Essentials
- City
- Budapest, Hungary, Central Europe
- Population
- Approx. 1.76 million
- Internet Speed
- 95 Mbps average, fiber reaches up to 1-2 Gbps through Digi or Telekom
- Currency & Banking
- Hungarian Forint (HUF). 1 USD ≈ 365 HUF, 1 EUR ≈ 395 HUF
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and high quality (comes from the Danube filtration system)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Telekom, Vodafone, Yettel. Most cards cost approx. 3,000 HUF for 10-20GB
- Banking for Expats
- OTP Bank, Erste Bank, Raiffeisen. Revolut and Wise are extremely popular
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and local sites like ingatlan.com for long-term
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards widely accepted; only small markets or older bars might require cash
- Short Term Rentals
- Flatio, Airbnb, and Facebook groups such as 'Budapest Apartments for Rent'
- Budget Accommodation
- Avenue Hostel (Andrássy út 44, approx. 6,500 HUF/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- District V (Inner City) or District VII (Jewish Quarter) for nightlife
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- District VI (Terézváros) or District XIII (Újlipótváros) for quieter parks and cafes
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- KAPTÁR (Révay köz 4, approx. 6,000 HUF/day or 55,000 HUF/month)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Magvető Café (Dohány u. 13) or Madal Cafe (Hollán Ernő u. 3)
- Networking Events
- Budapest Digital Nomads Meetup or events at Impact Hub Budapest
- Social Events for Expats
- Budapest Expat Meetup on Facebook or InterNations Budapest
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Bolt (Standard) and Főtaxi (Official airport partner)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- MOL Bubi (City bikes, ~1,000 HUF/month) and Lime/Tier scooters
- Best Beach Nearby
- Lupa Beach (Budakalász, 25 mins by HÉV train, approx. 4,500 HUF entry)
- Top Regional Airline
- Wizz Air (HQ in Budapest)
- Top International Airline
- Lufthansa, Air France, and LOT Polish Airlines
- Highway Access
- M1 (Vienna), M3 (East), M5 (South), and M7 (Lake Balaton)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Keleti Railway Station (East) and Nyugati Railway Station (West)
- Public Transport Passes
- BudapestGO App: Monthly pass 9,500 HUF; 15-day pass 6,300 HUF
- Regional Travel
- MÁV (Trains) to Vienna or Bratislava; Volánbusz for domestic coaches
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- FirstMed (Hattyú u. 14) or Dr. Rose Private Hospital (Roosevelt tér 7/8)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Downdog Yoga (Multiple locations) and Rudas Thermal Bath
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Life1 Fitness (Corvin negyed, approx. 22,000 HUF/month)
- Laundry Services
- Bubbles Self-Service Laundry (Dohány u. 57, approx. 1,600 HUF/load)
Other Services and Amenities
- Libraries & Study Spots
- FSZEK Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library (Reviczky u. 1)
- Community Centers
- Jurányi Art Community Center
- Gaming Lounges
- Barcraft (Esports bar chain)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Las Vegas Casino (Corvin sétány 4)
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Foxpost (Locker system) and GLS
- Tech Repair Services
- iStyle (Apple repair) and PC Guru
- Table Tennis Spots
- Városliget (City Park) open-air tables
- Language Classes
- Hungarian Language School (Váci u. 63)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 1,400,000 HUF per m² (e.g., 30 m² = 42,000,000 HUF)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 950,000 HUF per m² (e.g., 30 m² = 28,500,000 HUF)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 1,300,000 HUF per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 65,000,000 HUF)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 850,000 HUF per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 42,500,000 HUF)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 1,200,000 HUF per m² (e.g., 75 m² = 90,000,000 HUF)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 800,000 HUF per m² (e.g., 75 m² = 60,000,000 HUF)
- Corporate Tax
- 9% (Lowest in the EU)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 15% (for individuals)
- Tax System
- Flat personal income tax (15%) on worldwide income for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 15% Flat Rate
- VAT
- 27% Standard Rate (highest in EU)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, in accordance with EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD)
- Property Tax
- Usually none for residential, though some districts charge a small wealth tax
- Property Transaction Tax
- 4% Transfer Tax (vagyonszerzési illeték)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- White Card (Residence Permit): 0% tax if income is from outside Hungary and you stay < 183 days, else 15% flat tax
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Wolt and Foodora
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Goulash (Gulyás) and Lángos (Fried dough with garlic, cheese, and sour cream)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Napfényes Restaurant (Ferenciek tere 2) and Vegan Garden
- Best Dessert Spots
- Ruszwurm Confectionery (Castle District) and Gerbeaud Café
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Aldi, Lidl, and Penny Market
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Emag.hu (General), Kifli.hu (Grocery), and Amazon.de (Ships to HU)
- Grocery Delivery
- Kifli.hu or Wolt Market
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- District VII (Jewish Quarter), specifically Kazinczy Street
- Local Brewery
- First Craft Beer Co. or Mad Scientist (Madhouse in Anker köz)
- Wine Bars
- Doblo Wine & Bar (Dob u. 20)
- Street Food Stalls
- Karavan Street Food (Kazinczy u. 18) next to Szimpla Kert
- Popular International Cuisine
- Enzo Pasta Bar (Italian) and Ping (Chinese in District II)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Hungarian Parliament Building and Fisherman's Bastion
- Museums & Art Venues
- Hungarian National Gallery and Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art
- Historical Sites
- Shoes on the Danube Bank and Buda Castle
- Religious Sites
- St. Stephen's Basilica and Dohány Street Synagogue
- Annual Events
- Sziget Festival (August) and Budapest Spring Festival
- Cultural Districts
- Palace District (District VIII) and the Castle District (District I)
- Theater Venues
- Hungarian State Opera (Andrássy út 22)
- Local Markets
- Great Market Hall (Nagyvásárcsarnok, Vámház krt. 1-3)
- Music Scene
- A38 Ship (Concert venue on a boat) and Budapest Park
- Street Art
- District VII murals (e.g., 'Rubik's Cube' on Rumbach Sebestyén u.)
- Cooking Classes
- Chefparade Cooking School (Bécsi út 27)
- Art Galleries
- KOGART and Virág Judit Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Gresham Palace (Four Seasons) and Anantara New York Palace
- Local Heritage
- The Holy Crown of Hungary (kept in the Parliament)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Margaret Island (Margit-sziget) and Normafa Park
- National Parks Nearby
- Duna-Ipoly National Park (45 mins away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Danube Promenade and the loops of Margaret Island
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Gellért Hill (Citadella) and Elizabeth Lookout on János Hill
- Birdwatching Locations
- Naplás Lake and the Merzse-mocsár marshland
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Római-part (Danube riverbank in District III)