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Travel budget

How much does a trip to Budapest cost?

What a trip to Budapest costs, worked out for your days and your party, with every price traced to where it comes from. And then the part most budgets skip: how to actually pay once you are there.

Food, getting around and sights in Budapest come to Ft 24,000–38,000 per person per day. Accommodation, flights and the airport transfer are on top. Prices reviewed: October 2026.

Full Budapest guide

Your trip

How much money you still need

Days, people and how you like to travel decide almost everything. Flights are left out: they depend on where you start.

6 nights

Counted at the child fares each operator publishes.

Travel style

Set meals and the odd sit-down dinner, and one paid sight a day.

Accommodation

We have no sample of hotel prices for this city yet, so we will not guess one. Type what you have seen and the lodging tax is worked out from it.

Adjust accommodation, food and the rest

In local currency. We do not estimate this: nobody knows what you will buy.

Already paid for

You still need, flights aside

Ft 350,000–540,000

≈ $1,100 – $1,700 · rate of October 6, 2026

Ft 25,000–39,000 per person per day · 7 days and 2 people

Expected
Ft 350,000–540,000
Most trips land in here
Set aside
Ft 540,000
With this you are unlikely to run short
Cushion, kept apart
Ft 45,000
10% of the trip
  • FoodFt 220,000–270,000
  • Getting aroundFt 28,000–50,000
  • Airport, both waysFt 10,000
  • Sights and activitiesFt 24,000–210,000
  • Nights outFt 11,000–17,000
  • Lodging tax and odds and endsFt 14,000–26,000

Of that, in cash: Ft 80,000–170,000

The cash share is our reading of how each kind of place takes payment, not a measurement. Your own bank may charge on top; this page cannot know that.

  • Accommodation is not in this figure. Add your price per night to include it.
  • Flights are not included.
  • You probably will not spend the cushion. Having it to hand covers a night you had not planned, a taxi, or a changed ticket.
Styles

What a day in Budapest costs, by how you travel

Per person per day, two travelling, without accommodation, flights or the airport transfer. A style is not a figure: it is a way of eating, getting around and seeing things, and each one is spelled out below.

Budget

Ft 15,000–23,000 per person per day

Local food, public transport, the odd paid sight.

FoodLocal and cheap
Ft 9,300–14,000
Getting aroundPublic transport
Ft 2,000–3,600
Sights and activitiesThe odd paid sight
Ft 850–7,400
Sundries: luggage storage, laundry, water
Ft 610–1,200

Mid-range

Ft 24,000–38,000 per person per day

Set meals and the odd sit-down dinner, and one paid sight a day.

FoodMixed: set meals and one sit-down dinner
Ft 16,000–19,000
Getting aroundPublic transport
Ft 2,000–3,600
Sights and activitiesOne paid sight a day
Ft 1,700–15,000
Nights outNow and then
Ft 790–1,200
Sundries: luggage storage, laundry, water
Ft 980–1,900

Comfort

Ft 32,000–58,000 per person per day

The best food level we can price, a taxi when it helps, two paid sights a day.

FoodRestaurants most of the time
Ft 20,000–23,000
Getting aroundPublic transport, and a taxi now and then
Ft 2,800–4,400
Sights and activitiesTwo paid sights a day
Ft 3,400–30,000
Nights outNow and then
Ft 790–1,200
Sundries: luggage storage, laundry, water
Ft 1,300–2,800

A style's total is not the sum of the extremes of its lines: nobody has a trip where everything comes out cheap, or everything dear. “Sundries” is an assumption of ours, 5% of food, transport and sights, not a measurement.

By length of trip

How much money for 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 days in Budapest

Per person, two travelling together, without accommodation or flights. It is not the daily figure times the days: airport transfers are paid once, so they weigh less the longer you stay.

DaysBudgetMid-rangeComfort
3Ft 51,000–75,000
Ft 17,000–25,000 a day		Ft 78,000–120,000
Ft 26,000–40,000 a day		Ft 100,000–180,000
Ft 33,000–60,000 a day
5Ft 82,000–120,000
Ft 16,000–24,000 a day		Ft 120,000–190,000
Ft 25,000–39,000 a day		Ft 160,000–290,000
Ft 32,000–59,000 a day
7Ft 110,000–170,000
Ft 16,000–24,000 a day		Ft 170,000–270,000
Ft 25,000–39,000 a day		Ft 230,000–410,000
Ft 32,000–59,000 a day
10Ft 160,000–240,000
Ft 16,000–24,000 a day		Ft 250,000–390,000
Ft 25,000–39,000 a day		Ft 320,000–590,000
Ft 32,000–59,000 a day
14Ft 220,000–330,000
Ft 16,000–24,000 a day		Ft 340,000–540,000
Ft 25,000–38,000 a day		Ft 450,000–820,000
Ft 32,000–58,000 a day

Add your accommodation in the calculator above: it is the largest line and the one we cannot source yet.

