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Budapest vs Lisbon cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
ðŸ‡ðŸ‡º Budapest
🇵🇹 LisbonBudapest is 48% cheaper than Lisbon
Living on $2,978 a month in Budapest feels like about $4,855 in Lisbon — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$178 vs $237
Per month
$2,978 vs $4,855
Local meal
Ft 3,600 vs € 11
$10 vs $12.8
Taxi 5 km
Ft 3,600 vs € 6.5
$10 vs $7.56
At a glance
FoodBudapest 20% cheaper
Cafés & drinksBudapest 13% cheaper
TransportBudapest 18% cheaper
StayBudapest 44% cheaper
FunBudapest 12% cheaper
- Where Lisbon is clearly cheaper: Taxi (24%↓)
- Where Budapest is clearly cheaper: Studio rent (month) (50%↓), Transit (43%↓), Hotel night (36%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Budapest | Lisbon | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | Ft 3,600$10 | € 11$12.8 | Budapest −22% |
| Street food1 item | Ft 1,600$4.44 | € 5$5.81 | Budapest −24% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | Ft 9,000$25 | € 25$29.1 | Budapest −14% |
| Coffeeone cup | Ft 900$2.5 | € 2$2.33 | Lisbon −7% |
| Beerone bottle | Ft 1,000$2.78 | € 3$3.49 | Budapest −20% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | Ft 2,600$7.22 | € 7.8$9.07 | Budapest −20% |
| Bottled water | Ft 430$1.19 | € 1$1.16 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | Ft 1,100$3.06 | € 2.5$2.91 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | Ft 3,600$10 | € 6.5$7.56 | Lisbon −24% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | Ft 2,200$6.11 | € 6$6.98 | Budapest −12% |
| Transitone ride | Ft 430$1.19 | € 1.8$2.09 | Budapest −43% |
| Scooter rentalper day | Ft 9,000$25 | € 26$30.2 | Budapest −17% |
| Hotel night3-star | Ft 32,000$88.9 | € 120$140 | Budapest −36% |
| Studio rent (month) | Ft 270,000$750 | € 1,300$1,512 | Budapest −50% |
| Laundry | Ft 1,100$3.06 | € 2.5$2.91 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | Ft 3,600$10 | € 10$11.6 | Budapest −14% |
| Haircutcut | Ft 4,600$12.8 | € 14$16.3 | Budapest −22% |
| Massage1 hour | Ft 13,000$36.1 | € 39$45.3 | Budapest −20% |
| Half-day tourper person | Ft 14,000$38.9 | € 39$45.3 | Budapest −14% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | Ft 4,300$11.9 | € 10$11.6 | similar |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Budapest or Lisbon?
Budapest is 48% cheaper than Lisbon. Daily budget $178 vs $237; a month $2,978 vs $4,855.
How do monthly costs compare between Budapest and Lisbon?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Budapest is about $2,978 and Lisbon about $4,855 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.