Quarantine regulations in Hungary according to Act CIV of 2020

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Here are the latest key information about the Quarantine regulations according to Act CIV of 2020.

Key points

  • Travel and entry restrictions and exceptions are unchanged.
  • For those who fall under a quarantine regulation, quarantine is automatic, no further decree is required. All details are communicated by the border guard.
  • The person entering at the time of entry has to designate a “quarantine flat” where they would spend the time of the quarantine, and they must occupy the quarantine flat immediately after entry and stay there for the time of the quarantine, at the same time marking the apartment with the notice received at the border.
  • Quarantine time remains 10 days.
  • The installation of the quarantine application on a mobile device is practically obligatory (unless the person does not have a mobile device or is not suitable)
  • Penalties for quarantine breach can be up to HUF 150,000, or HUF 600,000 in case of multiple breaches.
  • If someone wants to have themselves tested under the quarantine, they need to get an appointment for the test and send an electronic request to police, who will allow leaving the quarantine for the test. If the necessary tests are negative, it has to be reported to the police electronically, who will raise the quarantine by acknowledging the tests results.

Detailed regulations

  • Applicable under the period of pandemic alert.
  • If the relevant government decree requires an official home quarantine obligation for persons entering the country, there is no special administrative procedure required
  • The border guard informs the person entering about the quarantine obligation, the duration of the quarantine
  • The place of the quarantine is according to the choice of the person entering, the “quarantine apartment”, which may not be a healthcare institution
  • The exact address of the quarantine apartment must be provided to the border guard
  • The person quarantined must immediately transfer to the quarantine apartment, the journey may only be interrupted due to health, technical or public transport schedule reasons.
  • The quarantined person must occupy the quarantine apartment without delay and must post the received notice visibly on the entrance.
  • If the quarantined person has a suitable device, he/she must install the quarantine app on their device upon arrival at the quarantine apartment and use it during the official home quarantine. It may be removed from the device following the expiration of the quarantine.
  • Personal data and availabilities of the person entering the country and falling under a quarantine obligation are recorded by the border guard upon entry.
  • The person entering the country may provide their data and the address of the quarantine apartment electronically through the official web page of the Police 24 hours prior to entry.
  • Upon entry, data are compared with passport, and transferred to the local police HQ of the quarantine apartment.

The quarantined person may only leave the quarantine apartment

  1. with the acknowledgement of the local police HQ for a request for testing (see below)
  2. on the orders of a doctor
  3. in case of an illness, escorted by emergency medical personnel
  4. in a life-threatening situation or a situation that threatens with serious damage
  5. if permitted by government decree
  • If the quarantined person identifies symptoms of the quarantine specific illness on themselves, they shall report at their own family doctor or the local family doctor by phone.
  • If the relevant government decree allows for a waiver from a quarantine and the quarantined person has an appointment with a healthcare institution for testing, 24 hours prior to the examination the quarantined person can report it electronically to the local police HQ, which is acknowledged electronically by the police. The quarantined person may then leave the apartment to visit the healthcare institution, travelling there and back without interruptions.
  • If the result of the test should make the person exempt from quarantine based on the relevant government decree, the quarantined person may send the test result electronically to the local police HQ, which is then electronically acknowledged by the police.
  • Compliance with the above obligations is controlled by police. Police may enter the quarantine apartment if it is necessary for controlling the quarantine. A breach of the above obligations can be penalised with fines from HUF 5,000 up to 150,000. If breaches occur multiple times on the same day, the fine can be imposed multiple times, up to HUF 600,000 per day. There is no appeal against the decree imposing the fine.

If a quarantine is ordered by the government healthcare agency, the following regulations are applicable:

  • installation of the quarantine app
  • the exemptions from the ban on leaving the quarantine apartment,
  • electronic reporting of test appointment and visiting test site,
  • police control of the quarantine and fines
  • Decrees regarding quarantine obligations are immediately executable and can be validly communicated orally or in an electronic format that is not considered as a written form.
  • There is no appeal against quarantine decrees. If a person concerned by the decision so requests, the oral decision must be set in writing, and the written decision can be challenged at court at the Tribunal of Budapest Capital.

