Cost of living in Hungary in 2022

Cheryl wrote:

Hi everyone,

Two years after the start of the pandemic, it is time to take stock of the evolution of the cost of living in Hungary or more specifically, in the region where you live. The idea is to help people get ready for their expatriation to Hungary to plan their day-to-day budget for some key expenses.

Rather than think about the pandemic which is now looking very under control, I think you need to frame some of your questions in the context of the war going on next door in Ukraine.  This is very significant for cost of living.

Ukraine supplies about 10% of the calories consumed worldwide.  Along  with Russia, it's a massive grain producer.   Their export output will be zero.   Gas and crude oil flows mainly from Russia and supplies are not looking as diverse as they could be.   It's an emergency situation.

And here, an election is coming on 3rd April.

I'm not sure anyone sensible would be thinking of moving to Hungary any  time soon.  And definitely not thinking of Ukraine.

Hungary is still a reasonable place for us to live but, we feel it may of run it's course for us.
These bla winters have gotten on our last nerve.
Time for some full time sun in our lives again.
We hung on here thinking at some point our HU citizen son might want to take over our property  or perhaps we would buy a largr place for everyone to live together.
Time waits for no one and it doens't look like he will be moving here anytime soon.
That would be just our luck, he moves here and they conscribe him into military service. No thanks.
When the going looks good we are going even if our cheaper lifestyle is gone.
These past couple of winters spent in Hungary were disappointing, not cold enough for snow and not warm enough to hang outdoors for long.
C-19 kept us from traveling during the winter as we usually do so we got a good picture of winters in Hungary over the past 3 years or so.
Getting too old to waste time sitting indoors waiting on the sun.
Food prices, well we don't have a strict budget but we do seem to be spending more lately then in the past on groceries.
Maybe we spend 10,000 fornits every 2 or 3 days at the shops and sometimes jump to a farmers market between Tesco trips.
We really aren't large eaters either, just like a variety of different itmes and they all must be fresh, hardly ever stock the freezer or buy cans foods.
Medical costs here are very good. About $60 a month for the 2 of us, can't really complain about that.
We have just about everything we really need and don't purchase large itmes very often.
Bought a smart tv set 7 months ago, hardly ever use it.
Nice to be able to have replaced our old stereo with the smart tv but still wasn't really a needed purchase.
We spend in the summer on swimming and that's really our biggest luxury. We have made our lives very simple.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

Hungary is still a reasonable place for us to live but, we feel it may of run it's course for us.
These bla winters have gotten on our last nerve.
Time for some full time sun in our lives again.
We hung on here thinking at some point our HU citizen son might want to take over our property  or perhaps we would buy a largr place for everyone to live together.
Time waits for no one and it doens't look like he will be moving here anytime soon.
That would be just our luck, he moves here and they conscribe him into military service. No thanks.
When the going looks good we are going even if our cheaper lifestyle is gone.
These past couple of winters spent in Hungary were disappointing, not cold enough for snow and not warm enough to hang outdoors for long.
C-19 kept us from traveling during the winter as we usually do so we got a good picture of winters in Hungary over the past 3 years or so.
Getting too old to waste time sitting indoors waiting on the sun.
Food prices, well we don't have a strict budget but we do seem to be spending more lately then in the past on groceries.
Maybe we spend 10,000 fornits every 2 or 3 days at the shops and sometimes jump to a farmers market between Tesco trips.
We really aren't large eaters either, just like a variety of different itmes and they all must be fresh, hardly ever stock the freezer or buy cans foods.
Medical costs here are very good. About $60 a month for the 2 of us, can't really complain about that.
We have just about everything we really need and don't purchase large itmes very often.
Bought a smart tv set 7 months ago, hardly ever use it.
Nice to be able to have replaced our old stereo with the smart tv but still wasn't really a needed purchase.
We spend in the summer on swimming and that's really our biggest luxury. We have made our lives very simple.

The winters are a drag here.   I totally agree with that.   But it's been very nice today so that's made it all a bit more optimistic.  The ideal situation would be summer here and winter somewhere a whole lot warmer.

