Moving to Israel from Hungary

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Hungary to Israel — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Hungary to Israel, you would find that Israel is 94.3% more expensive than Hungary overall. A HUF23,342,818 salary in Hungary would need to be roughly ₪411,622 in Israel to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic and Hebrew. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Jerusalem averages 72°F vs 60°F in Budapest, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Hungary to Israel.

What does your salary buy?

HUF23,342,818 ₪411,622

To maintain the same standard of living in Israel

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 2.1 times more

Groceries

pay 52.7% more

Transportation

pay 62.0% more

Housing

pay 2.1 times more

Childcare

pay 2.5 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.2 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 HUF = 0.0097 ILS (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Hungary to Israel, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
39 ↑ 39% vs 2022

people moved from Hungary to Israel · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Israel?

Top countries of origin for Israel's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Hungary to Israel.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

HU
1.0
IL
1.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

HU
7.4
IL
4.2

Hungary generally does better on safety, though Israel leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

HU
$2,875
IL
$4,033
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

HU
33.0
IL
37.1

Israel generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Hungary leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

HU
42.0
IL
15.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

HU
4.5t
IL
5.8t

Hungary generally does better on environment, though Israel leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

HU
35.5
IL
29.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

HU
8.1%
IL
132.0%

Hungary generally does better on infrastructure, though Israel leads in electricity per capita.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

HU
4.1%
IL
3.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

HU
$40,600
IL
$48,300

Hungary generally does better on employment & economy, though Israel leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

HU
77.2 yrs
IL
83.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

HU
4.6
IL
3.6

Israel generally does better on family life, though Hungary leads in literacy rate.

Data: National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Budapest Rain: 21.0 in/yr (534 mm)
60° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Jerusalem Rain: 21.1 in/yr (537 mm)
72° / 57°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Budapest Jerusalem
Jan–Mar 43°/31°F (6°/-1°C) 58°/46°F (15°/8°C)
Apr–Jun 71°/52°F (22°/11°C) 78°/60°F (25°/15°C)
Jul–Sep 78°/59°F (26°/15°C) 85°/67°F (29°/20°C)
Oct–Dec 49°/37°F (9°/3°C) 68°/55°F (20°/13°C)
View all months
Month Budapest Jerusalem
Jan 37°/27°F (2.6°/-3.0°C) 55°/44°F (12.8°/6.9°C)
Feb 41°/29°F (5.1°/-1.8°C) 57°/45°F (13.8°/7.1°C)
Mar 51°/36°F (10.6°/2.0°C) 63°/49°F (17.0°/9.2°C)
Apr 63°/44°F (17.1°/6.8°C) 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.1°C)
May 72°/53°F (22.4°/11.5°C) 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.0°C)
Jun 78°/58°F (25.3°/14.4°C) 83°/65°F (28.4°/18.2°C)
Jul 82°/62°F (27.9°/16.4°C) 86°/68°F (30.0°/20.2°C)
Aug 81°/61°F (27.4°/16.0°C) 86°/68°F (29.9°/20.0°C)
Sep 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.8°C) 83°/66°F (28.4°/18.7°C)
Oct 61°/45°F (16.1°/7.0°C) 78°/62°F (25.3°/16.8°C)
Nov 47°/36°F (8.5°/2.3°C) 68°/55°F (19.9°/12.8°C)
Dec 38°/29°F (3.2°/-1.7°C) 59°/48°F (15.2°/9.0°C)

Data: Hungarian Meteorological Service Hungarian Meteorological Service, Israel Meteorological Service Israel Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hungary and Israel. To live, work, or study long-term in Israel, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Israel's immigration authority.

Hungary passport

Hungary passport holder visiting Israel

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Hungary passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Israel.
Israel passport

Israel passport holder visiting Hungary

Visa Free
Israel passport holders can enter Hungary without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Israel than Hungary?

No — Israel is on average about 82% more expensive than Hungary. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Israel?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ₪102,906 in Israel on a HUF23,342,818 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Israel?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Israel has 29.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Israel safe for expats?

Hungary generally does better on safety, though Israel leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Israel is 1.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in Hungary.

How is healthcare in Israel compared to Hungary?

Israel generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Hungary leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 37.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Israel, compared to 33.0 in Hungary. Israel scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Hungary: 79).

What's the weather like in Israel compared to Hungary?

The average high temperature in Jerusalem is 72°F, compared to 60°F in Budapest. Jerusalem receives around 21.1 in of rainfall per year, while Budapest gets 21.0 in.

What language do they speak in Israel?

The official languages in Israel are Arabic and Hebrew. In Hungary, the official language is Hungarian.

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At a Glance

HU IL
Population 9,699,577 8,914,885
Currency Hungarian Forint (HUF) Israeli New Sheqel (₪)
Languages Hungarian Arabic, Hebrew
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +36 +972
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 100