Introduction

You are welcome to Budapest, the capital of Hungary. If you’re thinking about visiting this city in 2023, it helps to be aware of what expenses you may have. A lot of visitors want to know what beer costs. In the rest of this article, we will tell you the average price for beer in Budapest, advise on finding discounts and introduce you to several great places to grab a pint.

Learning about the price of beer

Factors such as place, type of venue and type of beer can cause costs to differ for one beer. You should expect to spend approximately 400-600 HUF for a local beer in an ordinary restaurant or pub. Foreign beers usually cost between 500 and 800 HUF.

Beer tends to be priced more expensively where visitors are popular. If you want to save money, go to places off the beaten path or nearby local pubs instead.

Many rooftop bars, boutique hotels and District V restaurants sell the same beer for as much as 1,000 HUF, especially if it is a special brand. You’ll still find pubs in Újbuda and Angyalföld selling a pint for less than 450 HUF if you visit during happy hours or weekday specials.

How to Get Cheap Beer

If you’re on a budget, here are a few ways to find cheap beer in Budapest:

1. Szimpla Kert

Szimpla Kert is known as one of Budapest’s most popular ruin bars. You get to enjoy the great atmosphere and drink decent beer at budget rates. Take in the city’s nightlife and enjoy your drink in an unusual setting.

As well as Szimpla Kert, Instant-Fogas Complex and Mazel Tov also serve up beer in a lively atmosphere, though be prepared to pay a little more because they are very popular. Even so, they give you a fun experience for the money spent.

2. Local Pubs

Go down the less busy side streets and you’ll see plenty of pubs where local residents drink. Often, these places save you money by offering lower prices. There’s a good chance you’ll find something special when you explore places tourists usually skip.

District VII (Erzsébetváros) and District VIII (Józsefváros) are places you’ll find lots of neighborhood taverns (kocsma) and a good beer there typically costs less than 500 HUF. Even though they may not seem fancy, they have an easygoing and warm atmosphere.

3. Beer Festivals

If you end up in Budapest at the time of a beer festival, count yourself as particularly fortunate. There are several beer festivals in the city each year where trying out many types of beer won’t break the bank. Pay attention to events called “Buda Castle Beer Festival” or “Budapest Craft Beer Week.”

You’ll usually find breweries from Hungary and many other countries taking part and the price per glass varies between 600 and 1,000 HUF based on the beer served. You can usually try various flavors affordably, since many festivals provide free samples and a glass for one entrance fee.

4. Supermarkets

Buying beer at a supermarket is the best way to enjoy beer in your room. Local and imported beers are available in supermarkets in Budapest at lower costs than what you pay in bars and restaurants.

For example:

A small bottle of Dreher or Soproni is about 250-350 HUF

Guinness and Stella Artois brands from abroad will cost between 400 and 600 HUF.

In the city, you can find Spar, Tesco, Lidl and Aldi chain stores everywhere and their prices are great when you need to purchase a lot for a group.

When you don’t have a lot to spend, here are some inexpensive beer ideas.

• Dreher – A famous Hungarian brand that makes beer that is both tasty and easy to afford. Both classic lager and modern pale ale and IPA are available.
• Another beer you can get for a low price in Hungary is Soproni. You can find IPA and Radler (beer with lemonade) too at Soproni.
• Arany Ászok – You can enjoy different types of beer without spending a lot of money. You often find it in the displays of both small neighborhood bars and grocery stores.
• People all across the country know Borsodi – a plain and easy-to-enjoy lager. Misokomutsu is both economical and simple to find.
• Pécsi Sör – They craft both traditional and organic lagers and their beers mostly sell for about 350-500 HUF a bottle at stores.

If you like craft beer, try brands such as Mad Scientist, Horizont or MONYO Brewing Co. which produce worthwhile small-batch beers. You can usually expect to pay a higher price for these (approximately 700–1,200 HUF in a shop and 1,200–1,800 HUF in a bar), but lovers of good spirits will agree it’s worth it.

Conclusion

No matter if you join locals in a buzzing ruin pub or buy beer in a supermarket, you’ll have plenty of options as a beer lover in Budapest. If you visit different areas and look for local pubs, you have a better chance of finding beers that won’t cost much. Often, the cheapest places to stay are not in the area where most travelers visit. You can take part in the great beer offerings without spending too much money.

You can find great beers at excellent prices in any of Budapest’s pubs, festivals or quirky ruin bars. Regardless of how long you plan to be here, you’ll find a nice pint close by.