Budapest vs Istanbul: cost of living for digital nomads
Budapest, Hungary and Istanbul, Turkey, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- Istanbul is about 13% cheaper than Budapest for a month of nomad living ($1,400 vs $1,600).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $650 in Istanbul against $750 in Budapest.
- Budapest scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 7/10).
- Internet is faster in Budapest: 250 Mbps typical against 60 Mbps.
- Budapest is temperate; Istanbul is mediterranean.
Budapest wins 3 of the measured lines; Istanbul wins 4.
| Line | Budapest | Istanbul |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,600 | $1,400 |
| Rent | $750 | $650 |
| Food | $420 | $380 |
| Transport | $40 | $45 |
| Coworking | $120 | $110 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 9/10 | 7/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 250 | 60 |
| Climate | temperate | mediterranean |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | inland | coast |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 8/10 | 8/10 |
Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.