Prices

What things cost in Budapest

Eating and drinking: no official statistic measures what eating out costs here, so these are prices from the menu each place publishes on its own website, and each row says where it comes from. It is a sample, not an average: there are cheaper and dearer places, and tourist areas cost more.

WhatPriceSource
Eating and drinking
Chimney cake (kürtőskalács), Molnár'sFt 2,200From the source Oct 2026
Espresso, MenzaFt 850From the source Oct 2026
House filtered water, still or sparkling, MenzaFt 790From the source Oct 2026
Classic lemonade, MenzaFt 1,290From the source Oct 2026
Meat broth with vegetables and semolina dumplings, Frici PapaFt 1,799From the source Oct 2026
Goulash soup, Frici PapaFt 3,599From the source Oct 2026
Goulash soup with pinched noodles, MenzaFt 3,590From the source Oct 2026
Pasta with cottage cheese and crackling or sugar, Frici PapaFt 2,399From the source Oct 2026
Chicken breast paprikash, without a side, Frici PapaFt 3,799From the source Oct 2026
Beef stew in red wine (pörkölt), without a side, Frici PapaFt 3,999From the source Oct 2026
Side of nokedli (egg dumplings), Frici PapaFt 459From the source Oct 2026
Breaded pork chop, without a side, Frici PapaFt 2,999From the source Oct 2026
Side of fried potatoes, Frici PapaFt 459From the source Oct 2026
Hortobágy pancake (meat-filled crêpe), MenzaFt 3,990From the source Oct 2026
House burger with smoked cheese and fries, MenzaFt 4,590From the source Oct 2026
Wiener schnitzel with parsley potatoes, MenzaFt 5,190From the source Oct 2026
Hungarian beef stew in red wine with dumplings, MenzaFt 5,390From the source Oct 2026
Borsodi draught beer, 0.5 l, MenzaFt 1,390From the source Oct 2026
House draught beer, 0.5 l, MenzaFt 1,450From the source Oct 2026
Getting around
BKK single ticket (one vehicle, no transfer)Ft 500From the source Oct 2026
BKK 30-minute ticket (transfers allowed)Ft 600From the source Oct 2026
BKK 90-minute ticketFt 850From the source Oct 2026
Single ticket bought from the driverFt 700From the source Oct 2026
Block of 10 single ticketsFt 4,500From the source Oct 2026
24-hour Budapest travelcardFt 2,750From the source Oct 2026
72-hour Budapest travelcardFt 5,750From the source Oct 2026
Taxi, base fare (same day and night)Ft 1,300From the source Oct 2026
Taxi, base fare to or from the airportFt 2,100From the source Oct 2026
Taxi, per kilometreFt 520From the source Oct 2026
Taxi, per minute below 15 km/hFt 130From the source Oct 2026
Taxi, 4 km, not counting slow trafficFt 3,380From the source Oct 2026
Airport shuttle bus 100E, airport to Deák Ferenc térFt 2,500From the source Oct 2026
Sights
Fisherman's Bastion, upper terraceFt 1,700From the source Oct 2026
Széchenyi Thermal Bath, day ticket with locker (weekday – weekend)Ft 13,200–14,800From the source Oct 2026

From the source means we read it where it is set: the operator, the bank, the city or the statistics office. Reported means a guide or the press says so and we have not seen the original. Where sources disagree we show both figures and leave the price out of every sum.

What each food level is made of

A food level is not a number we chose. It is two lists of dishes from the table above, a cheap day and a dear one, and the price is the sum.

Bare minimum: convenience stores and counters
From Meat broth with vegetables and semolina dumplings, Frici Papa + Pasta with cottage cheese and crackling or sugar, Frici Papa (Ft 4,198) to Chimney cake (kürtőskalács), Molnár's + Goulash soup, Frici Papa + Pasta with cottage cheese and crackling or sugar, Frici Papa (Ft 8,198).
Local and cheap
From Espresso, Menza + Meat broth with vegetables and semolina dumplings, Frici Papa + Chicken breast paprikash, without a side, Frici Papa + Side of nokedli (egg dumplings), Frici Papa + Pasta with cottage cheese and crackling or sugar, Frici Papa (Ft 9,306) to Espresso, Menza + Goulash soup, Frici Papa + Beef stew in red wine (pörkölt), without a side, Frici Papa + Side of nokedli (egg dumplings), Frici Papa + Breaded pork chop, without a side, Frici Papa + Side of fried potatoes, Frici Papa + Borsodi draught beer, 0.5 l, Menza (Ft 13,755).
Mixed: set meals and one sit-down dinner
From Espresso, Menza + Meat broth with vegetables and semolina dumplings, Frici Papa + Chicken breast paprikash, without a side, Frici Papa + Side of nokedli (egg dumplings), Frici Papa + Goulash soup with pinched noodles, Menza + Hortobágy pancake (meat-filled crêpe), Menza + Borsodi draught beer, 0.5 l, Menza (Ft 15,877) to Espresso, Menza + Goulash soup, Frici Papa + Beef stew in red wine (pörkölt), without a side, Frici Papa + Side of nokedli (egg dumplings), Frici Papa + Goulash soup with pinched noodles, Menza + Hungarian beef stew in red wine with dumplings, Menza + House draught beer, 0.5 l, Menza (Ft 19,337).
Restaurants most of the time
From Espresso, Menza + Goulash soup with pinched noodles, Menza + House burger with smoked cheese and fries, Menza + Hortobágy pancake (meat-filled crêpe), Menza + Wiener schnitzel with parsley potatoes, Menza + Borsodi draught beer, 0.5 l, Menza + House filtered water, still or sparkling, Menza (Ft 20,390) to Espresso, Menza × 2 + Goulash soup with pinched noodles, Menza + Hungarian beef stew in red wine with dumplings, Menza + Hortobágy pancake (meat-filled crêpe), Menza + Wiener schnitzel with parsley potatoes, Menza + House draught beer, 0.5 l, Menza × 2 (Ft 22,760).
Getting around

