Moving to United States from Hungary

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Hungary to United States? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Hungary to United States, you would find that United States is 93.1% more expensive than Hungary overall. A HUF24,000,000 salary in Hungary would need to be roughly $142,000 in United States to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Hungary and United States.

What does your salary buy?

HUF24,000,000 → $142,000

To maintain the same standard of living in United States

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 58.8% more

Groceries

pay 69.7% more

Transportation

pay 12.9% more

Housing

pay 3.0 times more

Childcare

pay 3.6 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 71.6% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 HUF = 0.0031 USD (October 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.

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in United States cost about 112% more than cities in Hungary.

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to United States

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Hungary to United States.

Moved in 2023
820 ↓ 3% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to United States?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in United States compared to Hungary.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

HU
0.7
US
5.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

HU
7.4
US
14.2

Hungary performs better than United States across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

HU
$2,875
US
$13,473
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

HU
34.6
US
36.8

United States 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
US
14.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

HU
4.5t
US
13.6t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

HU
37.5
US
38.9
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

HU
8.1%
US
28.2%

United States generally does better on infrastructure, though Hungary leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

HU
4.5%
US
4.2%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

HU
$25,907
US
$90,027

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

HU
76.7 yrs
US
78.9 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

HU
3.1
US
5.5

United States generally does better on family life, though Hungary leads in infant mortality.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary (2016), Internal Revenue Service (2016), The World Factbook (2010). How we calculate this

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

Washington Rain: 41.5 in/yr (1055 mm)
66° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Budapest Washington
Jan–Mar 43°/31°F (6°/-1°C) 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 71°/52°F (22°/11°C) 75°/51°F (24°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 78°/59°F (26°/15°C) 85°/62°F (29°/17°C)
Oct–Dec 49°/37°F (9°/3°C) 57°/35°F (14°/2°C)
View all months
Month Budapest Washington
Jan 37°/27°F (2.6°/-3.0°C) 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C)
Feb 41°/29°F (5.1°/-1.8°C) 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C)
Mar 51°/36°F (10.6°/2.0°C) 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C)
Apr 63°/44°F (17.1°/6.8°C) 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C)
May 72°/53°F (22.4°/11.5°C) 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C)
Jun 78°/58°F (25.3°/14.4°C) 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C)
Jul 82°/62°F (27.9°/16.4°C) 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C)
Aug 81°/61°F (27.4°/16.0°C) 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C)
Sep 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.8°C) 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C)
Oct 61°/45°F (16.1°/7.0°C) 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C)
Nov 47°/36°F (8.5°/2.3°C) 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C)
Dec 38°/29°F (3.2°/-1.7°C) 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C)

Data: Hungarian Meteorological Service Hungarian Meteorological Service, National Weather Service National Weather Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Hungary passport

Hungary passport holder visiting United States

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

United States passport holder visiting Hungary

Visa Free
United States 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 United States than Hungary?

On average United States is around 93% pricier than Hungary, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to United States?

Budget about $35,500 for 3 months in United States (based on a HUF24,000,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from United States?

Connectivity is usually fine (United States: 38.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does United States offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is United States safe for expats?

Hungary performs better than United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United States is 5.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.7 in Hungary.

How is healthcare in United States compared to Hungary?

United States generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Hungary leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 36.8 doctors per 10,000 people in United States, compared to 34.6 in Hungary. United States scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Hungary: 79).

What's the weather like in United States compared to Hungary?

The average high temperature in Washington is 66°F, compared to 60°F in Budapest. Washington receives around 41.5 in of rainfall per year, while Budapest gets 21.0 in.

What language do they speak in United States?

The official language in United States is English. In Hungary, the official language is Hungarian.

Share this

At a Glance

HU US
Population 9,514,251 341,784,857
Currency Hungarian Forint (HUF) United States Dollar ($)
Languages Hungarian English
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +36 +1
Time zones 1 11
Emergency number 112 911