For further information please, contact us at the following
Phone number: +36 1 278 5680
Email address: [email protected]
or contact your local Inter Relocation consultant.

Latest update on Hungary entry regulations

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We would like to give you an update on the recent regulations valid for entering Hungary. The below is a summary of the Government Decrees 408/2020 and 407/2020.

As you can read about this in the media, border control is temporarily reinstated on all borders, the earlier introduced categorisation of countries by level of spread of Covid-19 infection is no longer applicable.

Regulations are not applicable to:

  • Freight Transportation activities
  • Entry with official (not private) passports
  • Persons showing proof of having recovered from Covid-19 infection within 6 months

Non-Hungarian citizens may not enter Hungary, with the following exceptions.

Non-Hungarian citizens may request an exemption from the travel ban through the National Police HQ by filling an online form. Your Inter Relocation consultant can assist with this process.

Non-Hungarian citizens who meet the below criteria or who hold the below mentioned residence documents are treated as Hungarian citizens:

  1. Persons with permanent residence cards (ÁTK, állandó tartózkodási kártya)
  2. Persons holding a residence permit entitling them to stay more than 90 days

NOTE: it is not specifically written in the law, but as per our understanding and as per the police portal, holders of a granted D visa are allowed to enter, too:

„persons holding a valid residence permit issued by the aliens policing authority allowing for the residence in Hungary for a duration exceeding 90 days and presents this document upon entry (“D” type visa is equivalent);”

However the website of the police also mentions that at the time of the border control the officer has the right to request proofs of the D visa, based on what it was issued (accommodation, insurance, financial background, purpose of stay)

Source 1

Source 2

  1. EU/EEA citizens holding a registration and an address card
  2. Athletes, sports experts, sports associations’ delegated/assigned persons returning from foreign sporting events.

Hungarian citizens and their non-Hungarian citizen relatives may enter Hungary, considering the following:

  • If a medical examination shows the possibility of a Covid-19 infection, the person is placed in official home quarantine for 14 days.
  • One may prematurely exit quarantine (with the permission of the epidemic authority) if two negative Covid-19 tests within 5 days, with a difference of at least 48 hours are presented. If the first of the two tests was made in Canada, USA or one of the Schengen countries, it is also accepted; though the certificate has to be issued either in English or Hungarian

The business travel exemption is no longer limited to travels of employees and chief officers of joint venture companies having interests in both Hungary and abroad. The regulations now also allow Hungarian citizens returning to Hungary from a business trip, and non-Hungarian citizens arriving to Hungary for business reasons to enter without limitations (that is, without quarantine, testing requirements, or a total ban on entry). Such persons have to carry proof of their purpose of entry. Should any doubt arise about the validity of such proof, the general limitations shall apply.

Commuting is allowed within 30 km distance of the border, one may enter Hungary for a 24 hour period.

Transiting can be arranged as follows: one may transit Hungary within 24 hours via designated routes and may only stop at designated resting points.

There are special regulations for military convoys.

As of 5th of September a new exception is included in the regulations:

employees of Hungarian cultural institutions returning from cultural events abroad where they participated as performers or technical personnel are treated as Hungarian citizens.

Special regulations for sporting and cultural events:

  • participants of sporting events organised in Hungary (excluding spectators), persons personally invited to such events by the organisers in writing, competitors holding a competition permit, sports professionals, persons participating in the implementation of the sporting event, performers and technical personnel of cultural events organised in Hungary are allowed to enter if they present two negative Covid tests (within 5 days with 48 hour difference, or a test not older than 3 days)
  • spectators of sporting events and cultural events organised in Hungary are allowed to enter if they present a negative Covid test not older than 3 days and the valid tickets for the given event. and they may be obliged to subject themselves to medical examination. They may not enter if they show symptoms of the Covid-19 disease, or they fail to present valid tickets for the event, or the validity of the presented tickets is doubtful. They have to leave Hungary within 72 hours.

For further information please, contact us at the following
Phone number: +36 1 278 5680
Email address: [email protected]
or contact your local Inter Relocation consultant.

