Accommodation in Hungary

Expat accommodation in Hungary generally comes in the form of apartments for those living in the inner city areas, and houses for those who choose to live a little outside the city in the suburbs or outlying and rural areas. Expats moving to Hungary will find a range of housing options available to them, furnished and unfurnished apartments are an option, and preference for one or the other is usually determined by how long you plan to stay in Hungary.

Rental agreements tend to be quite standard; expats are expected to pay a security deposit equal to two or three months' rent as well as the first month’s rent up front. Rental contracts or tenancy agreements should be written in Hungarian and English, to suit both parties. The rent paid to the landlord will only cover rent; tenants are expected to pay for amenities, and monthly levies (if renting an apartment).

Because of the language barrier, it is often preferable to employ the services of a letting agent. Expats should be aware that adverts stating the number of rooms include the lounge in the room count, so if an advertisement states ‘four roomed house’ then in all likelihood the number of bedrooms is either two or three. Terms such as ‘equipped kitchen’ refer to a kitchen with a stove and fridge, and ‘American kitchen’ refers to open-plan kitchens.

In Budapest expats with families tend to live on the Buda side where there are a number of houses with gardens available for rent. Apartments on the Pest side of the river are usually occupied by single expats, or expats without kids. Pest is closer to the business districts and requires less of a commute in the mornings, whereas Buda is closer to the international schools and provided your home is situated close to a metro line then the daily commute is not significantly greater than those living on the other side of the river.

Rental prices range from 1,200 Ft to 3,000 Ft per square metre. Larger homes with gardens are cheaper per square metre and apartments in the city are pricier. Expats should expect to pay a monthly rent in the region of 400 Euro a month for a two bedroom apartment, while houses with three or more bedrooms will cost between 550 and 900 Euro a month. Furnished accommodation costs extra.