Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Hungary Property Pack
Get all the data you need about the real estate market in Hungary
We constantly update this blog post, because rents in Hungary in 2026 can move quickly from one city, district, and season to another.
Hungary is still a very uneven rental market, with Budapest much more expensive than Debrecen, Szeged, Győr, Pécs, and most other regional cities.
As of June 2026, the main story is simple: rents in Hungary are still high, but rent growth is slower than it was during the stronger 2024 and 2025 market.
And if you’re planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Hungary.
What are typical rents in Hungary as of 2026?
What's the average monthly rent for a studio in Hungary as of 2026?
As of 2026, the estimated average monthly rent for a studio in Hungary is about HUF 180,000, which is roughly USD 575 or EUR 510.
That average hides a wide gap, so most studios in Hungary rent for about HUF 130,000 to HUF 240,000 per month, or roughly USD 415 to USD 765 and EUR 365 to EUR 675.
The rent of a studio in Hungary mainly changes with the city, the district, the building condition, the floor level, air conditioning, and walking distance to universities, metro stops, or offices.
What's the average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom in Hungary as of 2026?
As of 2026, the estimated average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Hungary is about HUF 240,000, which is roughly USD 765 or EUR 675.
In practice, most 1-bedroom apartments in Hungary rent for about HUF 170,000 to HUF 320,000 per month, or roughly USD 540 to USD 1,020 and EUR 480 to EUR 900.
The cheapest 1-bedroom rents in Hungary are usually in regional cities and outer Budapest districts, while the highest rents are in Budapest District V, District VI, District XIII, District XI, and premium Buda districts.
What's the average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom in Hungary as of 2026?
As of 2026, the estimated average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Hungary is about HUF 330,000, which is roughly USD 1,055 or EUR 930.
For most 2-bedroom apartments in Hungary, a realistic rent range is HUF 240,000 to HUF 450,000 per month, or roughly USD 765 to USD 1,440 and EUR 675 to EUR 1,270.
The cheapest 2-bedroom rents in Hungary are usually in outer Budapest, Pécs, Szeged, and older regional stock, while the most expensive 2-bedrooms are in Budapest District V, District I, District II, District XII, and high-quality parts of District XIII.
By the way, you will find much more detailed rent ranges in our property pack covering the real estate market in Hungary.
What's the average rent per square meter in Hungary as of 2026?
As of 2026, the estimated average rent per square meter in Hungary is about HUF 4,500 per month, which is roughly USD 14 or EUR 13 per square meter.
Across Hungary, most apartments rent for about HUF 3,200 to HUF 6,800 per square meter per month, or roughly USD 10 to USD 22 and EUR 9 to EUR 19 per square meter.
Budapest sits well above the Hungary average, while Debrecen, Szeged, Győr, and Pécs are usually cheaper for the same apartment size and condition.
In Hungary, the rent per square meter rises above average when the apartment is renovated, furnished, air-conditioned, central, close to a university, close to a metro stop, or located in a modern building with an elevator.
How much have rents changed year-over-year in Hungary in 2026?
As of 2026, average nominal rents in Hungary are up by about 5% to 6% year over year, with Budapest also close to that range.
The main reasons rents in Hungary are still rising are wages, student demand, expat demand, limited good-quality rental stock, and the fact that many young households still cannot easily buy.
Compared with 2025, rent growth in Hungary in 2026 looks slower and more price-sensitive, because affordability is now a clearer limit for tenants.
What's the outlook for rent growth in Hungary in 2026?
As of 2026, our base estimate is that rents in Hungary will rise by about 3% to 6% over the year.
The next year of rent growth in Hungary will mostly depend on wages, mortgage affordability, university demand, foreign workers, new housing supply, and whether more short-term rentals move into long-term rental stock.
The strongest rent growth in Hungary is likely in liquid Budapest areas such as District XI, District XIII, District IX, and parts of outer Pest, plus Debrecen near university and employment zones.
The main risks are weak affordability, more supply from new builds, more apartments leaving short-term rental, and tenants moving to cheaper districts or regional cities.
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Which neighborhoods rent best in Hungary as of 2026?
Which neighborhoods have the highest rents in Hungary as of 2026?
As of 2026, the three highest-rent areas in Hungary are Budapest District V, premium Buda districts such as District I and District XII, and the best parts of District XIII, where good apartments often rent for HUF 350,000 to HUF 550,000 per month, or roughly USD 1,120 to USD 1,760 and EUR 985 to EUR 1,550.
These Hungary rental areas command premium rents because tenants pay for central streets, Danube views, international schools, offices, restaurants, renovated buildings, and fast public transport.