Anyway, at the moment, it's like the four horsemen of the apocalypse around here - " sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague".   

We've had plague (COVID) and now we're having sword (Ukrainian-Russia war),  food prices are rising (famine) and we're only waiting for one more thing, wild beasts (might be inflation, could top 10% in developed countries).

Not good.

We did spend the winters in the US and summers in Hungary for several years.
That is a long haul trip though and since we aren't millionairs we usually picked up a job in the US for 6 months.
A few years we didn't work on the winter breaks but it's hard to live off savings and see it going out the window.
Vegas is not cheap if you like those casinos.Need a lucky streak or it gets painful in the pocketbook.
I see ,"beasts" all the time around here.They are usually face down in their phones are nearly running one off the sidewalk on their scooters.
I'm going to check out food prices in Hawaii if possible online.
It's always been super expensive there and now I can imagine we would have to learn to fish and live off the fruits of the land.
I know years ago we saw if you wanted to survive there and not go broke you had to change your diet to a more local diet.Say good -bye to potatoes and hello to rice.

https://hungarytoday.hu/inflation-likel … -from-may/

https://hungarytoday.hu/inflation-likel … -from-may/

...

I am not surprised as that's going on everywhere.  I also noticed that GDP debt ratio is 80% (up from 66% and generally outside norms of the EU.  Mainly COVID related I suppose.  The war in Ukraine has not filtered down yet.   Looks to me like the government borrowing heavily, maybe to finance giveaways to the population pre-election.   Things will get tough in late 2022 and 2023.

Probably I am arrogant (and drunk) currently, please for readers just refer to some of my posts (especially on hand-outs by Orban) and the (also financial) to leave Hungary. I want to stress that if things become better Hungary remains a nice country, could take some (LONG) time.

Probably I am arrogant (and drunk) currently, please for readers just refer to some of my posts (especially on hand-outs by Orban) and the (also financial) to leave Hungary. I want to stress that if things become better Hungary remains a nice ...

I don't think people will want to wait for things to get better.  They'll simply leave for somewhere else where they are more appreciated.  Even we think about leaving and perhaps we will when the kids are old enough.  Not because of the cost of living (that will be a factor post-election) but just because we cannot stand the politics here.  

The price cap at 500 HUF/litre will come off fuel post-election if OV wins.  They won't have a choice but to remove it as it's unsustainable.   It'll cause a lot of economic pain when it's removed.  Unemployment will rise, investment will fall, inflation will increase.   But OV's bet is that has 4 years to fix it while his cronies skim off their bit.

I really apreciate and like the post, still I am sad my financial posts were/are ignored, I took the consequences. Politics, I have some strong views , Orban is not too bad, but these hand-outs to voters were a VERY negative to me. Expats (in my experience) are really ignored (of course even Orban has to go with EU/Schengen rules  ) a lot of money to come. Leaving EU no real consideration.

The price cap at 500 HUF/litre will come off fuel post-election if OV wins.

The same would happen if opposition won, in that case, we'd also have to deal with rising energy prices. Orban is the country's best hope for now.

The price cap at 500 HUF/litre will come off fuel post-election if OV wins.

The same would happen if opposition won, in that case, we'd also have to deal with rising energy prices. Orban is the ...

My point was that it's an election based policy.  It's a subsidy which is unsustainable and always was.   An average HU voter who has no access to other information may believe the 500 HUF/litre will be the norm post-election when it's clearly not.  I was discussing this with people in some other European countries and they are at almost 740 HUF (2 EUR)/litre. 

O1G is Putin's poodle.   He should have learnt the lessons of the previous Ukrainian pipeline transit issue and diversified supply.  Perhaps O1G will be wondering how he got outplayed as he's being installed as Putin's commissar here in Hungary.   Best to change now.  Anyone but O1G.  It has been done before - Slovakia for example.