Important information on travelling to Hungary

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Important information about  the details of the regulation (81/2020) which is now in place as of today and is related to travel to Hungary. 

Citizens of the below listed countries are allowed to travel here expressly for business reasons:

  1. Czech Republic
  2. Poland
  3. South Korea
  4. Federal Republic of Germany
  5. Republic of Austria
  6. Slovak Republic
  7. Japan

At the time of entry one needs to prove that the sending company and the receiving company are connected companies based on law 1996. LXXXI 4. § 23.

Based on the information received from the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing, assuming the citizens of the above mentioned countries are able to successfully enter Hungary and have the relevant documentation, they can start their residence document applications via the portal of the authority too.

Travel to Hungary is also allowed to those EU/EEA citizens, who  are entitled to permanently reside here and hold a permanent residence card. EU/EEA citizens who do not hold a permanent residence card and non-EU citizens who hold a residence permit or permanent residence permit, may make a special request to re-enter Hungary via an online portal provided by the Hungarian police. It is our understanding that for EU/EEA citizens such requests are generally accepted.

Here is a link to the portal (it’s in Hungarian only):

https://ugyintezes.police.hu/en/uj-ugy-inditasa/

On the site, the option “Államhatáron történő beutazáshoz méltányossági kérelem” category needs to be selected,without registering. Inter Relocation is happy to assist with making such an application. Contact us for more information.

Special personal conditions which can be considered for entry, in case the applicant can justify them:

  1. a) the need to attend court in Hungary by providing official documentation
  2. b) the need for business travel, justified by an invitation letter issued by a state institution
  3. c) the need to enter Hungary for medical treatment
  4. d) the need to sit a school exam connected to active student status and this being justified by the educational institute
  5. e) the need to travel connected with transportation, to enable the person to get to the starting point of the transportation task or to return home, this being proven by an employer certificate
  6.  f ) the need to attend a funeral of a close family member
  7.  g) other

Supporting documents need to be attached to the request.

IMPORTANT:

Currently we have no experience of how exactly this will work (what documentation is requested to justify connected companies). We also understand that in the event that if a person arrives at the border with insufficient paperwork that they may still be allowed entry into the country, but subject to a compulsory 14-day quarantine.

As soon as we receive further information on this, we will notify you. We also suggest that before any citizen travels to Hungary, they contact their own border authority, to check if there are currently any restrictions on returning to their home country.

Summary

The key point is that citizens of the above listed countries can now travel to Hungary, if they can provide information proving the connection between their home country company and the company they are going to work at in Hungary, they should be allowed in without the need for any quarantine. We can then carry out any destination and immigration services that are ordered.

Brexit Update – what changes for Brits in Hungary from 1st February?

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Brexit Update – The United Kingdom left the EU at 00:00 CET on Saturday 1st February 2020. We take a look at what that means for UK citizens who are already in Hungary and for any Brits that may still plan to relocate to Hungary this year.

Many believed this day would never come. It did though and all UK citizens in Hungary who have not yet managed to establish Hungarian or perhaps Irish citizenship, ceased to be EU citizens on Saturday. There have been many articles over the last year or more, communicating what Brexit will mean for UK citizens living in Hungary and here we seek to provide clear guidance as to what to do, if anything, now that Brexit day has indeed arrived.

Brexit and Immigration

If you’re a UK citizen and already hold a registration card (Regisztrációs Igazolás) and address card (Lakcímkártya­) then the good news is that your residence status in Hungary is guaranteed, for life. You do not need to do anything right now, your existing cards will remain valid until the end of the transition period, which forms an important part of the Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and EU.

The transition period is currently set to expire on 31st December 2020, after which time one of the following options will apply:

  1. If you have already legally resided in Hungary for three years on 1st January 2021 then you will immediately be allowed to apply for a national permanent residence permit on preferential terms
  2. If you have not yet legally resided in Hungary for three years you will be allowed to retain your current cards and then once the three years has been completed, then apply for the aforementioned national permanent residence permit.

More information on Brexit and how it affects existing residents can be found by following this link.

Not yet established residence?