The typical tenants in these high-rent Hungary neighborhoods are expats, executives, diplomats, international families, high-income local professionals, and couples who want a central lifestyle.
By the way, we’ve written a blog article detailing Sources and methodology: we ranked premium areas using KSH-ingatlan.com Budapest data, ingatlan.com Adatbank, and Duna House Barometer. We focused on long-term residential rents, not hotel-style short stays. Our own district models helped translate submarket strength into rent levels.
Where do young professionals prefer to rent in Hungary right now?
Young professionals in Hungary mostly prefer Budapest District VI around Oktogon, District VII around Erzsébetváros, and District IX around Corvin-negyed and Ráday utca.
In these Hungary neighborhoods, young professionals usually pay about HUF 220,000 to HUF 350,000 per month, or roughly USD 700 to USD 1,120 and EUR 620 to EUR 985.
These areas attract young professionals because they have metro and tram access, cafés, restaurants, nightlife, coworking options, offices, and many small apartments that are easy to share or rent alone.
By the way, you will find a detailed tenant analysis in our property pack covering the real estate market in Hungary.
Where do families prefer to rent in Hungary right now?
Families renting in Hungary often prefer Budapest District XI, District XIII, and green Buda areas such as District II and District XII.
For 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom family apartments in these Hungary neighborhoods, typical rents are about HUF 320,000 to HUF 650,000 per month, or roughly USD 1,020 to USD 2,080 and EUR 900 to EUR 1,830.
These areas work for families because they offer parks, quieter streets, elevators, parking, schools, playgrounds, larger flats, and better access to Buda or central Pest jobs.
Popular school options near these family areas include Britannica International School, SEK Budapest International School, the British International School Budapest, and strong local Hungarian schools in Újbuda and Buda.
Which areas near transit or universities rent faster in Hungary in 2026?
As of 2026, the fastest-renting transit and university areas in Hungary are Budapest around Kálvin tér and Corvin-negyed, Budapest around Móricz Zsigmond körtér and BME, and Debrecen near the University of Debrecen.
In these high-demand Hungary areas, well-priced small flats often stay listed for about 10 to 20 days, while weaker or overpriced apartments take longer.
Being within walking distance of a strong metro stop, tram hub, or university in Hungary can add about HUF 20,000 to HUF 60,000 per month, or roughly USD 65 to USD 190 and EUR 55 to EUR 170.
Which neighborhoods are most popular with expats in Hungary right now?
The top expat rental neighborhoods in Hungary are Budapest District V, District VI and VII, and the Buda-side expat areas of District XI, District XII, and District II.
Expats in these Hungary neighborhoods usually pay about HUF 280,000 to HUF 650,000 per month, or roughly USD 895 to USD 2,080 and EUR 790 to EUR 1,830.
These neighborhoods attract expats because they offer English-friendly services, restaurants, international schools, embassy access, central offices, good public transport, and furnished apartments.
The most visible expat communities in these Hungary areas include Western Europeans, Americans, British residents, Germans, French residents, Italians, and regional professionals from nearby European countries.
And if you are also an expat, you may want to read our Sources and methodology: we used KSH demographic data, KSH-ingatlan.com, and ingatlan.com Adatbank. We also used neighborhood evidence from furnished stock, school access, and central services. Our own expat-rental reviews helped separate tourist areas from long-term expat areas.
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Who rents, and what do tenants want in Hungary right now?
What tenant profiles dominate rentals in Hungary?
The top tenant profiles in Hungary are young professionals, students and international students, and expats or relocated workers.
As a practical estimate, young professionals represent about 35% of Hungary rental demand, students about 25%, expats and relocated workers about 20%, and families and other tenants make up the rest.
Young professionals in Hungary usually seek studios and 1-bedroom flats, students often seek small shared or furnished homes, and expats or relocated workers often seek furnished 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments in central or well-connected areas.
If you want to optimize your cashflow, you can read our Sources and methodology: we used Study in Hungary, KSH population data, and 24.hu's ingatlan.com demand report. We estimated tenant shares because Hungary has no perfect official tenant-profile split. Our internal rental models make these shares easier to use for landlords.
Do tenants prefer furnished or unfurnished in Hungary?
In Hungary, about 60% to 70% of small-apartment tenants prefer furnished rentals, while unfurnished rentals are more common among families and long-term local tenants.
A furnished apartment in Hungary often earns about HUF 20,000 to HUF 50,000 more per month than a similar unfurnished flat, or roughly USD 65 to USD 160 and EUR 55 to EUR 140.
