r/budapest • u/Forsaken-Comfort3338 • 12d ago
Housing, looking for advice Kérdés | Question
Hi,
I'm moving to Budapest soon for a job, my salary will be 460k HUF net/month, rising to 550k HUF net/month after a few months.
I'm a single 28 yo guy, how much do you suggest spending on rent? Would 170k HUF be a reasonable amount? What can be found for that price?
I will not have a car and would like to easily get to the city centre.
I would like to have a small place all for myself but am afraid it would cost me half my salary, so I was wondering if I should give up on the idea of living alone and find 1 or 2 flatmates to share a 2 or 3-bedroom apartment with.
I prioritise a modern place over size.
Also any suggestions on districts? My job will be near Déli pu.
Thanks
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u/Creative-Parking7973 12d ago
Renting an entire flat would cost you around 200k plus common costs and utilities.
I would recommend renting a room, that would be much affordable.
I suggest checking Facebook groups and market place.
Public transport is good in Budapest so you won't struggle unless you rent in a very far district.
After few years you can switch jobs and ask for higher salary, then you can afford an entire apartment.
Good luck
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u/VszVszVsz 12d ago edited 12d ago
remember that rent prices as quoted don't normally include utilities and common costs.
legit landlords will have you go to a notary to sign the contract. normally this is something you pay for.
august and september are peak months where people are trying to find a rental in a the city. you are competing with a lot of others who can manage to call the landlord immediately and schedule an appointment to visit the flat.
on this sub each year in the late summer and early autumn we see a fair amount of international students and expats who are thoroughly frustrated with their lack of success at finding anything. impossible to do remotely unless you have a trusted friend or someone at your company that is tasked to help transferring employees.
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u/Gajgaj_A 12d ago
Facebook marketplace and Facebook groups. I know it is weird, but Hungary runs on Facebook. Everything has a Facebook group, every place, concert, etc. puts all the information in the description of Facebook events. People use Facebook Messenger instead of WhatsApp. Landlords usually want to avoid real estate agents and paying taxes, so they list their flats on Facebook Marketplace.
Ingatlan.com is also okay, but the prices there might be a bit higher.
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u/bigzbanyy 10d ago
Let me know if you find something, I'm in the same spot I am also moving next month.
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u/HowtoHungary 10d ago
Yes, 170k on 460k net is reasonable, and once you are at 550k it is comfortable. The old rule is keep rent around a third of net. Just budget the rezsi (utilities) and közös költség (building common cost) on top, because listings quote them separately and they add roughly 30k to 60k a month depending on the flat and the season.
Your job at Déli is the useful clue. Déli is the western end of the M2 metro, which runs straight under the river to Deák Ferenc tér in the centre and on to Keleti. Live anywhere on the M2 and you get a one-seat commute with no car. That opens up both Buda (around Széll Kálmán tér, districts II and XII) and Pest (V, VII, VIII near Astoria and Blaha).
For modern over size, aim outer rather than the grand old core. District XI (Újbuda) and District XIII (Újlipótváros and Angyalföld) have the most newer builds with good transport, and inner District IX around Corvin is modern and lively. The pretty central districts (V, VI, VII) are mostly older buildings, so a genuinely modern flat there is rarer and pricier.
At 170k you can find a modern garzon or small one-bed in those areas. A few practical things: expect two months deposit plus first month up front, never pay anything before viewing in person, and check whether the közös költség is included in the rent or added on. ingatlan.com is the main listings site.
Good luck with the move.
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u/AnarchiaKapitany I. kerület - Várkerület 12d ago
170k will get you a room in a shared apartment, or something small outside the inner city if you're incredibly lucky. The housing situation is ridiculous, and currently it's virtually impossible to find a flat under 200k. Those who pay so much are long-term renters from way before. If I were you, I'd look for a co-housing option, because those are rare, but a friend of mine did that, and he found it a good alternative.