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Kraków vs Budapest

Budapest runs about 8% cheaper than Kraków for this household, a difference of 127 USD a month.

Kraków - Main Market Square
Kraków
$1,660/month · Poland
Andrzej Otrębski · CC BY-SA 4.0
Az Infopark központi része az egyik épület tetejéről
Budapest
$1,533/month · Hungary
Jeti wiki · CC BY-SA 4.0
Kraków monthly
$1,660
Index 26 (NYC = 100)
Budapest monthly
$1,533
Index 24 (NYC = 100)
Difference
-8%
Budapest relative to Kraków
Rent gap
$150
Kraków costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

KrakówBudapest
  • Housing
    Housing: Kraków $800, Budapest $650. Cheaper in Budapest.
  • Food
    Food: Kraków $448, Budapest $459. Cheaper in Kraków.
  • Transport
    Transport: Kraków $71, Budapest $66. Cheaper in Budapest.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Kraków $155, Budapest $177. Cheaper in Kraków.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Kraków $16, Budapest $17. Cheaper in Kraków.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Kraków $106, Budapest $99. Cheaper in Budapest.
  • Other
    Other: Kraków $64, Budapest $65. Cheaper in Kraków.
Each row is one category priced in both cities for the same household. The bar is the gap; exact figures are in the table below.
Interactive — adjust the household

Full comparison

MetricKrakówBudapest
Cost
Total monthly cost1,660 USD1,533 USD✓
Cost index (New York = 100)2624✓
Housing800 USD650 USD✓
Utilities155 USD✓177 USD
Food448 USD✓459 USD
Transport71 USD66 USD✓
Healthcare16 USD✓17 USD
Lifestyle106 USD99 USD✓
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr4,360 USD5,542 USD✓
Effective tax + social rate47.7%33.5%✓
Left over each month2,700 USD4,009 USD✓
Average local net salary1,450 USD✓1,150 USD
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre800 USD650 USD✓
3-bed rent, city centre1,450 USD1,200 USD✓
Buy price per m², centre2,900 USD2,600 USD✓
Quality of life
Safety82/100✓76/100
Healthcare74/100✓68/100
Air quality44/10054/100✓
Public transport80/10090/100✓
Walkability88/100✓86/100
English proficiency64/100✓52/100
Nightlife86/10092/100✓
Family friendliness82/100✓74/100
Median broadband175 Mbps180 Mbps✓
Climate
Average temperature9°C✓12°C
Summer high26°C✓28°C
Winter low-5°C-2°C✓
Sunshine hours per year1,600 h1,990 h✓
Annual rainfall680 mm600 mm✓
Practicalities
Remote-work visaNoYes✓
Beach accessNone nearbyNone nearby
CurrencyPLNHUF
Time zoneEurope/WarsawEurope/Budapest

Budapest runs about 8% cheaper than Kraków for this household, a difference of 127 USD a month.

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Go deeper

Cost of living in KrakówCost of living in BudapestConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
Kraków vs TallinnKraków vs SplitKraków vs Warsaw
FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Kraków or Budapest cheaper?

Budapest runs about 8% cheaper than Kraków for this household, a difference of 127 USD a month.

What salary do you need in Budapest compared with Kraków?

On a $100,000 gross salary you would take home $4,360 a month in Kraków and $5,542 in Budapest, before local costs. Use the salary converter for an exact equivalent.

Which has better quality of life, Kraków or Budapest?

Kraków scores 82/100 on safety and 74/100 on healthcare; Budapest scores 76 and 68. Kraków averages 9°C against 12°C in Budapest.