If you either plan to relocate to Hungary this year or already arrived but have not yet got around to registering, the good news is that during the transition period set out in the Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and EU, UK citizens may continue to establish their right to reside in Hungary, as if they were still EU citizens. However, the clock is ticking and unless the transition period is extended, there are now less than 11 months until this window of opportunity closes.

On 1st January 2021, current legislation states that newly arriving UK citizens will be treated as the non-EU citizens they are and will need to apply for a combined work and residence permit if they wish to engage in work for a Hungarian company. However, there is always the possible that a bi-lateral agreement will be signed between the UK and Hungary, allowing for a more simplified process.

If you are in any doubt as to what to do, or would like more information on the process of establishing or retaining legal residence in Hungary, post-Brexit, please contact us here or at [email protected].

UK citizens with non-EU spouses

More positive news here. Any non-EU spouse of a UK citizen who is currently legally resident as the dependent of an EU citizen, retains the right to reside, post-Brexit. When the UK citizen attains the right to apply for permanent residence on preferential terms, the spouse and any other dependents also qualify, subject to some terms and conditions.

This also applies to any UK citizen who applies for residence during the transition period.

Public transport

One key issue that UK retirees to Hungary have always enjoyed is the majorly discounted national travel and the right to use the Budapest public transport system, free of charge.

Whilst it is reasonable to assume that this right will be lost after the transition period, our opinion is that as the transition period allows for all rights and benefits of EU membership to be retained by UK citizens, this right to discounted or free travel should be retained, at least for the rest of 2020.

In conclusion

Although the UK has now left the EU, in reality the transition period means that not much has changed. Watch this space for more information.

Charity and Culture at the 23rd Budapest Burns Supper

The Budapest Burns Supper has been a highlight of the expat ball season for more than twenty years now. Saturday night saw another incredible effort to raise money for sick and under privileged children in Hungary.

On Saturday 25th January the Corinthia Hotel Budapest once again hosted a night of haggis, whisky, pipers, the work of Rabbie Burns and of course, a huge fund-raising effort. Over 300 guests packed into the elegant hotel ballroom, dressed in their Scottish finery.

The event loosely follows the format of a traditional Burns Supper, a tribute to the life and works of Scotland’s Bard, Robert Burns. Saturday night started out with Scottish songs, performed by the choir of the Budapest British International School, after which the pipers and drummers, specially flown in from Scotland as always, announced that dinner will shortly be served.

Charity and Culture at the 23rd Budapest Burns Supper

Highlights of the evening included a very amusing toast to the lassies and lassies’ reply, given by professional actors Shyvonne Ahmmad and Angus Taylor from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow and a rendition of Burns’ poem O Wert Thou in the Cauld Blast in Hungarian by Hungarian Scottish Society and Robert Burns International Foundation founder, Zoltán Magyar.

SME Awards

For the second year in a row, the organisers of the Burns Supper focused on the growing Small and Medium Enterprise Sponsorship scheme. Whilst smaller businesses cannot make the significant donations that multinational companies can, as a percentage of their revenue, their contributions are far larger.

The purpose of the SME sponsorship scheme is to allow smaller companies to have their own fund-raising projects, rather than their contributions going into a larger “pot”.

This time, the RBIF chose to honour two SMEs that have donated larger amounts to the foundation. Eszter Balázs, an insurance agent with Generali, donates a percentage of every sale she makes, an incredible commitment for a small business owner. Stuart McAlister represented his company, Inter Relocation, which has donated funds to help hospitals in Makó and Hódmezővásárhely buy key equipment over the last two years.

Both Eszter and Stuart were awarded with traditional Scottish Quaichs, shared sipping cups that symbolise their organisations’ spirit of giving.

An amazing result

Preliminary figures suggest that the 23rd Budapest Burns Supper raised in excess of 11 million HUF. This is another incredible result and will significantly aid the Robert Burns International Foundation in reaching its charitable goals for 2020.

Photo credits: Pelle Zoltán Photography/ Robert Burns International Foundation

Inter Relocation Continuously Sponsors Charity Horse Race

145,000ft for the Children of Zsámbék!

