Hungary
How much does a trip to Hungary cost? Daily budget and prices
Budget travellers need roughly HUF 21,000–36,500 per day in Hungary; mid-range travellers HUF 46,000–85,000; comfort travellers HUF 111,000–215,000. Budapest's District V and Andrássy út cost the most. Hungary is mid-priced for Europe: cheaper than Austria or Italy, similar to Poland, and far cheaper than Switzerland. 2026 estimate; inflation has been high, so check prices before you book.
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- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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GuideHungary
Key facts
- Currency
- Hungarian forint (HUF, Ft); cards widely accepted in Budapest, cash needed in rural areas
- Budget daily total
- HUF 21,000–36,500 per person (hostel dorm, lunch menus, public transport)
- Mid-range daily total
- HUF 46,000–85,000 per person (3★ hotel, restaurant dinners, baths)
- Comfort daily total
- HUF 111,000–215,000 per person (4–5★, fine dining, taxis)
- Weekday lunch menu (napi menü)
- HUF 2,800–4,000
- Half-litre of beer
- HUF 1,000–1,800
- Széchenyi Baths day ticketcheck
- About HUF 12,000–15,000
- Parliament tour, non-EU visitorcheck
- About HUF 12,000–14,000
- Intercity train, Budapest to regional citycheck
- From about HUF 4,500 one way
- Tipping
- Service charge is often already on the bill; if so, no extra tip is needed
Summary by travel style and month
Hungary's costs split mainly by travel style and by season. Budapest in July and August, and during the Formula 1 weekend and the August 20 national holiday, pushes hotel prices to their yearly high. November to March, outside the Christmas markets, is the cheapest window for accommodation, though some rural guesthouses and bath towns close or run shorter hours.
The table below is a per-person, per-day planning figure for 2026. It assumes you are sharing a room at mid-range and comfort level, and that you eat one restaurant meal a day.
| Style | Bed | Food | Transport | Sights | Extras | Daily total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | HUF 8,000–14,000 | HUF 7,000–10,000 | HUF 1,500–2,500 | HUF 3,000–7,000 | HUF 1,500–3,000 | HUF 21,000–36,500 |
| Mid-range | HUF 18,000–35,000 | HUF 14,000–22,000 | HUF 3,000–6,000 | HUF 8,000–16,000 | HUF 3,000–6,000 | HUF 46,000–85,000 |
| Comfort | HUF 50,000–100,000 | HUF 30,000–50,000 | HUF 8,000–20,000 | HUF 15,000–30,000 | HUF 8,000–15,000 | HUF 111,000–215,000 |
2026 estimate. Hungary's inflation has been high; expect prices to move. A thermal bath is a sights-line cost of HUF 10,000–15,000 on its own.
What each cost line looks like in practice
Accommodation is the biggest variable. A hostel dorm bed in Budapest runs HUF 8,000–14,000; a private room in a 3★ hotel HUF 18,000–35,000; a 4–5★ hotel on the Danube HUF 50,000–100,000. Outside Budapest, guesthouses and small hotels are usually 20–40% cheaper for the same standard. Lake Balaton and Hévíz charge peak summer rates in July and August.
Food is where Hungary is genuinely good value. The weekday lunch menu (napi menü) at a mid-range restaurant costs HUF 2,800–4,000 for two or three courses. A casual dinner with a drink runs HUF 4,000–7,000; a proper restaurant dinner with wine HUF 8,000–15,000. A half-litre of beer is HUF 1,000–1,800, and lángos at a market HUF 1,500–3,000. Supermarket food for a self-catered day is HUF 3,000–5,000.
Transport inside cities is cheap: a single Budapest ticket is a few hundred forint, and a 24-hour or 72-hour travel card is the usual buy for visitors. Intercity trains from Budapest to regional cities start at about HUF 4,500 one way (check current fares). Long-distance buses are often similar or slightly cheaper. Taxis and ride-hailing cost more; budget HUF 8,000–20,000 a day if you use them regularly.
