Is Budapest Expensive? It’s Not Cheap Like People Said

Last updated on April 26th, 2026 at 05:01 pm

If you are wondering whether Budapest is expensive then read on to find out how it compares to other destinations.

Read on for how much everything cost me when I visited Budapest.

Is Budapest Expensive? Costs Table for 2 Night Stay

If you are short on time here is quick table giving you all the costs I incurred when visiting Budapest for 3 days and 2 nights

Item	Cost
Ryanair Flight from Edinburgh to Budapest	£40
Apartment for 2 nights	£84
Bus from airport into town	£6
Sightseeing Boat Trip	£16
Breakfast at the Central Market	£12
Shopping at the Spar store	£15
Matcha Coffee at Cafe	£5
Chimney Cake	£6
Brunch before the train	£12
Train from Budapest to Bratislava	£45
Total Spent	£223

Is Budapest Expensive?

Getting to Budapest

I visited Budapest as part of a 3 stop trip. I spent 2 nights in Budapest, 1 night in Bratislava and 2 nights in Vienna.

I flew from Edinburgh to Budapest. It was a Ryanair flight that was operated by Buzz Airlines.

As I didn’t have any extra luggage the flight cost £40.

For more information read my article about How to Get to Budapest from the UK

You can also check flights right here 👇

And you can check busses right here 👇

Is Budapest Expensive?

Where to Stay in Budapest

Budapest is a city of two very different halves — flat, lively Pest on the east bank and the hillier, quieter Buda on the west. Most visitors base themselves in Pest, where the majority of hotels, restaurants and nightlife are concentrated. Here’s the main areas and where to stay;

District V — Belváros (The City Centre)

This is the most central district in Pest, walking distance from the Parliament, St Stephen’s Basilica and the Chain Bridge

Prestige Hotel Budapest ★★★★ — A four-star in a beautifully restored historic building in the heart of District V, with elegant rooms and a central location that’s hard to beat. Stay here if you want to step out of your door and be immediately in the thick of it.

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District VI — Terézváros (Andrássy Avenue)

This is Budapest’s grandest boulevard, lined with gorgeous architecture, the Opera House, top museums and a more local feel than the tourist-heavy centre.

Opera Residence Apartments ★★★ — A family-run apartment hotel tucked behind the Opera House on Andrássy Avenue, offering spacious, well-equipped apartments with fully fitted kitchens and washing machines at genuinely competitive prices. Just minutes from the metro and walking distance to most major sights. I stayed at Opera Residence on my visit — great value, excellent location and the perfect base for exploring the city on foot.

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District I — Castle District (Buda)

This district has cobbled streets, medieval architecture and sweeping views across the Danube to Pest. It is quieter and more romantic, but less convenient for nightlife.

Hilton Budapest ★★★★★ — Built into the ruins of a medieval Dominican church, with unbeatable views from Castle Hill. Stay here if you want a romantic, high-end escape with the most spectacular setting in the city.

You might also like my handpicked hotel selection for Budapest. for more options or find great hotel deals in Budapest right here👇

Is Budapest Expensive?

Activities in Budapest

The main activity I did in Budapest was to walk. I walked pretty much everywhere. The weather was mild and fine so it was lovely.

The only real organised activity I did was to take the boat cruise. This went from the side of the Danube around Margaret Island and back again. You could get off the boat at Margaret Island and then come back on another boat if you wanted.

The boat was £16. I thought this was great value because it included tea on the boat too. The tea was served to your seat. It was a hot, sweet tea and it was so good I would go back on the boat trip just for that!

Taking a boat trip is the best way to get a great view of the stunning Hungarian Parliament Building.

Check out activities in Budapest with Get Your Guide 👇

Is Budapest Expensive?

Eating in Budapest

I didn’t need anything to eat when I arrived in Budapest as I arrived late.

The next morning I headed to the main market hall where I had heard they did Langos, which I wanted to try.

On the way I stopped at a beautiful Japanese style cafe and had a Matcha coffee. It was £5 and well worth it.

The Langos turned out to be a little more expensive than I had expected, but that’s because I had rocket and a coffee with mine. It wasn’t particularly good, but perhaps that is because of the stall I got it from rather than the dish itself.

I also stopped off for a Chimney Cake later on. This is a pastry cone filled with a fruit filling and topped with cream. It was £6 and worth it to say I’ve had one.

Later in the afternoon I stopped in at a small market near my apartment and bought some groceries which did for my evening meal and breakfast the following day.

On the last morning I stopped off for breakfast at a fantastic brunch spot close to the train station. I had freshly squeezed orange juice, an oat latte and eggs benedict for £12. It was really lovely.

Is Budapest Expensive? – Conclusion

• I found Budapest to be reasonable. It certainly wasn’t as cheap as people had told me it would be – but that’s perhaps because I wasn’t drinking alcohol.
• I thought the apartment was great value.
• The rest of the costs seemed to be on a par with what I would expect to pay in the UK.

You Might Also Like

• Is Budapest Worth Visiting? – Yes it’s great for a short break
• Is Budapest Safe? – Most of the time but you need to be aware of a few things
• How to Get to Budapest from the UK – by plane, bus or train
• Opera Residence Budapest Review – great apartment in the city

You can find more information on my Hungary Travel Inspiration page

Further Reading

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