As the many successful and not-too successful but all very happy punters disappeared into the night after another evening of drama, excitement, disappointment, wild celebration and best of all Great Fun, and the snow of winning and torn-up and discarded loosing betting slips settled, the air cleared to reveal “not too” Honest Bob the bookie with assistant and runner joyously counting the evening’s takings and donations and Sponsor monies which, yes, amount to another 145,000 forint for the Children of Zsámbék!!

Nine Races this year, shown on all the television screens and the Big Screen in the Clubhouse and on “not too” Honest Bob’s ‘betting shop’ screens giving no shelter to the faint hearted from the tension and excitement of close run races.

Fortunately Champs bar staff kept the liquid refreshment coming to help ease the blood pressure and The Club Bp’s usual charity horse race Chili con carne after the fifth race gave a chance to calm any overstressed nerves before they were stretched to breaking point yet again… but everyone survived to some extent or other!!

Many thanks for all the sponsors

So, Many Thanks to all the Members and Guests who came to support the Children of Zsámbék and bet with such glee and enthusiasm, many even donating their winnings and more at the end of the evening….and to Champs attentive staff who raced up and down the Clubhouse and Bookie’s shop all evening keeping glasses refilled.

And Special thanks to The Club’s resident Bookie “not too” Honest Bob, and staff, and hard-working Bookie’s Tout, who all managed the challenges of the electronic (??) tote board, the punters’ cheers and tears and of course the selling and taking of bets and the (reluctant?) paying out, with aplomb.

Inter Relocation Continuously Sponsors Charity Horse Race

Sponsoring seven year in a row

During the next couple of weeks we will be discussing with the Norbertine Sisters what we can most help them with – the last couple of years it has been equipment for their kitchen training workshop, but we shall see and will let you know!

And lastly, but certainly not least, many thanks to those others whom without the evening would not have been so successful – the many Race Sponsors, to friends who couldn’t be there but made donations, and of course our Main Sponsor, for the Seventh time, Inter Relocation!

Inter Relocation is proud to be the main sponsor of this charity event to support the Children of Zsámbék. More about Inter Relocations’s charity work: HERE

We always love receiving good news like this especially around Christmastime! 🙂

 

 

Inter Relocation Receives Commitment to Excellence Gold Award

Stars of Global Mobility

(Boston October, 2019) — Inter Relocation was honoured for its outstanding performance at Cartus Corporation’s 2019 Global Network Conference held October in Boston, MA.

The Global Mobility Oscars

Cartus Global Network is Cartus’ industry-leading worldwide service provider network. Each year, Cartus recognizes the companies and individuals in the Network who have provided extraordinary service to its customers and clients worldwide.

Inter Relocation was also nominated for the prestigious Cartus Masters Cup in 2016.

This year Boston was the venue of the 2019 Global Network Conference

Winner 7th year in a row

Inter Relocation was named winner of the Global Network Commitment to Excellence Gold Award, the seventh year in a row that Inter Relocation has won such an award. This award was given for its exceptional service results, and it is one of the highest level awards a supplier can achieve through service performance. In addition, this award recognizes a supplier’s measurable commitment to excellence and is presented to Global Network service providers who have distinguished themselves by achieving critical performance metrics.

Inter Relocation owner Stuart McAlister receives Cartus Gold Award

A proud global mobility company owner

Stuart McAlister, Inter Relocation’s owner and Managing Director

Stuart McAlister, Inter Relocation’s owner and Managing Director, collected the award on behalf of his entire team. We asked him how he felt about this latest success:

“I’m delighted that Inter Relocation’s destination services team has maintained a consistently high level of quality service, over a seven-year period, and all the while expanding the volume of business we manage for Cartus and also widening our geographic coverage. I’m extremely proud of every member of staff that contributed to this amazing result.”

 

About Inter Relocation

 Founded in March 2002 , Inter Relcoation is a provider of relocation destination services and immigration compliance in Budapest, Hungary. Established with three full-time members of staff, Inter Relocation has a current staff of 21.

In addition, in 2003 Inter Relocation founded the international side of the company. From humble beginnings with the company offering relocation services in Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Inter Relocation now boasts franchise group members in 25 countries across Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, with the Budapest office acting as the group headquarters.

