In comparison to other European countries, life in Hungary is cheap. One of your biggest outgoings, apart from rent, might be paying heating costs throughout the winter months, which can often be way below zero degrees for an extended period of time. Wrap up warm to keep costs down!. Outside of Budapest, prices will be much lower. As an example, a one-bedroom apartment in Budapest city centre is around $530 per month and outside the city centre is around $390. In Hungary’s second city, Debrecen, a city centre apartment will cost you $320 but outside the city will be $232 per month. You might want to move outside Budapest to live and travel to the capital for weekend breaks – the train between Budapest and Debrecen only takes two hours. In Budapest, eating and drinking is fairly inexpensive. A meal at a local restaurant will cost you around $6 and add a beer or a coffee for around $1.60. You can expect to buy a one-way bus or tram ticket for $1.25, visit the cinema for around $6 and get a monthly gym membership for $30-40.