@Cheryl 

Renting in Budapest is going to be pretty expensive, but the outlying towns and villages offer much more easily managed prices. We we lived in a village near Vac - with rapid commuting to Keleti - for 70.000ft a month, and that was for a complete 3-bedroom upper floor, with ceramic stove, central heating, all bills paid except bottle gas, and even free logs for the ceramic.  Nevertheless we thought we would rather have our own property and so bought an old village house in Somogy county for 2.8m ft, and spent just about half as much again on doing it up. Local labour and craftsmen are inexpensive and readily available. It was a private sale, we just cruised around looking for ELADO signs and knocked on doors. Couldn't have done that without having a Hungarian wife, of course. The Dutchman living next door, with a similar house, paid 45.000 euro for his, via an agency. The village, with a population of 1200, has regular bus services, a train station, a post office, a school, a kindergarten, a doctor's surgery, a pharmacy, a vet, a restaurant, a dentist, a community centre, a minibus and an ATM. Can't imagine having that in a similar sized village in UK. We pay a house tax - equivalent of community charge - of 7.500ft a year. Amenity costs (water, broadband, rubbish collection) are very low, though we pay E-ON 30.000ft a month in winter. Luckily we don't have gas. Supermarket prices are relatively high: we spend about 40.000ft a week, but we are a shade profligate. Cheaper - and healthier - to go to the country markets and buy fresh produce. Insurance and tax for our small car are  55.000ft per annum. 

For health - if you are Brit - a good idea is to apply for an S1 form from HMRC and exchange it for a Hungarian TAJ card, which will give you access to their excellent health services. There are also very good private clinics charging very reasonable prices, but beware of the Budapest outfits which cater for businessmen on company insurance, which will cost you the earth without a policy.

If you are retired, all transport is free for EEC citizens, provided you have a travel document, ie passport or residence card.

If I were in England now, I would have to spend most of my income on some scruffy bedsitter at the trash-end of town. Here I can say I live very comfortably.

David Bye

@Cheryl 

Renting in Budapest is going to be pretty expensive, but the outlying towns and villages offer much more easily managed prices. We we lived in a village near Vac - with rapid commuting to Keleti - for 70.000ft a month, and ... - @dbyexx

Maybe you can confirm the S1 form is only available to those in receipt of a government pension.   That provides for the reciprocal provision of a TAJ card.  Otherwise, either employment or private health insurance or the EHIC is needed.

I think the free transport for the British post-Brexit is no longer allowed as the British are not EEC citizens (now).  Unless someone knows better?!

Quite correct, the S1 form is available only to British retirees, I should have mentioned that: must stop assuming all Brit expats in Hungary are retired.

I should have put EEA rather than EEC: but now I see Britain is no longer a member of that either.

Thanks for the corrections.

DB

Hi everyone,


Two years after the start of the pandemic, it is time to take stock of the evolution of the cost of living in Hungary or more specifically, in the region where you live. The idea is to help people get ready for their ... - @Cheryl

With permanent residency I still have free travel and the cost of public transport has remained more or less the same for people who pay.

I do have less visitors from the uk so spend less on entertaining people.

Food prices have gone up by about 15% over the past 2 years. Its been a slow creep but still noticeable. 

The biggest rise has been in petrol but that is effecting everybody. I'm sure that utility bills will rise for most.

Over the past 2 years  rents in Budapest have risen greatly and also if you are considering buying property in Budapest you won't get much for your money.

Many of the old spacious apartments have been split into two or three  studio apartments. 

Also new blocks have been built on many gaps in the city. Often offering studios and very small modern flats that are affordable for working people. I do think some places have been very overpriced so I'm glad I purchased my home quite a few years ago now.

I can't comment on much because I live a fairly simple life. I prefer my own cooking and tend to buy books, cards, household items and art materials mail order because what I need just is not available locally. 

I also do all my own repairs and decorating because tradespeople charge more than I wish to pay. And my partner is very DIY capable

There have been some changes in the forest area where I have my old and run down cottage. The family based tax breaks have helped a lot to rejuvenate the local villages and there are now more settled families, less litter and more local industry.

My cottage used to be one of the smartest on our lane but many slums have been demolished and smart new houses have appeared.

