Cost of Living in Budapest

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For each month you are living in Budapest, you should consider the below sums of money to cover your expenses in the Academic Year 2009/10.

All costs listed in this document are estimates only and are intended to help students plan their financial resources. Actual expenditures will vary depending on individual spending habits.

CEU estimates that students need to budget an average of 150,000 HUF per month to cover accommodation costs, costs of utilities, meals, city transportation, instructional materials, some personal expenses and incidentals. Find the daily exchange rates on http://www.ceu.hu/admissions/tuitionandfees/payment (bottom of the page), under section „Conversion of fees”. Always use the most current exchange rate!

1. Accommodation Costs

Housing in CEU Residence Center (costs are per student per night)
Prices are based on Academic Year 2009/2010. Subject to change

CEU Degree students
Short-term stay (less than 15 nights):
in single rooms
in double rooms

Long-term stay (over 14 days):
in single rooms
in double rooms

 

3,000 HUF/night
4,000 HUF/night


2,200 HUF/night
3,500 HUF/night

Exchange/Visiting students
under special institutional agreements

Short-term stay (less than 14 nights)
Long-term stay (over two weeks)

 


5,500 HUF/night
3,000 HUF/night

Rented Accommodation in Budapest

Shared apartment

Range of 35,000 - 55,000 HUF/month

2. Utilities (electricity, gas, water, common fees)

In shared rented accommodation

Range of 7,000 - 15,000 HUF/month

3. Meals

Student Menu at the CEU cafeterias

790 HUF/day (subject to periodic adjustment)

Lunch/Dinner at a local (fast food) restaurant

Range of 700-1,200 HUF/meal

Meals at CEU cafeterias or local restaurant (est. on one meal per weekday)

30,000 HUF/month

Estimated cost of food (local shopping in addition to one meal at the CEU cafeterias or local restaurants)

30,000 HUF/month

4. City Transportation*

Monthly transportation pass

9,400 HUF/month

Single ticket

300-470 HUF/trip

* Subject to change.

5. CEU Instructional Materials

CEU Readers: costs vary by reader

Range of 1,000 - 7,000 HUF/month

Center for Academic Writing Study Packet

1,500 HUF (Fall Semester)

Fall and Winter term language courses

Survival Hungarian: 16,000 HUF/semester (2x2 hours/week for 11 weeks)

 

Other levels of Hungarian: 29,000 HUF/semester (2x2 hours/week for 11 weeks)

 

French, German, Spanish: 29,000 HUF/semester (2x2 hours/week for 11 weeks)

Spring term language coursesHungarian: 29,000 HUF/semester (2x2 hours/week for 11 weeks)
No beginner courses start in this term
 French, German, Spanish: 16,000 HUF/semester (2x2 hours/week for 6 weeks)

6. Personal Incidentals

Personal care products, laundry products, and other

6,000 - 15,000 HUF/month

7. Health Insurance (all recipients of CEU financial aid receive health insurance as part of their financial aid package)

CEU Health Insurance

9,400 HUF/month

Other health insurance plans (e.g., Atlasz)

9,600 HUF/month

Miscellaneous Expenses

Students must expect to pay such miscellaneous charges as:
Replacement of ID card 10 EUR 
Replacement of locker key 1,000 HUF 
Transcript Fee per official copy 500 HUF (issued within 3 working days)
Transcript Fee per official copy 1,000 HUF (issued within 1 working day)