Furnished rentals in Hungary are especially popular with international students, expats, relocated workers, young professionals, and tenants who want to avoid buying furniture for a short or medium stay.
Which amenities increase rent the most in Hungary?
The five amenities that increase rent the most in Hungary are air conditioning, a renovated bathroom, a modern kitchen, a balcony, and parking.
In Hungary, air conditioning can add about HUF 15,000 to HUF 30,000 per month, a renovated bathroom HUF 20,000 to HUF 50,000, a modern kitchen HUF 20,000 to HUF 60,000, a balcony HUF 10,000 to HUF 30,000, and parking HUF 20,000 to HUF 50,000, which together equal roughly USD 50 to USD 190 or EUR 40 to EUR 170 per feature at the upper end.
In our property pack covering the real estate market in Hungary, we cover what are the best investments a landlord can make.
What renovations get the best ROI for rentals in Hungary?
The five renovations that usually get the best ROI for rental properties in Hungary are installing air conditioning, refreshing the bathroom, updating the kitchen, repainting and improving lighting, and replacing worn flooring.
In Hungary, simple upgrades can cost from about HUF 300,000 to HUF 3 million, or roughly USD 960 to USD 9,600 and EUR 845 to EUR 8,450, and they can raise rent by about HUF 15,000 to HUF 80,000 per month when the apartment was visibly tired before.
Poor-ROI renovations in Hungary usually include luxury finishes in outer districts, expensive custom furniture, oversized smart-home systems, and full premium redesigns in buildings where the entrance, elevator, or common areas remain weak.
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How strong is rental demand in Hungary as of 2026?
What's the vacancy rate for rentals in Hungary as of 2026?
As of 2026, the estimated vacancy rate for long-term rentals in Hungary is about 4% to 5% nationally.
Across Hungary, a realistic vacancy range is about 2.5% to 4% in good Budapest areas and about 4% to 6% in many secondary cities, with weaker stock staying empty longer.
Compared with Hungary's historical rental market, current vacancy still looks low in the best locations, but tenants are more selective than they were during the faster rent-growth period.
Finally please note that you will have all the indicators you need in our property pack covering the real estate market in Hungary.
How many days do rentals stay listed in Hungary as of 2026?
As of 2026, the estimated average time on market for rentals in Hungary is about 25 to 35 days.
In practice, well-priced Budapest studios and 1-bedroom apartments can rent in 10 to 20 days, average Budapest flats often take 20 to 35 days, and regional-city rentals often take 25 to 45 days.
Compared with one year ago, rentals in Hungary still move quickly when well priced, but overpriced flats now need more time because tenants are more sensitive to monthly cost.
Which months have peak tenant demand in Hungary?
The strongest tenant-demand months in Hungary are usually August, September, January, and February, with May 2026 also showing unusually strong demand.
The main seasonal drivers in Hungary are university admissions, international students, job moves, expat arrivals, and households trying to move before rents rise again.
The quietest months for tenant demand in Hungary are usually December, late June, and parts of July, except in areas where students or expats are still moving.
Don't buy the wrong property, in the wrong area of Hungary
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What will my monthly costs be in Hungary as of 2026?
What property taxes should landlords expect in Hungary as of 2026?
As of 2026, many apartment landlords in Hungary should expect annual local property tax of about HUF 0 to HUF 200,000, or roughly USD 0 to USD 640 and EUR 0 to EUR 565.
The realistic annual range in Hungary is wide because some apartments owe little or nothing, while larger or higher-taxed homes can owe more than HUF 200,000 per year, or more than about USD 640 and EUR 565.
Property taxes in Hungary are set locally, so the amount depends on the municipality, floor area, property type, local exemptions, and sometimes the way the local authority defines the taxable base.
Please note that, in our property pack covering the real estate market in Hungary, we cover what exemptions or deductions may be available to reduce property taxes for landlords.
What utilities do landlords often pay in Hungary right now?
In Hungary, landlords most often pay building insurance, major repairs, appliance replacement, and sometimes common charges when the lease is structured that way.
Typical landlord-paid costs in Hungary can include HUF 5,000 to HUF 15,000 per month for insurance and reserves, HUF 10,000 to HUF 40,000 for maintenance reserves, and occasional appliance costs that can average HUF 5,000 to HUF 20,000 per month over time, or roughly USD 15 to USD 130 and EUR 15 to EUR 115 per cost line.
The common practice in Hungary is that tenants pay electricity, gas, water, heating, internet, and everyday common charges, while landlords pay structural repairs, insurance, major replacements, and property-management fees if used.
