If you’re planning a trip to Budapest and curious about meal prices, keep reading. There’s your answer! You’ll find an overview of average costs for meals at different restaurants in this guide.

Things That Change The Costs Of Meals

The cost of eating in Budapest depends on a number of different things.

• You can find high-end, mid-range and more affordable places to eat in just about any town. A high-end restaurant in the city center often costs a lot more than a basic bistro in a less noisy part of town.
• Prices in restaurants close to common tourist destinations are frequently higher than in non-tourist ones. In fact, if you dine near landmarks like Buda Castle or the Parliament, you’ll probably pay more than if you have your meal in a neighborhood or quiet side street.
• It’s common that lunch pricing is friendlier than dinner, as you may find more value with lunch items. You can usually find fixed-price lunch menus at many restaurants, so it’s the perfect time to enjoy gourmet food at a lower price.
• Prices at a restaurant are influenced by the kind of food they serve. It’s usually cheaper to eat Hungarian goulash or pörkölt than to order sushi or high-end Italian food.
• Some additional points to note are seasonal, organic or gourmet cuisine, as well as the restaurant’s special settings or views.

The Average Cost of Various Meals

Check out this summary of what meals in Budapest usually cost:

Breakfast

You can find simple pastries and drinks for breakfast in Budapest or try one of the city’s larger brunches. Here’s a look at the normal price range:

Item

Average Price

Coffee and the sweet tastes of pastries go well together.

500 – 800 Hungarian Forint

Brunch

The approximate cost between 1,500 and 3,500 HUF.

To make your Hungarian breakfast easy, head to a bakery and get kifli, pogácsa or rétes. If you pair your cukrászkínyós tea with an espresso or kapucsínó, you’ll find it’s inexpensive to begin your day. Cafés in Erzsébetváros and Újlipótváros offer colorful brunch items such as eggs, avocado toast, fresh juices and coffee on Instagram.

Lunch

Visiting Budapest at lunchtime gives you the opportunity to try everything from fast street food to more formal meals The usual prices for lunch are:

Item

Average Price

Street Food

You can budget between 1,000 and 2,000 HUF for your day.

Casual Restaurant

2,000 – 4,000 forints

Lunch that lasts about 2-3 and includes a few dishes.

Rates usually lie between 3,000 and 6,000 HUF.

Among favorite lunch dishes, districts often serve goulash bowls, paprikash with nokedli and lángos (bread topped with garlic, sour cream and cheese). Business lunch menus in city centers are usually made for working people who get a soup, the main course and dessert at reasonable prices. You can find Thai, Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine at an affordable 3,000–4,500 HUF value.

Dinner

Prices for dinner in Budapest depend a lot on which type of food you desire and which restaurant you choose. The average cost for dining at a restaurant is laid out here:

Partition of the Restaurant

Average Price

Budget-Friendly

You should expect to pay between 2,500 – 4,500 HUF.

Mid-Range

You can expect to pay 4,500 – 7,500 HUF.

High-End

Ranges between 7,500 and 15,000+ HUF

You’ll usually get a lot of popular meals from the area such as stuffed cabbage and pork schnitzel, in places that aren’t too expensive. Seasonal menus and options for pairing wines can be found at mid-range restaurants which also offer some special dishes based on local traditions. Among these are Michelin-starred Onyx and Costes, both of which set up tasting menus and serve an array of international and Hungarian wines. You could spend more than 15,000 HUF for a single person’s dinner, drinks included.

Some Way to Save Money on Meals in Budapest

Eating in Budapest doesn’t have to be expensive and I have some tips to help save your money:

• Check out restaurants in spots away from the main tourist hubs if you’re on a budget. Józsefváros and Kispest are areas where you can find lovely Hungarian meals cooked for you.
• Drop by markets or food halls such as the Great Market Hall (Nagycsarnok) or Karaván Street Food Court, to purchase fresh fruits and inexpensive food.
• Try to order something from the daily offerings that many restaurants provide. You can eat well and experience local food by choosing from these menus.
• Enjoy some yummy and affordable kürtőskalács, lángos or kolbász on the streets of Hungary.
• Look up meals and reviews before choosing restaurants that don’t cost much but have tasty dishes. You can find advice and information about hotels from TripAdvisor, Google Maps or nearby blogs that contain user-shared prices and ratings.
• Stick with local wines, wine spritzers or fruit brandy on your trip, rather than imported ones. You’ll frequently find them cheaper and they’re part of what makes traveling enjoyable.

Conclusion

There are choices for food in Budapest that match any price range. Knowing what to eat and follow useful tips help you get great food from Hungarian cuisine and still keep your costs low while traveling.

No matter if you just have a small lángos to eat while walking, have coffee in a cozy café or choose a long gastronomic dinner with a Danube view, you’ll find something to match your taste and budget in Budapest’s restaurants. No matter your daily time, remember to eat well, go beyond the famous tourist places and try out the many foods Budapest has to offer.