Osaka vs Budapest
Salary equivalence calculator
Price-level ratio 0.656. Adjust to recalculate.
| Metric | Osaka | Budapest | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price level index (NYC=100) | 64.0 | 42.0 | -34.4% |
| Rent index (NYC=100) | 40.0 | 30.0 | -25.0% |
| Equivalent of ¥120,000 | ¥120,000 | ¥78,750 | cheaper |
- Budapest is about 34% cheaper than Osaka, so the same lifestyle costs less.
How far does your salary go in Budapest?
Moving from Osaka to Budapest changes your cost of living in ways a currency conversion can't capture. What matters is purchasing power: how much the same basket of housing, food, transport and services costs in each place. On our index, where New York City = 100, Osaka sits at 64.0 and Budapest at 42.0.
That makes Budapest roughly 34% cheaper. A salary of ¥120,000 in Osaka translates to about ¥78,750 in Budapest. Above that and you gain in real terms; below it and you take an effective pay cut.
Housing drives the gap
Rent is the largest and most variable line in most budgets. Budapest's rent index is 30.0 versus Osaka's 40.0.
Common mistakes
- Converting currency instead of purchasing power.
- Ignoring taxes, which vary by jurisdiction.
- Forgetting one-off relocation costs.
Bottom line
Budapest is about 34% cheaper than Osaka, so the same lifestyle costs less. Use the calculator to plug in your real salary and compare against any concrete offer.
Rent equivalence: Osaka vs Budapest
Based on the rent-index ratio of 0.750 (Osaka 40.0 vs Budapest 30.0, NYC = 100).
Housing is usually the biggest single difference between two cities, and it moves independently of the overall price level. Renting the equivalent home in Budapest costs about 25% less than in Osaka. Enter your actual rent above to see what a like-for-like place would cost after you move — a more honest gauge of affordability than a raw salary conversion, since renters and owners feel very different impacts.
Frequently asked questions
What salary do I need in Budapest to match Osaka?
To keep the same standard of living as ¥120,000 in Osaka, you would need roughly ¥78,750 in Budapest, a price-level ratio of 0.66.
Is Budapest more expensive than Osaka?
No, it is about 34% cheaper overall.
How much is rent in Budapest compared to Osaka?
Rent in Budapest is about 25% lower than in Osaka (rent indices 40.0 vs 30.0, NYC = 100). Use the rent calculator on this page for your exact figure.
How is the equivalent salary calculated?
We multiply your salary by the ratio of the two cities' composite price-level indices (housing, food, transport, services), benchmarked so New York City = 100.
Methodology
We build a composite price-level index for each city from official regional price parities and international purchasing-power parities across housing, food, transport and services, normalized so New York City = 100. The equivalent salary is your salary multiplied by the ratio of the destination index to the origin index. It estimates the income needed to hold real purchasing power constant and does not model taxes.