Sights add up faster than people expect. Thermal baths are the main line item at HUF 10,000–15,000 for a day ticket (check). Museum entries are typically HUF 2,000–5,000. The Parliament tour for non-EU visitors is about HUF 12,000–14,000 (check). Many Budapest sights, including the Fisherman's Bastion terraces and the Citadella viewpoints, are free to walk.
| Item | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel dorm, Budapest | HUF 8,000–14,000 | Per bed, per night |
| 3★ hotel room, Budapest | HUF 18,000–35,000 | Per room, per night |
| Weekday lunch menu | HUF 2,800–4,000 | Two or three courses |
| Restaurant dinner with wine | HUF 8,000–15,000 | Per person |
| Half-litre of beer | HUF 1,000–1,800 | City centre costs more |
| Lángos at a market | HUF 1,500–3,000 | Toppings add cost |
| Thermal bath day ticket | HUF 10,000–15,000 | Check |
| Parliament tour, non-EU | HUF 12,000–14,000 | Check |
| Intercity train from Budapest | From HUF 4,500 | One way, check |
2026 estimate. Prices in Budapest's District V and along Andrássy út run at the top of each range.
Notes that change your budget
Hungary uses the forint, not the euro, so your card will be charged in HUF and your bank's conversion applies. Prices look large: HUF 10,000 is roughly €25 in 2026, so check the rate before you land. Cards are widely accepted in Budapest, but carry some forint for markets, small bakeries, public toilets and rural places.
Check restaurant bills before tipping. A service charge is often already added; if it is, no further tip is needed. If it is not, 10% is the usual amount.
Season matters more than city. Budapest hotel rates jump during the Formula 1 weekend, the August 20 national holiday and the Christmas market season. Lake Balaton and the bath towns are busiest and priciest in July and August, and many close or run reduced hours from November to March.
If you are on a tight budget, the biggest savings come from eating the lunch menu instead of dinner, staying outside District V, and using a multi-day transport card rather than single tickets.
FAQ
Sources and verification
Questions people ask
How much money do you need per day in Hungary?
Budget travellers need about HUF 21,000–36,500 per day; mid-range HUF 46,000–85,000; comfort HUF 111,000–215,000. These are per-person, per-day 2026 estimates covering bed, food, transport, sights and extras. Budapest's District V and Andrássy út cost the most.
Is Hungary expensive for tourists?
No. Hungary is mid-priced for Europe: cheaper than Austria or Italy, roughly similar to Poland, and far cheaper than Switzerland. Food and public transport are especially good value. Budapest's tourist centre and Lake Balaton in peak summer are the priciest parts.
What do meals, hotels and transport cost in Hungary?
A weekday lunch menu is HUF 2,800–4,000; a restaurant dinner with wine HUF 8,000–15,000. A hostel dorm is HUF 8,000–14,000 and a 3★ hotel room HUF 18,000–35,000. City transport is a few hundred forint per ticket; intercity trains from Budapest start at about HUF 4,500 one way (check).
How much should I budget for thermal baths and sights?
A thermal bath day ticket is HUF 10,000–15,000 (check), and the Parliament tour for non-EU visitors about HUF 12,000–14,000 (check). Museums are typically HUF 2,000–5,000. Many viewpoints, including the Citadella and the Fisherman's Bastion terraces, are free to walk.
Do I need cash in Hungary?
Cards are widely accepted in Budapest, but carry some forint for markets, small bakeries, public toilets and rural places. Hungary uses the forint, not the euro, so your card is charged in HUF and your bank's conversion applies.
When is the cheapest time to visit Hungary?
November to March, outside the Christmas market season, is cheapest for accommodation, though some rural guesthouses and bath towns close or run shorter hours. Budapest hotel rates peak during the Formula 1 weekend, the August 20 holiday and the Christmas markets; Lake Balaton peaks in July and August.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialHungarian Tourism Agency
- officialHungarian National Bank – exchange rates
- officialMÁV – Hungarian State Railways
- officialBudapest Transport Centre (BKK)
- secondaryWikivoyage – Hungary