We have just come back from our July trip to Budapest in Hungary, and we wished we had known the true cost of visiting this marvelous city in Europe.
Therefore, I have created a table that outlines all major expenditures for your upcoming trip to the Hungarian capital.
TL;DR
In this guide, I have broken down the cost and expenses for your potential Budapest trip.
I chose the USD as the currency because Budapest and Hungary use the Forint (short form HUF) as a currency and the currency conversion can be confusing.
1 USD equals about 350-360 Hungarian Forint. Keep in mind, the currency fluctuates a lot!
Table overviews have been created with per day rates for accommodation types, fixed transport, museum, and activities rates, and average food and drink prices.
The prices are an estimated annual average for all accommodations.
Keep in mind that the price of goods and services is higher in the busiest season and lower in the slowest, but the margin isn't all that big.
All other rates are fixed, but tour and exhibition rates can actually be pricier if you pick special tours etc.
Furthermore, if you are not set on which city to visit in Europe, compare the prices in Amsterdam and the cost of a trip to Paris to get an idea of what to expect. Budapest is not necessarily more budget-friendly as opposed to other destinations.
Accommodation Cost
The price is based on average for 2 adults per night.
Be aware that the price of rooms doesn't always reflect the quality of what you expect. Look out for reviews about cleanliness foremost!
| Accommodation Type, per Night for 2 adults | Price |
| Mid-Range Hotel Room | $120-$300 |
| Luxury Hotel Room | $300-$1400 |
| Budget Hotel Room | $60-$120 |
| Mid-Range Vacation Rentals (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.) | $200-$300 |
| Luxury Vacation Rentals | $300-$1600 |
| Budget Vacation Rentals | $160-$200 |
| Hostels | $20-$60 |
| City Tax | It's unclear, and I have contacted the tourism department to clear this up. As soon as I have received some info, I will update this section. We paid tourism tax on our accommodations, but we don't know if all went down right. |
Transportation
When in Budapest, use the public transport system to get around more seamlessly and faster. It's safe and Budapest is known for a top-notch day and night network.
The BKK (short for budapest közlekedési központ, centre of transprot) is the official Budapest transport company.
This includes the metro, tram, bus, trolleybuses, ferry, and suburban railway trains connections. Note that the funicular to the castle is separately!
The Budapest Travel Card is valid on almost all BKK public transport services.
To compare, the Budapest Card includes public transport and discounted and free access to several sights and museums (including the thermal baths).
| Tickets per Day per Adult | Price |
| BKK Single Journey Ticket | on the spot, about $1.7, online on the app $1.3 |
| BKK Block of 10 (I recommend that one) | about $11 |
| BKK 30 Minute Ticket | about $1.5 |
| BKK 90 Minute Ticket | about $2 |
| BKK Budapest Travel Card 24 h Ticket | about $6.9 |
| BKK Budapest Travel Card 48 h Ticket | about $13.7 |
| BKK Budapest Travel Card 72 h Ticket | about $15.1 |
| BKK Airport Shuttle Single Pass Ticket | about $6 |
| BKK Heritage service single ticket (for the vintage rides) | about $1.35 |
| Budapest Card for 24 hours | about $41.20 |
| Budapest Card for 48 hours | about $55 |
| Budapest Card for 72 hours | about $71.40 |
| Budapest Card – 72 h PLUS | about $104 |
| Budapest Card for 96 hours | about $90.6 |
| Budapest Card for 120 hours | about $101.62 |
| Hop on Hop Off | between $37-$141 depending on the tour company type |
| Tuk Tuk Tour | $120 onwards |
| Danube River Cruise | Starts at $11 and depends on the length and offerings (i.e. included dinner etc) |
| Taxi kilometer fare (yellow official cabs) | The basic fare is $3, per kilometer it's $1.2 and waiting time $0.30 per minute |
| MOL Bubi public bikes (by BKK) | about $0.11 per minute pay as you go |
| Cycle Tour with Guide | starts at $34 |
All BKK ticket rates with explanations.
Food & Drink
We found that food and drink prices varied a lot. The more expensive places tend to be located in tourist hotspots, and they are not necessarily better in quality.
I recommend venturing away from touristic areas for better quality food and local prices.
Note: Tipping is not a must in Europe. You only tip if the service was good, and then it's still very much optional! When tipping, just roundup to the next number, except if you feel very generous. Don't let the service people bully you into tipping 10% etc! They activly target North and South Americans.
| Price | |
| Mid-Range Meal per Person | $15-40 |
| Budget or Takeaway Meal per Person | $4-15 |
| Upscale Dining per Person | $40-170 |
| A pint of Beer | between $2.4-$7 |
| A glass of Wine (either 115 ml or 125 ml) | $4.7-$15 |
| A cup of Black Coffee (Americano) | about $2.50-$3 |
| Bottled Water | from $2.40 to $4.60, water is not free in restaurants |
| Kürtőskalács (Chimney Cakes) | about $5-$6 |
| Lángos (Fried Flatbread with toppings) | about $5-$12 |
Museums and Attractions
| Museum or Attraction | Price per Person |
| Budapest History Museum / Buda Castle Museum | about $5.2 |
| Hungarian National Gallery | about $15.4 |
| Matthias Church | about $8 |
| Fisherman's Bastion | about $3.2 |
| Castle Labyrinth | about $14 (Only Cash!) |
| Dohany Synagogue | about $29.6 |
| Rumbach Synagogue | about $11 |
| IKONO Budapest (immersive experience) | about $16.5 |
| Hungarian National Museum | about $9.6 |
| Vajdahunyad Castle | about $8.2 |
| House of Music Hungary | about $10.7 |
| Hungarian Parliament Tour | between $16.5-$33 (it's cheaper if you are an EU citizen) |
| Gellért Thermal Bath | CLOSED since October 2025 for renovations. |
| Rudas Thermal Bath | about $17.5 onwards |
| Széchenyi Thermal Bath | about $23 onwards |
| Lukacs Baths | about $13.2 onwards |
Tips
- Look out for restaurants away from the main tourist attractions for more reasonable food and drink prices.
- The shops in the market hall are selling overpriced items. Some common tourist souvenirs can be bought cheaper outside the market nearby. Ask them if they will give you a discount if you pay cash, and most will say yes (because the shopkeepers can avoid taxes with cash payments).
- A much cheaper and equally good way to get to the Buda district is to take the bus (with regular public transport ticket) up instead of the funicular or the tourist cart option.
- Hotel chains tend to have cleaner rooms for a better price. Look out for budget-friendly hotel chain options such as Ibis.
- If you want to experience a proper thermal bath in Budapest with fair prices, go to the Lukacs Baths. That's where the locals go.
- Check your restaurant and bar bills, some waiters have the audacity to add 10% tips without letting the guest know. It's a scam and it's not ok!
- Get the block of 10 public transport option. They are valid for unlimited time and the price is reasonable.
- In my opinion, the price of the Budapest Card is only justifiable if you stay more than 3 days in Budapest and if you intend to visit the discounted attractions.
- Pay with your Credit Card and always pick the local currency at the payment terminal to avoid unnecessary fees.
- If you need to get cash, go to a proper, real bank ATM. Do not cash out on an Euronet (they are blue and yellow) ATM, and avoid exchanging because these eat up fees. In most instances, you won't need cash at all in Budapest.
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