🇭🇺 Budapest vs 🇵🇹 Lisbon
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Budapest is 35% cheaper than Lisbon
Quick answer
Comparing Budapest, Hungary and Lisbon, Portugal: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $1,704 in Budapest versus $2,604 in Lisbon. Budapest is roughly 35% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $956/mo (Budapest) vs $1,466/mo (Lisbon). 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: $2,604/mo in Lisbon single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $956/mo in Budapest · $1,466/mo in Lisbon.
- Cheaper overall: Budapest ~35% cheaper than Lisbon.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics + item-level price snapshots · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇭🇺 Budapest | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $1,200/mo | $1,800/mo | +50% |
| Moderate | $1,704/mo | $2,604/mo | +53% |
| Comfortable | $2,550/mo | $3,900/mo | +53% |
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 | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $956/mo | $1,466/mo | +53% |
| Groceries & Food | $230/mo | $350/mo | +52% |
| Dining Out | $115/mo | $175/mo | +52% |
| Transport | $115/mo | $175/mo | +52% |
| Utilities & Internet | $115/mo | $175/mo | +52% |
| Healthcare | $92/mo | $140/mo | +52% |
| Leisure & Personal | $81/mo | $123/mo | +52% |
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.
Detailed Price Comparison
Sources: KSH (Hungary), Eurostat / INE (Statistics Portugal), Eurostat. Updated Jan 2026.
Groceries
| Item | 🇭🇺 Budapest | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of bread (500g) | $1 | $1 | +44% |
| Milk (1 liter) | $1 | $1 | 0% |
| Eggs (12) | $2 | $3 | +4% |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $5 | $7 | +41% |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | $2 | $1 | -25% |
Restaurants & Cafes
| Item | 🇭🇺 Budapest | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goulash (local restaurant) | $7 | $10 | +46% |
| Fast food combo meal | $5 | $8 | +41% |
| Cappuccino | $2 | $2 | -10% |
| Beer (0.5L, restaurant) | $2 | $3 | +38% |
Housing
| Item | 🇭🇺 Budapest | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (District V-VII) | $956 | $1,466 | +53% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside | $580 | $800 | +38% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, center | $1,400 | $2,100 | +50% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside | $900 | $1,400 | +56% |
Transport
| Item | 🇭🇺 Budapest | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly transit pass (BKK) | $32 | $44 | +38% |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $2 | $4 | +150% |
Utilities & Internet
| Item | 🇭🇺 Budapest | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, garbage (85m²) | $130 | $120 | -8% |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | $14 | $35 | +150% |
Leisure & Fitness
| Item | 🇭🇺 Budapest | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $30 | $40 | +33% |
| Thermal bath entry | $10 | $8 | -20% |
| Cinema ticket | $5 | $12 | +122% |
Personal Care
| Item | 🇭🇺 Budapest | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut (men) | $8 | $15 | +85% |
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
- 73/100
- Country
- Hungary
🇵🇹 Lisbon
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $2,604
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $1,466/mo
- Cappuccino
- $2.45
- Inexpensive meal
- $14.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $44
- Internet speed
- 115 Mbps
- Safety index
- 78/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 92/100
- Country
- Portugal
Explore more: Budapest city guide | Lisbon city guide | Hungary | Portugal