Considering a job offer in Budapest

It's not a high salary country. You can do better if you have specialist saleable skills - like Germany, Netherlands or the UK. At least 2 x the salary, possibly even more. Prices here in HU are Euro normal. People do not have enough money to live on and taxes are a killer (VAT is an outrageous 27%!!).

Hi, thanks for you reply! :-) What I really needed to know is can I live ok on that salary in Budapest? Is it considered above average? I'm sure other western european countries could offer more, but this is the offer I have now :-)
Thank youi

You can use http://www.numbeo.com to compare cost of living in Budapest versus where you are now.

Anne_29 wrote:

Hi, thanks for you reply! :-) What I really needed to know is can I live ok on that salary in Budapest? Is it considered above average? I'm sure other western european countries could offer more, but this is the offer I have now :-)
Thank youi

Yes, you can live on it but it won't be a luxury existence.  Other people earn a lot less, have families and they only just about survive. If it's above average is hard to say. For telecoms engineers it might be average for here but low for elsewhere. 

But really, if you are a skilled telecoms engineer, believe me, you can do far better in other countries..  Many skilled Hungarian professionals (doctors, dentists, engineers etc) are leaving here and going where the money is and the politics less oppressive/divisive.

fluffy2560 wrote:

Many skilled Hungarian professionals (doctors, dentists, engineers etc) are leaving here and going where the money is

It is a dance. I call it the EU Side-Step:

Hungarians move to Austria.
Romanians move to Hungary.
Bulgarians move to Romania.
And even some Americans, who just love a good dance, cut in, grab their partner and do-si-do .....

klsallee wrote:

.....
Hungarians move to Austria.
Romanians move to Hungary.
Bulgarians move to Romania.
And even some Americans, who just love a good dance, cut in, grab their partner and do-si-do .....

There's some serious demographics going on the world over the past 10 years.  There's been a massive upswing in French and Polish people moving to the UK.  The Polish are everywhere there but there's always been a Polish community going back to WW2. I heard recently that during the French elections, politicians go to the UK to lobby for votes amongst the very large French community.  There are enough of them there to make it worthwhile. There's always been a substantial number of British people in Germany and the Benelux countries. The only migration difference these past few years seems to be who is on the move. I also read there were >500K British people living in Spain and similar numbers in the USA.

Yes, that is pretty much the same conclusion I reached :-\ I'm still not sure if I should turn it down or not. Truthfully I was hoping for at least 2000€ net income to make it worth relocating. But thanks everyone for your inputs, any other opinions are more than welcomed!

Fairly accurate Cost of Living figures are available at www.numbeo.com for almost everywhere in the civilized world. You need only type in the name of the city you wish information about.

Cheers,
James         Expat-blog Experts Team

You'll be fine

Hi, thanks for the reply. Could you please elaborate a bit? :-)

There is quite a lot of discussion on this topic already but if you like to wear nice clothes,keep a good car on the road and develop a social life you will struggle on this. Everyone wants different things and my experience has been that it is very cheap to live in the countryside but far more expensive to live in Budapest because there is far more to see and do.
Age is another factor. My retired friends from the UK love the Hungarian laid back lifestyle but younger working people need to dress up more for work and socialize more. Hence a higher income is required.

Hey Anne!

Many people wish here to have that salary, actually. For an experience I think it would be great for you. Even just a year or so. This is 460.000 Huf, so means yes, you definitely CAN save some from this money if you dont spend like crazy! For 150.000 you can find already a flat which is very comfortable, where you can live on your own. You can find some cheaper if you have no need to live alone and you are willing to share a flat. There are options to rent a room too, from 60.000 you can find something you dont call "shithole" hehehe. Feel free to contact if you need further help :-)

Greetings, Orsi

It's livable and who knows the wages may go up a bit over time.
.You can cut the costs by sharing a nice big apartment. Sharing can be more sociable.
Sometimes in life we have to take on the adventure of making a move. Even if you just come for a while I am sure you will enjoy it . Any more questions just ask .

I agree with the people who say it is low, but by Budapest standards, average.  Do you know what the tax situation will be for  you? 

I would easily live on this, but I don't eat out every night and I use public transportation.  Perhaps you can pick up additional work under the table, but if you need something on your resume, try it.  Budapest is a great place and there are always inexpensive and free galleries, exhibits, and so on. 

But be sure you know where your flat will be.  I find that estimate low.  I paid about $600 for a one and a half room apartment.

No offence but expats as advisers here in this topic...nahhhh sorry....1500 euro netto salary in Budapest is more than average (says a local) and more than fine to live and the it was the original question. Of course you cant rent a villa in Buda hills or buy a flat in Pest side after a year working but for living its MORE THAN enough!

Orsika wrote:

No offence but expats as advisers here in this topic...nahhhh sorry....1500 euro netto salary in Budapest is more than average (says a local) and more than fine to live and the it was the original question. Of course you cant rent a villa in Buda hills or buy a flat in Pest side after a year working but for living its MORE THAN enough!

EUR 1500 a month sufficient? 

It depends on your expectations for quality of life and your personal circumstances.

EUR 1500 is survivable but is surviving enough?

That exactly what im talking about, that 1500 Euro in Bp is more than just "survive" :-)

Orsika wrote:

That exactly what im talking about, that 1500 Euro in Bp is more than just "survive" :-)

Depends doesn't it?  If you are single, have no commitments, don't have expensive tastes, no car, no ambition, then maybe but if you are a family with kids, it's pretty lousy money.  Better to go to Switzerland or Germany.

Yeah no doubts. Better to go there!

I agree with Orsi, this salary is considered above average in Hungary. You can rent a 3 room flat in the heart of Buda for 100,000HUF, 1 room flat for 50-60,000Huf in great locations (I know well, my mom was a real estate agent). I earned the half of that money and I was happy with that.
Sure, if you want to ride a Ferrari or buy Chanel clothes every week it won't be enough
I miss Budapest, I wish I could go back home.