How is rental income taxed in Hungary as of 2026?
As of 2026, private landlords in Hungary generally pay 15% personal income tax on taxable rental income from residential property.
Landlords in Hungary can usually deduct documented rental-related costs or use the allowed cost-accounting method, with common deductions linked to maintenance, management, depreciation where allowed, and other costs directly tied to earning rent.
The most common Hungary-specific tax mistakes are ignoring NAV tax-advance rules, confusing normal residential rental with private lodging, assuming VAT always applies, and forgetting that local tax rules may differ by municipality.
We cover these mistakes, among others, in our Sources and methodology: we relied mainly on NAV Booklet no. 10, NAV rental tax information, and Global Property Guide. We treated NAV as the decisive tax source. Our own checks focused on practical landlord mistakes, not tax planning advice.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Hungary versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it’s in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Hungary, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can … and we don’t throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we’ve listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why this source is reliable | How we used the source |
|---|---|---|
| Hungarian Central Statistical Office, KSH-ingatlan.com Rent Index, May 2026 | It comes from Hungary's official statistics office and uses rental listing data from ingatlan.com. | We used it as the main source for rent growth in Hungary in 2026. We also used its Budapest submarket details to separate central Pest, outer Pest, Buda hills, and other Buda areas. |
| KSH Housing page | It is the official housing statistics landing page for Hungary. | We used it to confirm the wider housing-market direction in Hungary. We also used it to avoid relying only on private listing commentary. |
| MNB Housing Market Report, May 2026 | Hungary's central bank gives one of the strongest macro views of housing supply, demand, credit, and construction. | We used it to understand new housing supply and market pressure in Hungary. We also used it to judge whether rent growth in 2026 should cool or accelerate. |
| CEIC Hungary Rent Index | CEIC republishes official KSH time-series data in a format that is easy to compare over time. | We used it to cross-check the official rent-index direction. We did not use it over KSH, because KSH remains the primary source. |
| ingatlan.com Adatbank | ingatlan.com is Hungary's main property listing platform and provides data used in the official rent index. | We used it for live-market signals from listings and demand. We treated it as private-sector data, but gave it weight because KSH also uses ingatlan.com rental data. |
| 24.hu article citing ingatlan.com, June 2026 | It is a national news outlet reporting current rental-market data from ingatlan.com. | We used it only where the article directly cites ingatlan.com data. We used the May 2026 inquiry figure to understand demand speed and seasonality. |
| Duna House Barometer | Duna House is a major Hungarian real-estate agency group with regular market reports. | We used it as a private-sector check on market conditions. We did not use it as the main rent source, because KSH is stronger for rent inflation. |
| Budapest Business Journal on Duna House rental rates | Budapest Business Journal is a business newspaper, and the article cites Duna House and MTI. | We used it as a 2025 baseline for average Budapest rent. We then adjusted that baseline with 2026 KSH rent-index movement. |
| Budapest Business Journal on Rentingo 2026 outlook | It reports Rentingo's rental-platform view, which is useful for near-term landlord expectations. | We used it to understand why rent growth in Hungary may slow in 2026. We treated it as a secondary source, not as official statistics. |
| NAV Booklet no. 10 on renting out real property | NAV is Hungary's official tax authority. | We used it as the main source for rental-income tax treatment. We also used it to check VAT, tax advances, and social contribution tax rules. |
| NAV tax information on persons renting out real estate | It is official NAV guidance written for people who rent out real estate in Hungary. | We used it to confirm the 15% personal income tax rate. We also used it to cross-check the longer NAV booklet. |
| Global Property Guide, Hungary taxes and costs | It is a long-running international real-estate reference for taxes, buying costs, and landlord costs. | We used it only for tax and cost cross-checks. We did not use it over NAV for official income-tax rules. |
| Study in Hungary, Stipendium Hungaricum | It is an official Hungarian higher-education portal. | We used it to support the importance of international student demand in Hungary. We also used it to explain why Budapest, Debrecen, Szeged, and Pécs have strong rental demand near universities. |
| KSH population and vital events | It is the official demographic source for Hungary. | We used it as background for household and population demand. We did not use it as a direct rent-price source. |
| Hungary Today on the District VI short-term rental ban | It reports the court decision and implementation context for Terézváros short-term rentals. | We used it to understand the possible 2026 supply effect in Budapest District VI. We used it only for the regulatory point, not for rent-price estimates. |
Get fresh and reliable information about the market in Hungary
Don't base significant investment decisions on outdated data. Get updated and accurate information.