Must-have guide for newly arrived expats in Hungary

How can expatriates living in Budapest find foreign language education institutions? How can you find your way around the Budapest (public) transport system? And where can you meet other foreigners living and working in Budapest? Our recently updated Welcome to Our World guide is here to help. It introduces Budapest and the peculiarities of Hungarian living from the perspective of expats.

Foreigners flock to Budapest not only for sightseeing trips, they often settle down for longer periods as well. Choosing and arranging the right place to live, organising medical treatment, education, as well as acquiring the necessary permits can present serious difficulties for expats, and there is no guarantee that information pieced together from several sources on the internet will be of great help.

A new English-language guide for expatriates

This English-language guide published by Inter Relocation, a leading relocation firm, is intended to make your integration easier. Here you can find comprehensive information to ease the stress of organising your stay and everyday living in Hungary. This guide will assist you in finding apartments, understanding lease contracts, and the specific rules of parking, public transport, the healthcare system as well as financial and education services. It provides advice for shopping, social and business networking and filling your free time with useful leisure activities. It also provides an insight into the history and sights of Budapest, while describing the districts of the city from the perspective of epxat residents.

Your Ultimate Free Guide to Hungary

“From exploring schools to finding the right doctors”

“We receive most questions about real estate, since it is really hard to find a good deal that represents value for money when you are looking to rent, especially in such an oversaturated market. Even though we are not able to find city centre houses with gardens and pools either, our advisers do their best to find the ideal solution in the client’s interest.

Relocation services, however, cover a wide range of aspects of the arrival process, from exploring schools to finding the right doctors speaking the right languages, and locating electricians, if required. We have handled a huge number of questions over a period of more than fifteen years now, and we have used them to compile this guide to provide a comprehensive picture of life in Hungary for workers of SMEs and large corporations moving here.” – says Stuart McAlister, founder and manager of Inter Relocation.

You can download the guide from HERE, but Inter Relocation clients receive a printed copy too. Expatriates living in Budapest can find a wealth of useful information in our magazine at EXPAT PRESS, and in the Budapest Expats Group on Facebook that is open to everyone.

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About Inter Relocation: Founded in Budapest in 2002, Inter Relocation has in the last 17 years become a significant player on the market, and its partner offices in 25 countries help expats settle down. It is the only company in Hungary to have the Quality Seal of EuRA (international organisation for relocation service providers), and in Hungary alone it has so far helped 25,000 people settle into life in Budapest.

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An Expat Guide to the Cost of Living in Budapest

The cost of living in Hungary and more specifically Budapest, is something many expatriates research before taking the plunge and relocating. We present our updated information, based on April 2019 data.

As with a move to any new country, there are many things you need to know about living in Budapest. The internet has a variety of guides for the budding expat and the sponsors of this publication, Inter Relocation, also offer a wide range of services for the inbound foreigner. It would be difficult to get into too much detail here about all the things you need to know, but we’ll try and touch on a few of the basic areas, just to give you an idea of what to expect. All costs and other information are current as of April 2019.

CONTENT

General Information
Hungarian Currency
Infrastructure in Budapest
Public Transport
Budapest Accommodation
The cost of living in Budapest
“Common cost”
Grocery Markets
Eating Out
Clothing
Health Insurance and Dental Care

 

General Information

Budapest is home to approximately 1.75 million people in an area of 525.2 km², larger than Bucharest, Vienna or Prague. The life expectancy of Budapest residents is on average 76 years. There are roughly 52% females and 48% males.

Since the regime change in the early 1990s, there has been a growing number of expat communities in Budapest. Depending on your country of origin, you will very likely find expats from your own country to meet.

Living in Budapest is not the same as living in Bristol, England, or Boston, Massachusetts (USA). You will have an obvious advantage if you speak Hungarian, although these days in Budapest it is possible to get most things done without the need to speak the local language. English is widely spoken in shops, bars and restaurants, although far less so in administrative offices, the post office and so on.

