Moving to Hungary from Illinois
What to Expect
Considering a move from Illinois to Hungary? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Illinois to Hungary, you would find that Hungary is 41.8% cheaper than Illinois. A $75,000 salary in Illinois would need to be roughly HUF16,366,638 in Hungary to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Hungarian.
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 Illinois and Hungary.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → HUF16,366,638
To maintain the same standard of living in Hungary
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 36.5% less
Groceries
pay 33.4% less
Housing
pay 57.0% less
Childcare
pay 75.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 41.0% less
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?
What the data shows about people moving from Illinois to Hungary.
people moved from United States to Hungary · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Hungary compared to Illinois.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Hungary performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Illinois performs better than Hungary across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Illinois generally does better on employment & economy, though Hungary leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Hungary performs significantly better than Illinois across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Springfield | Budapest |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 42°/25°F (6°/-4°C) | 43°/31°F (6°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 74°/52°F (23°/11°C) | 71°/52°F (22°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/61°F (29°/16°C) | 78°/59°F (26°/15°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 52°/33°F (11°/1°C) | 49°/37°F (9°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Springfield | Budapest |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/19°F (1.6°/-7.4°C) | 37°/27°F (2.6°/-3.0°C) |
| Feb | 40°/23°F (4.4°/-5.2°C) | 41°/29°F (5.1°/-1.8°C) |
| Mar | 52°/32°F (11.2°/0.1°C) | 51°/36°F (10.6°/2.0°C) |
| Apr | 65°/42°F (18.1°/5.8°C) | 63°/44°F (17.1°/6.8°C) |
| May | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.4°C) | 72°/53°F (22.4°/11.5°C) |
| Jun | 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.6°C) | 78°/58°F (25.3°/14.4°C) |
| Jul | 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.6°C) | 82°/62°F (27.9°/16.4°C) |
| Aug | 85°/64°F (29.4°/17.6°C) | 81°/61°F (27.4°/16.0°C) |
| Sep | 79°/55°F (26.1°/12.6°C) | 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.8°C) |
| Oct | 66°/44°F (19.1°/6.6°C) | 61°/45°F (16.1°/7.0°C) |
| Nov | 52°/34°F (11.3°/1.1°C) | 47°/36°F (8.5°/2.3°C) |
| Dec | 38°/22°F (3.5°/-5.3°C) | 38°/29°F (3.2°/-1.7°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Hungarian Meteorological Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Hungary. To live, work, or study long-term in Hungary, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Hungary's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Hungary
Visa Free
Hungary passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Hungary than Illinois?
On average Hungary is about 31% less expensive than Illinois, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Hungary?
Budget about HUF4,091,660 for 3 months in Hungary (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Hungary?
From major Hungary cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Illinois and Hungary are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Hungary compared to Illinois?
Hungary performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Hungary compared to Illinois?
The average high temperature in Budapest is 60°F, compared to 63°F in Springfield. Budapest receives around 21.0 in of rainfall per year, while Springfield gets 37.4 in.
What language do they speak in Hungary?
The official language in Hungary is Hungarian. In Illinois, the official language is English.
