 liter) | $1 | $1 | +12% |
| Eggs (12) | $2 | $2 | -29% |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $5 | $5 | 0% |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | $2 | $1 | -13% |
Restaurants & Cafes
| Item | 🇭🇺 Budapest | 🇷🇸 Belgrade | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goulash (local restaurant) | $7 | $5 | -29% |
| Fast food combo meal | $5 | $6 | +4% |
| Cappuccino | $2 | $2 | -10% |
| Beer (0.5L, restaurant) | $2 | $2 | -4% |
Housing
| Item | 🇭🇺 Budapest | 🇷🇸 Belgrade | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (District V-VII) | $956 | $761 | -20% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside | $580 | $350 | -40% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, center | $1,400 | $1,000 | -29% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside | $900 | $650 | -28% |
Transport
| Item | 🇭🇺 Budapest | 🇷🇸 Belgrade | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly transit pass (BKK) | $32 | $28 | -13% |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $2 | $2 | -3% |
Utilities & Internet
| Item | 🇭🇺 Budapest | 🇷🇸 Belgrade | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, garbage (85m²) | $130 | $95 | -27% |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | $14 | $15 | +7% |
Leisure & Fitness
| Item | 🇭🇺 Budapest | 🇷🇸 Belgrade | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $30 | $28 | -7% |
| Thermal bath entry | $10 | $5 | -54% |
Personal Care
| Item | 🇭🇺 Budapest | 🇷🇸 Belgrade | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut (men) | $8 | $6 | -31% |
Quick Facts
🇭🇺 Budapest
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $1,704
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $956/mo
- Cappuccino
- $2.00
- Inexpensive meal
- $7.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $25
- Internet speed
- 130 Mbps
- Safety index
- 72/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 76/100
- Country
- Hungary
🇷🇸 Belgrade
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $1,281
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $761/mo
- Cappuccino
- $1.80
- Inexpensive meal
- $6.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $28
- Internet speed
- 80 Mbps
- Safety index
- 65/100(moderately safe)
- Healthcare index
- 73/100
- Country
- Serbia
Explore more: Budapest city guide | Belgrade city guide | Hungary | Serbia
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Budapest or Belgrade cheaper to live in?
Belgrade is approximately 25% cheaper than Budapest overall.
How much does it cost to live in Budapest per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Budapest is approximately $1,704 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
How much does it cost to live in Belgrade per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Belgrade is approximately $1,281 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
What is the rent difference between Budapest and Belgrade?
A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $956/month in Budapest and $761/month in Belgrade.