 

A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon

 

Expat Press magazine (@expat.press.hungary.magazine) által megosztott bejegyzés,

Hungarian Currency

Even after joining the European Union, Hungary decided to continue to use its own currency, the Hungarian Forint, written as “Ft” or HUF. Some international shops and real estate agencies might also list their prices in Euro, but watch out for the exchange rate. An easy-to-remember rule is that, as of April 2019, 1,000 HUF is roughly the equivalent of around 3 Euro or $3.50 US dollars or 2.7 British Pounds.

Although most places accept international credit and debit cards, it’s always good to have some cash on you. If you need to buy tickets for public transport, for example, the 20,000 HUF note might be too big so if you can, break the note at a shop before you travel.

In addition to the cash exchange booths scattered throughout the city, there are many ATMs around Budapest, some of which dispense Euro notes alongside the local currency.

 

A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon

 

Expat Press magazine (@expat.press.hungary.magazine) által megosztott bejegyzés,

Infrastructure in Budapest

Local infrastructure in Budapest is truly fantastic, at least when all the metro lines are fully operational. You most certainly don’t need a car in the city if you feel you don’t want one. In fact, it can be quite inconvenient to own a car here, as you may have to pay for parking, which is around 22,000 – 50,000 HUF per month, depending on your location. It may be possible to obtain a parking permit for the district in which you live. Different districts have different requirements, so in some cases you may only be able to get a parking permit if you own the car and the apartment. If you do decide to buy a car in Hungary, the full insurance and related costs (road tax) shouldn’t be more than 75,000 HUF per year.

Public Transport

Buses, trains, trams, trolleys and the four metro lines are all reliable and run on time. The government is slowly but surely upgrading the city’s metro system and even the stations that look outdated are generally safe. A monthly BKV pass for all modes of transport runs 9,500 HUF, something that continues to contribute to the low cost of living in Budapest. But fundamentally Budapest is a walker’s city. It’s a good way to save some money, exercise and stay fit. Many expats walk everywhere and enjoy the feeling of freedom and exploration they get while strolling down the city’s boulevards and side streets. If you do need a car, rentals are available at reasonable rates. In recent years, the city has also installed the Budapest Bicycle system (BuBi) to help people get around even faster.

You can also take taxis if you need to go out and want to drink (Hungary has a zero tolerance drinking-and-driving policy). Tram 4/6 runs 24/7 and covers most of central Budapest, if you need to rely on public transport to get home in the wee hours of the morning. Just note that the controllers even check tickets during the night, so be sure to have your ticket or pass on you at all times.

 

A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon

 

Expat Press magazine (@expat.press.hungary.magazine) által megosztott bejegyzés,

Budapest Accommodation

Finding a flat in Budapest these days might not be as easy as it once was. The high demand for rentals has pushed prices up to where accommodations are now often comparable to other Central European cities. This has been the main factor in increasing the overall cost of living in Budapest in the last 4-5 years.

No longer is there a wide range of apartments for a low price. The best and easiest way to find a flat is to contact several real estate agents who will help you locate what you want. The agent gets his/her commission from the owner; as a result, most owners are only willing to rent long term, so expect to sign a contract for at least one year.

 

A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon

 

Expat Press magazine (@expat.press.hungary.magazine) által megosztott bejegyzés,

Another option is to join a few Facebook Groups for expats where you can find daily rental offers. Search for “rent in Budapest” and you will find several really good groups. Join them and check them daily. You can then message the estate agent or owner directly. Send them a list of all your requirements and they will send you recommendations.

Finally you may wish to choose to find your home using a relocation services provider like Inter Relocation. Such firms do charge a fee for their time and expertise but are also paid to represent you as the tenant, find the right property from the entire local marketplace, negotiate the best deal for you and ensure that the lease agreement protects your legal rights. You can learn more about this process in this handy guide to relocating to Hungary.

If you haven’t already arranged for a flat, it’s easy these days to rent an Airbnb when you arrive and start searching for your permanent living space.

The cost of living in Budapest

OK, now for the most important item: money! Budapest has long had a reputation for being an affordable city, but beware! Budapest is not all that cheap any longer. However, Budapest still has an almost 55% lower cost of living than New York City, USA. In general, a single person can live reasonably in Budapest for around 175,000 HUF per month, not including rent.

