Is Hungary expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Hungary is good value by Western European standards: cheaper than Austria, Germany or Italy, though Budapest prices have risen and are now close to Prague's. A realistic budget day is about 28,500 Ft per person, mid-range about 56,000 Ft and comfort about 113,000 Ft, and the money goes mainly on Budapest hotels, thermal baths, Parliament tickets and evenings out.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | Ft12,000 | Ft25,000 | Ft55,000 |
| Food & drink | Ft9,000 | Ft16,000 | Ft30,000 |
| Sights & tickets | Ft5,000 | Ft10,000 | Ft16,000 |
| Local transport | Ft2,500 | Ft5,000 | Ft12,000 |
| Per person, per day | Ft28,500 | Ft56,000 | Ft113,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Hungary day-cost table.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Single public transport ticket, Budapest | about 450 Ft |
| 24-hour BKK travel card | about 2,500 Ft |
| Airport bus 100E to Deák tér | about 2,200 Ft |
| Weekday lunch menu (napi menü) | about 2,500–4,000 Ft |
| Goulash or chicken paprikash main | about 4,000–7,000 Ft |
| Széchenyi Baths entry | about 12,000–15,000 Ft |
| Parliament tour, non-EU visitor | about 13,000 Ft (roughly half for EU citizens) |
| Glass of Egri Bikavér in an Eger cellar | about 300–500 Ft |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Accommodation is the largest cost, especially in Budapest: hostels and apartments in District VII run about 15,000–30,000 Ft a night, central District V hotels 35,000–65,000 Ft and riverside grand hotels 80,000–180,000 Ft, plus a tourist tax of about 4% of the room price. Sights come next, because the headline attractions are not cheap: the Parliament tour, the Széchenyi Baths and Matthias Church together cost close to 30,000 Ft for a non-EU visitor. Food is reasonable if you eat weekday lunch menus, and transport is cheap, with BKK passes in Budapest and inexpensive MÁV trains to Eger and Lake Balaton. Outside Budapest, guesthouses in Eger or Balatonfüred cost about 25,000–45,000 Ft a night.
When it is cheaper
January to March and November are the cheapest months for Budapest hotels, except around New Year. Lake Balaton is most expensive in July and August, when Hungarian holidaymakers fill it, and quieter and cheaper from September.
How to spend less
- Eat your main meal at lunch, when napi menü set lunches cost about 2,500–4,000 Ft.
- Buy a 24-hour or 72-hour BKK card and use tram 2 along the Pest bank as a cheap sightseeing ride.
- Pay in forints and refuse your home currency at card machines and ATMs; use bank ATMs rather than Euronet machines.
- Bring your own towel and flip-flops to the baths, as renting them adds a lot.
- Take the 100E airport bus (about 2,200 Ft) instead of a taxi.
- Base yourself in Eger or on Balaton for a night or two, where rooms cost less than in central Budapest.
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Common questions
How much does a day in Hungary cost?
About 28,500 Ft per person on a budget, 56,000 Ft mid-range and 113,000 Ft in comfort, sharing a double room.
Is Budapest expensive?
Less than most Western European capitals, though prices have risen. Hotels and the main sights cost the most; lunch menus and transport are cheap.
Should I pay in forints or euros?
In forints. Euros are accepted in places but at poor rates; refuse home-currency conversion on cards.