Quick answer: Budapest runs about EUR 90 per day mid-range - noticeably less if you eat local and walk. Cheapest window: April-June and September-October - warm days, thermal baths without summer crowds.
What things actually cost
| espresso at a cafe | 1.50 EUR |
| 0.5l draft beer | 2.50 EUR |
| langos at the market | 4 EUR |
| single metro ticket | 1.10 EUR |
| Szechenyi Baths weekday entry | 28 EUR |
| mid-range dinner main course | 12 EUR |
Eat well for little
- Langos (fried dough with sour cream and cheese)around 4-5 EUR at the Great Market Hall upper floor
- Goulash soup6-8 EUR at a traditional etterem like Getto Gulyas
- Chimney cake (kurtoskalacs)3-4 EUR from street stands, best fresh and cinnamon-dusted
- Toltott kaposzta (stuffed cabbage)9-11 EUR, a heavy classic worth one dinner
- Craft beer in a ruin bar3-4 EUR for 0.5l, cheaper than most EU capitals
Money mistakes to avoid
- Exchanging money at airport or Vaci utca exchange boothsrates are poor, use ATMs and always choose to be charged in HUF, not EUR
- Hailing street taxisuse the Bolt app or the official Fotaxi rank to avoid overcharging
- Showing up at Szechenyi Baths at midday on a weekendgo at opening on a weekday and book online
- Paying restaurant bills without checkingsome tourist-area places add a service charge and hope you tip on top
Transport without the tourist tax
The 100E express bus runs from the airport to the center in about 40 minutes for roughly 5.50 EUR. In town, walk plus the metro and trams - a single ticket is about 1.10 EUR and a 24-hour travelcard about 6.50 EUR.
Planning the full trip? Start with the 4-day Budapest itinerary.