So currently things look more prosperous but like most people I am waiting for the crash to come.

Hi everyone,



Two years after the start of the pandemic, it is time to take stock of the evolution of the cost of living in Hungary or more specifically, in the region where you live. The idea is to help ... - @anns

 You don't have free travel like you had before Brexit. 

I do not want to classify myself as somebody with a simple life, but in Turkey I would not dare driving a car (I can tell you that makes a big big difference in the monthly budget, on top of the savings on smoking (and a bit on alcohol) it gives me savings which would allow us to go to a restaurant every day if we wanted (we do not, but still).

Inflation however hits everybody (Europe or elsewhere). I budgetted for some savings in Turkey as to compare to Hungary, but I would not have expected the savings so big. 

Simplistic (without taxes (also important) for comparison only, I do not say I have so much money.

I say (EUR 3.000 Netherlands, EUR 2.100 Hungary, EUR 1400 Turkey)

I do not want to classify myself as somebody with a simple life, but in Turkey I would not dare driving a car (I can tell you that makes a big big difference in the monthly budget, on top of the savings on smoking (and a bit on alcohol) it ... - @cdw057

Probably the savings will be transient.  Imports will become far more expensive.  But if you live on local stuff then it will be easier for sure.  Electric car might be a possibility, especially of it's charged by solar panels.   Cost of the vehicle is too prohibitive at the moment.

That said, inflation around here is being driven by the Ukrainian oil crisis.  Probably will last at least 2 more years.  Government spending on defence is going to spiral higher. 

On cost in Hungary as per prior posts, the nice hand-outs will hit sooner or later (probably be sooner). What is really, really sad is that expats paid and still do, but no (as far as I am aware) no refunds (not even if they are Schengen citizens). A reason to leave, but perhaps things change and I return. 

I also sent mails in that tone to government institutions, but apart from VERY neutral replies nothing. I think expats bring a LOT to Hungary and should be from time to time be appreciated, no indeed most of the contributors are young and bring young working resource, but contribution in budget is there.

In a way sad that in an islamic country even alcohol is cheaper (let alone for other items (apart from cars))

@Cheryl 

Renting in Budapest is going to be pretty expensive, but the outlying towns and villages offer much more easily managed prices. We we lived in a village near Vac - with rapid commuting to Keleti - for ... - @fluffy2560

 I think the free transport for the British post-Brexit is no longer allowed as the British are not EEC citizens (now).  Unless someone knows better?!

Our Article 50 Card, gives us the same rights as EU citizens. So might worth checking about your card. 

Our Article 50 Card, gives us the same rights as EU citizens. So might worth checking about your card.  ... - @SimCityAT

It's not really clear who that applies to.  I don't think it works here on BKK or BKV (Budapest public transport).

What it says there is:

Hungarian citizens of age below 65

Pensioners
with Hungarian citizenship (as well as those who repatriated from
abroad) have to present their Pensioner Pass and a valid "Retirees'
Travel Voucher" issued by NYUFIG (Hungarian Pension Disbursement Board)
and bring a photo.

Hungarian citizens of age 65 and above

Can travel free. Pensioner pass certificate is not needed. ID card or passport is sufficient to prove your age.

EU citizens of age below 65

You
can not benefit from the pensioner discount offered by the Hungarian
state unless you have a valid "Retirees' Travel Voucher" given by NYUFIG
(Hungarian Pension Disbursement Board).

EU citizens of age 65 and above

Can travel free. Pensioner pass certificate is not needed. ID card or passport is sufficient to justify your age.

Citizens from outside the EU

Irrespective of the age, they are not entitled to pensioner discount. They have to buy full price pass.

Should you have any question regarding pensioners travel rights please consult our Customer Service.

I have no idea about free travel here as I've not reached that age yet. 

@fluffy2560 Things change, not very fast, but even Orban can change when again being in power, attacking elderly before voting is not clever, but imposing (modest taxes) on pensioners could be an option (one could say align with other EU/Schengen states). One could even use a Portugal case. Expat pensioners in my view should not feel safe.

