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Budapest vs Prague cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇭🇺 Budapest
🇨🇿 PragueBudapest is 18% cheaper than Prague
Living on $2,978 a month in Budapest feels like about $3,596 in Prague — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$178 vs $206
Per month
$2,978 vs $3,596
Local meal
Ft 3,600 vs Kč 200
$10 vs $9.3
Taxi 5 km
Ft 3,600 vs Kč 230
$10 vs $10.7
At a glance
FoodPrague 7% cheaper
Cafés & drinksBudapest 13% cheaper
TransportBudapest 7% cheaper
StayBudapest 25% cheaper
Funsimilar
- Where Budapest is clearly cheaper: Coffee (28%↓), Studio rent (month) (27%↓), Hotel night (24%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Budapest | Prague | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | Ft 3,600$10 | Kč 200$9.3 | Prague −7% |
| Street food1 item | Ft 1,600$4.44 | Kč 90$4.19 | Prague −6% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | Ft 9,000$25 | Kč 500$23.3 | Prague −7% |
| Coffeeone cup | Ft 900$2.5 | Kč 75$3.49 | Budapest −28% |
| Beerone bottle | Ft 1,000$2.78 | Kč 60$2.79 | similar |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | Ft 2,600$7.22 | Kč 160$7.44 | similar |
| Bottled water | Ft 430$1.19 | Kč 25$1.16 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | Ft 1,100$3.06 | Kč 63$2.93 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | Ft 3,600$10 | Kč 230$10.7 | Budapest −7% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | Ft 2,200$6.11 | Kč 130$6.05 | similar |
| Transitone ride | Ft 430$1.19 | Kč 30$1.4 | Budapest −14% |
| Scooter rentalper day | Ft 9,000$25 | Kč 540$25.1 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | Ft 32,000$88.9 | Kč 2,500$116 | Budapest −24% |
| Studio rent (month) | Ft 270,000$750 | Kč 22,000$1,023 | Budapest −27% |
| Laundry | Ft 1,100$3.06 | Kč 64$2.98 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | Ft 3,600$10 | Kč 220$10.2 | similar |
| Haircutcut | Ft 4,600$12.8 | Kč 300$14 | Budapest −8% |
| Massage1 hour | Ft 13,000$36.1 | Kč 860$40 | Budapest −10% |
| Half-day tourper person | Ft 14,000$38.9 | Kč 860$40 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | Ft 4,300$11.9 | Kč 260$12.1 | 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 Prague?
Budapest is 18% cheaper than Prague. Daily budget $178 vs $206; a month $2,978 vs $3,596.
How do monthly costs compare between Budapest and Prague?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Budapest is about $2,978 and Prague about $3,596 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.