Which ticket pays off

A pass is only cheaper past a certain number of rides. This is that number, worked out from the published fares.

  • 1-day pass at Ft 2,750: it pays off from 6 rides a day at Ft 500 each.
  • 3-day pass at Ft 5,750: it pays off from 4 rides a day at Ft 500 each.

A pass only counts on the lines it covers. Check which ones before you buy.

Accommodation

What the night costs, and the tax on top

There is no open source of hotel prices, and we have not sampled this city yet. So the calculator asks you for the price you have seen instead of printing one that looks plausible.

Lodging tax

    • 4% of the room price
    • Under-18s don't pay.
Saving

What saves money in Budapest, and what does not

Each line is a subtraction done with the prices on this page. No tricks: just the sum.

What saves

  • Eating “Mixed: set meals and one sit-down dinner” instead of “Restaurants most of the time”: Ft 3,400–4,500 less per person per day.
  • Eating “Local and cheap” instead of “Mixed: set meals and one sit-down dinner”: Ft 5,600–6,600 less per person per day.
  • Eating “Bare minimum: convenience stores and counters” instead of “Local and cheap”: Ft 5,100–5,600 less per person per day.
  • “Borsodi draught beer, 0.5 l, Menza” (Ft 1,390) instead of “House draught beer, 0.5 l, Menza” (Ft 1,450): Ft 60 less each time.

What does not

  • The 1-day pass (Ft 2,750) on fewer than 6 rides of Ft 500 a day: it costs more than paying for each ticket.
  • Sharing a taxi: “Taxi, 4 km, not counting slow traffic” costs Ft 3,380, which split 4 ways is Ft 845 a head. A ride on public transport is Ft 500–600.
Questions

Questions about money in Budapest

How much money do you need for a week in Budapest?

For seven days, Ft 170,000–270,000 per person on the “Mid-range” style with two travelling. Accommodation and flights are not included. The airport transfer, there and back, is included.

How much money do you need for 3 days in Budapest?

For 3 days, Ft 78,000–120,000 per person on the “Mid-range” style with two travelling. Accommodation and flights are not included. The airport transfer, there and back, is included.

What is a realistic daily budget in Budapest?

Per person per day, without accommodation or flights: Ft 15,000–23,000 on the “Budget” style, Ft 24,000–38,000 on the “Mid-range” style, and Ft 32,000–58,000 on the “Comfort” style.

Can you travel to Budapest on a budget?

The cheapest style we work out is “Budget”: Ft 15,000–23,000 per person per day, without accommodation or flights. Local food, public transport, the odd paid sight.

How much does food cost in Budapest?

From Ft 4,200 per person per day (“Bare minimum: convenience stores and counters”) to Ft 23,000 (“Restaurants most of the time”). The price table has what each dish costs.

How much does transport cost in Budapest?

A ride on public transport costs Ft 500–600. “Taxi, 4 km, not counting slow traffic”: Ft 3,380. The 1-day pass costs Ft 2,750 and pays off from 6 rides a day at Ft 500 each.

Is there a lodging tax in Budapest?

Yes: 4% of the room price. Under-18s don't pay.

How much cash should you carry in Budapest?

For a week on the “Mid-range” style, about Ft 40,000–86,000 per person, two travelling. It is our reading of how each kind of place takes payment, not a measurement.

Is it better to use cash or card in Budapest?

By card: in general; taxis. Card or cash, depending on the place: small shops; trains and subway, short rides.

Do you tip in Budapest?

Restaurants: customary. Taxis: customary.

Sources

Where every figure comes from

Each price on this page carries its source. These are all of them. Prices reviewed: October 2026.

The rest of Budapest

In the app

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