Moving to Hungary from United States
What to Expect
Considering a move from United States to Hungary? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from United States to Hungary, you would find that Hungary is 36.6% cheaper than United States overall. A $75,000 salary in United States would need to be roughly HUF12,899,930 in Hungary to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Hungarian.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between United States and Hungary.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → HUF12,899,930
To maintain the same standard of living in Hungary
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 41.0% less
Groceries
pay 39.5% less
Transportation
pay 1.2% less
Housing
pay 60.1% less
Childcare
pay 73.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 40.0% 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 United States 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 United States.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Hungary performs significantly better than United States across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
United States generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Hungary leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
United States generally does better on environment, though Hungary leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
United States generally does better on infrastructure, though Hungary leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
United States generally does better on employment & economy, though Hungary leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
United States generally does better on family life, though Hungary leads in infant mortality.
Data: Internal Revenue Service, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Washington | Budapest |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) | 43°/31°F (6°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) | 71°/52°F (22°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) | 78°/59°F (26°/15°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) | 49°/37°F (9°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Washington | Budapest |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) | 37°/27°F (2.6°/-3.0°C) |
| Feb | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) | 41°/29°F (5.1°/-1.8°C) |
| Mar | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) | 51°/36°F (10.6°/2.0°C) |
| Apr | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) | 63°/44°F (17.1°/6.8°C) |
| May | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) | 72°/53°F (22.4°/11.5°C) |
| Jun | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) | 78°/58°F (25.3°/14.4°C) |
| Jul | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) | 82°/62°F (27.9°/16.4°C) |
| Aug | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) | 81°/61°F (27.4°/16.0°C) |
| Sep | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) | 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.8°C) |
| Oct | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) | 61°/45°F (16.1°/7.0°C) |
| Nov | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) | 47°/36°F (8.5°/2.3°C) |
| Dec | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°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 United States?
On average Hungary is about 46% less expensive than United States, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Hungary?
Budget about HUF3,224,982 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?
Connectivity is usually fine (Hungary: 35.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Hungary offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Hungary safe for expats?
Hungary performs significantly better than United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Hungary is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States.
How is healthcare in Hungary compared to United States?
United States generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Hungary leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 33.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Hungary, compared to 36.1 in United States. Hungary scores 79 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).
What's the weather like in Hungary compared to United States?
The average high temperature in Budapest is 60°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Budapest receives around 21.0 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in.
What language do they speak in Hungary?
The official language in Hungary is Hungarian. In United States, the official language is English.
