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Europe · Hungarian · updated 2026-10

Moving to Hungary: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $1,500 a month to live in Budapest, and a family of four about $3,350, including rent. Hungary usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 3 yrs, with citizenship after 8 yrs, and dual citizenship is allowed. You can move here without a job offer through the White Card.

Monthly budget
$1,500
Very low cost
Safety
75
Safe
Stability
55
Moderate
Family
68
Very good
Main city
Budapest
Language
Hungarian
Permanent residence
3 yrs
Citizenship
8 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed
Digital nomad visa
Yes
What can your passport do in Hungary?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
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Cost of living in Hungary, per month in US$

One person
$1,500
Family of four
$3,350
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Budapest centre
$650
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$1,200
Estimate
Price level
58
US = 100
Income per person
$1,988
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score
75
Safe
Homicides per 100k
0.72
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability+0.51
Rule of law+0.22
Control of corruption0.00
Government effectiveness+0.47
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Moderate overall (55/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
68
Very good
Child outcomes (HCI)
0.683
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
3.7
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
76.7 yrs
at birth
Health spending
$1,420
per person / year
Education spending
3.8%
of GDP

Spouse and children can join on most work and residence permits, and spouses can usually work. Public schooling is free; international schools are common in the capital.

Visa & residence routes

Remote work
White Card€3,000/month remote income for 6 months; 1 year, renewable once.
Job offer
Guest worker / skilled worker permitEmployer-sponsored; quotas apply.
Investment
Guest Investor Programme€250,000 in a property fund or €500,000 in property.

Who gets easier access to Hungary

EU/EEA free movement: you can live and work here with simple registration.

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Visiting: 93 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 0 can apply for an eVisa and 105 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
3 yrs
Citizenship
8 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: enterhungary.gov.hu

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Hungary?

About $1,500 a month for one person and $3,350 for a family of four in Budapest, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $650 a month and a 3-bedroom around $1,200. Prices are 58% of US levels. Hungary is the 30th cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is Hungary safe to live in?

Hungary scores 75/100 for safety (safe), ranking 24th of 76. The homicide rate is 0.72 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is Hungary politically stable?

Hungary scores 55/100 for stability (moderate), ranking 48th of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is Hungary good for families?

Hungary scores 68/100 for family-friendliness (very good), ranking 38th of 76. Life expectancy is 76.7 years and under-5 mortality is 3.7 per 1,000 births. Spouse and children can join on most work and residence permits, and spouses can usually work. Public schooling is free; international schools are common in the capital.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in Hungary?

Usually 3 yrs of legal residence.

How long until I can become a citizen of Hungary?

Usually 8 yrs of residence. Dual citizenship: allowed.

Can I move to Hungary without a job offer?

Yes. White Card: €3,000/month remote income for 6 months; 1 year, renewable once.

Does Hungary have a digital nomad visa?

Yes: the White Card. €3,000/month remote income for 6 months; 1 year, renewable once.

Who can live and work in Hungary without a visa?

you can live and work here with simple registration. (EU / EEA free movement: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland.)

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See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of Hungary can move