I have no doubt Orban will win again and he will go relatively easy (but there will be an impact) even on expat pensioners. Directly whoever wins you will be hit. (Cash is needed, inflation has to be subdued, rich expats are not the priority I think)

What is important Hungary needs EU money and they have to comply (partially) with demands. Cigarettes have done, subsidizing healthcare, families with cheap cars etc, .... will cost. WHO PAYS?

Russia has now said that they will cut the gas pipeline tomorrow unless it is paid in Rubles 

I have no idea about free travel here as I've not reached that age yet. 

- @SimCityAT

 Me neither but it will come eventually.

Free bus pass in the UK,  paid bus pass in HU.

Another Brexit benefit.

Russia has now said that they will cut the gas pipeline tomorrow unless it is paid in Rubles 

- @SimCityAT

That will include HU one might suppose.    EU bloc isn't going to be blackmailed.   I read they would pay EUR to an unsanctioned USSR* bank and they can convert it.  He's prepared to destroy everything to come out on top.  Like he's got a death wish.

I expect we'll start to have power cuts eventually as some of the emergency/on demand plants will be gas powered turbines.  They can spin up in seconds.  There's a buffer in gas storage but not that long - maybe 3 months if that.

* I'm being facetious.

@fluffy2560 Things change, not very fast, but even Orban can change when again being in power, attacking elderly before voting is not clever, but imposing (modest taxes) on pensioners could be an option (one could say align with other ... - @cdw057

Looks like  events are once again moving out of OV's hands.  I cannot see how he can spin it to his advantage unless HU remains connected.  I cannot see how PU can disconnect some places and not others.  If he disconnects over the RUB payments, then everyone downstream will suffer.  Right now, I expect the EU countries are pumping gas into storage as quickly as possible.

PU's MO is to escalate to de-escalate and it seems like it's another one of those kind of things.   If he doesn't go through with it, then he's obviously a toothless tiger.  If he does it, he screws the USSR economy even more. But his pre-invasion speech probably said (as he has done many times), "Many of you may die, but it's a risk I'm prepared to take".

Even if I do not agree with Orban on the handouts, he was clever to have nuclear agreed and also some interesting contracts with gas well before the war. Hungary will benefit, perhaps Orban was just lucky, but good for all in Hungary.

Still as finances are concerned, Hungary will become and is becoming expensive. 

Even if I do not agree with Orban on the handouts, he was clever to have nuclear agreed and also some interesting contracts with gas well before the war. Hungary will benefit, perhaps Orban was just lucky, but good for all in ... - @cdw057

 I think the opposite about OV.   He's hitched his wagon to an unreliable partner.  OV's election messages currently are quite hysterical and still banging stupid drums about LGBT enemies, Soros and the EU.  

The gas contracts are meaningless if the contract cannot be fulfilled because Russia is ostracised.   The nuclear power station, same problem. He could have bought into a French or US station design or worked on small scale nuclear plants.  

I believe Putin's government financing is about 40% gas/oil related.  If he cannot sell the stuff anywhere, then the economy in Russia will be destroyed for many years.    No good relying on them for anything significant.

It's economics 101 and common sense to have diversity of supply.

Inflation is becoming serious issue.  Domestic energy costs are going to be unaffordable for the next few years.   There will be a rush to solar, geothermal, gas fracking, nuclear etc.

I can see a HU referendum in the future on EU membership.  Once the EU is out of the picture, then OV can do whatever he wants as he morphs into another Lukashenko.  

Mrs F told me that there are reports of about 20% of the HU population who will actively leave the country if OV remains in power.   Not a good sign.

After my recent trip to the uk I can confirm that all utility bills , internet services,   public transport, petrol and car costs etc etc are all very low in Hungary compared to the Uk.

However cheap clothing outlets and cheap meals out are about the same.

There is more choice in Supermarkets uk and bargains to be had in pound stores and on sales rails but nothing that Hungarians would be interested in. Just a novelty for Uk people now living mainly elsewhere.