Wels vs Budapest: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Budapest costs roughly 25% less than Wels. Wels scores significantly higher on safety — worth weighing against the cost gap. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Wels is approximately 22% less expensive than Budapest based on cost of living including rent. This makes Wels a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Wels has a FIRE Score of 74/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 88, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Wels is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Wels
Wels is a small Upper Austrian city that quietly delivers on the basics: a 1-bedroom in the centre runs $673/mo, a monthly public transport pass costs $38/mo, and the safety index of 88/100 with a crime index of 12/100 makes it one of the easier places to live without looking over your shoulder. The catch is the social side: a small expat community and a population of 65 thousand mean you will need German or serious initiative to build a circle, though English is widely spoken. Winters bite hard with lows around -16°C and summers push to 34°C, so pack for both extremes. At $3,132/mo average net salary against a $992/mo budget tier, it is a genuinely affordable base for savers and retirees, less so for anyone chasing big-city energy.
About Austria
Austria has a digital nomad visa available or a fast path to citizenship, neither exists here. High earners also face a 55% top tax rate above EUR 1M. But retirees clearing EUR 2,548/mo qualify for a settlement permit, and with a 70.5 safety index and strong healthcare, it suits those prioritizing stability over low taxes or easy paperwork.
$1,562/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Budapest
Budapest is the rare capital where a $818/mo city-center one-bedroom still leaves room in a $1,641/mo average net salary, and the $28/mo transit pass makes car ownership optional. The tradeoff is a humid continental climate with genuinely cold winters and an air quality index of 55, so come for the 89/100 expat and digital nomad scores, not the lungs. With a 20/100 crime index, excellent healthcare, and 500 Mbps internet, it is one of Europe's best-value bases for remote workers and retirees alike.
About Hungary
Hungary offers no retirement visa, so retirees have no dedicated legal pathway despite the appealing 15% flat income tax. Remote workers should look past this: the White Card digital nomad visa only requires USD 3,362/mo income, well within reach for most US remote salaries. Combine that with a $575/mo city center rent and a 66.3 safety index, and the financial case holds even if English proficiency stays medium.
$1,756/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Wels | Budapest |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $672.85 | $817.66 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $560.71 | $631.44 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $953.21 | $1580 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $785 | $1180.82 |
| Safety Index | 88 | 80 |
| Internet Speed | 74.5Mbps | 500Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Wels | Budapest |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $1,527/mo | $1,304/mo |
| Excluding rent | $966/mo | $673/mo |
| Rent | $561/mo | $631/mo |
| Groceries | $246/mo | $160/mo |
| Dining out | $168/mo | $138/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $124/mo | $126/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $390/mo | $221/mo |
| Transport | $38.00/mo | $28.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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