A two-bedroom apartment in a central location and good condition starts around 240,000 HUF. The better the location, the newer the appliances and the larger space, the more you can expect to pay. In the advertisements, normally all the costs are clearly stated, though keep in mind that many rents are advertised assuming a cash payment. If you ask for an invoice so you can claim it back from your employer, expect to pay more.

 

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“Common cost”

One unusual extra item is the “common cost”. Depending on the building, it’s typically 130-180 HUF/m2/month if water is not included and 200-250 HUF/m2/month if it is. This covers the bin collection and recycling and also the cleaning and the electricity in the common areas. The newer or higher rent blocks usually have higher common costs. For example, a flat in the beautiful Avenue Gardens on Andrássy Boulevard has a monthly common cost of around 48,000 HUF! However, this cost includes access to a 24/7 concierge service, spa, pool and gym.

When you view a flat, make sure to double check all the costs involved before you commit to renting it.

On top of the rent and common cost, you will almost always have to pay for your own electricity, gas and water (water is sometimes included in the common cost). These are separate bills given to you by the landlord or the agency. Expect anywhere from 30,000 HUF to 50,000 HUF per month for a 50m2 apartment. Winter gas heating costs alone can sometimes hit 30,000 HUF per month.

When you move in, you usually need to put down two months deposit and one month rent in advance. Make sure you check everything when you move in and adjust your contract as needed. Take pictures of the flat and appliances for when you check out, to give you a stronger chance of getting your deposit back.

Grocery Markets

Budapest has a wide variety of local markets, small shops and large supermarkets. If you have a car, you can drive to the outskirts and shop in hypermarkets. Alternatively, pretty much all districts have their own market (piac, in Hungarian), which is a good way to support the local community and get cheaper, fresher produce. Average food costs will probably run around 16,000-25,000 HUF for two people for a week.

Eating Out

The alternative to dining at home, of course, is taking advantage of the many, many wonderful restaurants, cafes, bistros and bars in the city. Avoid main touristy places, as a set “traditional” menu can be around 6,000 HUF per person. Smaller restaurants will run you about 3600 HUF for a three-course meal for two people. That’s 1800 HUF per person for a delicious soup, main and a cake!

Bars are also still pretty cheap, with beers costing from 700 HUF on average for a large glass. Of course, if you buy them from the supermarket, prices will be significantly lower. Hungarian sparkling wine costs starts at around 1,100 HUF per bottle and a good bottle of wine starts from as little 1,500 HUF.

There are lots of bakeries scattered throughout Budapest, so you can buy fresh bread every day. You can find almost any variety of bread, ranging from the usual sliced white bread to the special whole grain loaves. There are also lots of Hungarian treats, like the amazing Budapest lángos, pastries and cakes. A slice of vegan cake in the city center will cost around 1,000 HUF, but the more central you go, the higher the prices.

 

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Clothing

Clothes and shoes cost roughly the same in Budapest as in pretty much any other capital city in Europe. As with most cities, there are a few expensive streets lined with large international shops and boutiques. A pair of jeans will set you back around 20-30,000 HUF and some nice Nike running shoes will start from around 20,000 HUF.

Health Insurance and Dental Care

Health insurance for you and your family will probably start around 10,000 HUF/month/person. If you are an EU citizen, make sure you order your free EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), which covers you for emergency treatment and carry it with you at all times. If you work in Hungary your social security contributions will allow you access to the state healthcare system. This is functional but there can be language issues.

An alternative is to pay as you go for private medical treatments. An acquaintance recently needed a knee MRI and paid around 45,000 HUF. A consultation with a doctor was around 15,000 HUF per session and blood tests were 16,000 HUF; not too bad, considering it was all private, with no insurance.

Private healthcare in Hungary is on the rise and there are several options for a private healthcare package, which is pretty reasonable by international standards.

Hungarian dental care is world-class and so popular and reasonably priced that there is still a large market in dental tourism from the UK, Ireland and elsewhere. Basically, find a dentist you like and you’re set for the duration.