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Warsaw vs Budapest

Budapest runs about 21% cheaper than Warsaw for this household, a difference of 399 USD a month.

Aleja Rzeczypospolitej w Warszawie, widok od południa, na pierwszym planie Świątynia Opatrzności Bożej.
Warsaw
$1,932/month · Poland
Emptywords · 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
Warsaw monthly
$1,932
Index 30 (NYC = 100)
Budapest monthly
$1,533
Index 24 (NYC = 100)
Difference
-21%
Budapest relative to Warsaw
Rent gap
$350
Warsaw costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

WarsawBudapest
  • Housing
    Housing: Warsaw $1,000, Budapest $650. Cheaper in Budapest.
  • Food
    Food: Warsaw $485, Budapest $459. Cheaper in Budapest.
  • Transport
    Transport: Warsaw $77, Budapest $66. Cheaper in Budapest.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Warsaw $170, Budapest $177. Cheaper in Warsaw.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Warsaw $18, Budapest $17. Cheaper in Budapest.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Warsaw $114, Budapest $99. Cheaper in Budapest.
  • Other
    Other: Warsaw $69, Budapest $65. Cheaper in Budapest.
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

MetricWarsawBudapest
Cost
Total monthly cost1,932 USD1,533 USD✓
Cost index (New York = 100)3024✓
Housing1,000 USD650 USD✓
Utilities170 USD✓177 USD
Food485 USD459 USD✓
Transport77 USD66 USD✓
Healthcare18 USD17 USD✓
Lifestyle114 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 month2,428 USD4,009 USD✓
Average local net salary1,500 USD✓1,150 USD
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre1,000 USD650 USD✓
3-bed rent, city centre1,800 USD1,200 USD✓
Buy price per m², centre3,200 USD2,600 USD✓
Quality of life
Safety80/100✓76/100
Healthcare74/100✓68/100
Air quality58/100✓54/100
Public transport88/10090/100✓
Walkability84/10086/100✓
English proficiency66/100✓52/100
Nightlife84/10092/100✓
Family friendliness80/100✓74/100
Median broadband180 Mbps180 Mbps
Climate
Average temperature9°C✓12°C
Summer high25°C✓28°C
Winter low-4°C-2°C✓
Sunshine hours per year1,670 h1,990 h✓
Annual rainfall530 mm✓600 mm
Practicalities
Remote-work visaNoYes✓
Beach accessNone nearbyNone nearby
CurrencyPLNHUF
Time zoneEurope/WarsawEurope/Budapest

Budapest runs about 21% cheaper than Warsaw for this household, a difference of 399 USD a month.

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Go deeper

Cost of living in WarsawCost of living in BudapestConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
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FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Warsaw or Budapest cheaper?

Budapest runs about 21% cheaper than Warsaw for this household, a difference of 399 USD a month.

What salary do you need in Budapest compared with Warsaw?

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

Which has better quality of life, Warsaw or Budapest?

Warsaw scores 80/100 on safety and 74/100 on healthcare; Budapest scores 76 and 68. Warsaw averages 9°C against 12°C in Budapest.