If you’re on the fence regarding your trip to Budapest in Hungary as a digital nomad, don’t be. Very few places in Europe are as affordable, fun, beautiful, caring of their citizens, and full of work opportunities all at the same time as Budapest is. So here are just a few things to look forward to in Budapest.
Affordable property prices, rent, and cost of living
Budapest’s housing and living are very affordable, especially compared to other countries in the European Union. The price of a property per square meter will vary a lot based on its location, from €3000 in the centre to €2000 on the outskirts of Budapest.
If you are looking for apartments for rent in Budapest, location will also play a significant role: a small, one-bedroom apartment outside the city centre will be around €330 per month while a larger three-bedroom apartment in the city centre will go up to €800. So the accommodation for digital nomads is pretty affordable.
Groceries and restaurants are also affordable, with things like milk, bread, a kilo of rice and so on all being slightly above or below €1.
Restaurants such as fast foods or cheap bistros will be around €7 per lunch.
Find perfect apartments for rent in Budapest
Excellent and cheap public transportation
Budapest has a vast network of reliable public transportation from metro, busses and trolleybuses to trams and even a suburban railway (HÉV). The four metro lines only run from 5 am to 11 pm with no night-time schedule.
However, the 25 tram lines, dozens of bus and trolleybus lines, and even HÉV all run at night, though very often with reduced schedules and fewer operating lines.
Thankfully, Budapest has integrated its public transportation system, so now all of the above-mentioned means of transportation are united under the same ticket system, as long as you are within the city's boundaries. Pay attention to possible discounts like student or pensioner discount when buying tickets.
Reasonable coworking spaces
There are countless coworking spaces in Budapest, but here are two that often get the recommendation:
- First is the international Impact Hub Budapest, which offers a kitchen, restaurant, meeting rooms, relaxation rooms, high-speed internet, and different pricing.
- And secondly, there is Kaptár coworking, which specifically caters to digital nomads and freelancers with bright and comfortable space and meeting rooms for team projects and a Skype room to keep the rest of the friendly workspace quiet.
Live start-up culture
According to the global research centre StartupBlink, Budapest’s start-up ecosystem ranked 39th out of 202. The Hungarian government has put considerable resources towards start-ups and has passed laws to make their operation more manageable.
Many media outlets cover start-ups in Budapest extensively (like Index.hu or Forbes Hungary), making them great places for your promotion. Finally, the country hosts many events focused on the start-up community like Brain Bar or the Craft Conference.
Vibrant nightlife
Budapest’s nightlife is packed to the brim with the best that’s happening in the music, bar, gastronomy, and entertainment spheres in the world. Places like Mazel Tov house offers several restaurants and bars all in one beautiful cultural space.
Racskert is the direct opposite, with its ruin bar spray-painted aesthetic of a converted parking lot. Ruin bars, in general, are a staple of Budapest’s nightlife scene. But you can also find clubs like Instant that will satisfy your desire for that classic clubbing experience.
Overall, it’s almost impossible to be bored in Budapest when the night comes.
