Apartments for rent in Budapest
Apartment for rent in Budapest

Find the best apartment for rent in Budapest

Looking for an apartment in Budapest? Find out the costs, where to rent, how to find an apartment and more!

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Budapest is a seductive city, and if you’ve felt pulled in by its charm and decided to swap your Airbnb for something more permanent, then you’re at the right place. Read on to learn all about renting an apartment in Budapest in the long term, where to look for, what to look out for, your rental rights and more! 

View of downtown Budapest from a balcony of an old building
View of downtown Budapest from a balcony of an old building

Where to rent an apartment in Budapest

Aerial view of downtown Budapest with the Danube, Chain Bridge, Buda Castle, and the Hungarian Parliament in view
Aerial view of downtown Budapest with the Danube, Chain Bridge, Buda Castle, and the Hungarian Parliament in view

When it comes to renting an apartment in Budapest, location matters. If you’re looking at an apartment listing, you’ll see terms like kerület (district) or the term “central location,” but not all areas are created equal when it comes to renting an apartment in Budapest. Some areas may be centrally located, but you’re more likely to end up in a run-down (but still beautiful) building in one district, compared to a renovated or newer building in another.  

You can think of the city layout in Budapest as being similar to the arrondissements of Paris. There are 23 districts that spiral out of the center (more or less) in order, beginning with District I, which includes the Castle District. Central locations often include District I and parts of districts II and XI on the Buda side of the river, and districts V, VI and VII, and parts of districts VIII, IX, XIII in Pest. 

If you’re looking for history and an elegant part of the city to live in, then you may want to opt for districts I, V, and the parts of the VI around Andrássy Avenue, for cool café culture, then XI and XIII are a good bet. If it’s nightlife you’re after, then you’ll want to move into the VII (if you’re ok with the noise), but for something more bohemian, cheaper, and maybe a bit more authentic, then you’ll love the VIII and IX Districts. 

You can find some of the cheaper apartments if you go outside the Grand Boulevard (Nagy Körút), as these take you away from the touristy parts of the city. 

Apartments for rent in Budapest 101

Image of a Budapest inner courtyard with arches and iron-railings along the gangway
Image of a Budapest inner courtyard with arches and iron-railings along the gangway

Contrary to what many people say, there is no such thing as cheap apartments for rent in Budapest. At least there are no apartments available for lower rates in the center. When people say the average rental cost in Budapest is cheaper, that’s only when you compare prices to European metropoles like London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, and Madrid. For example, a three-bedroom apartment in Budapest can cost around 830 euros (290,000 HUF).

Most of the apartments available for rent within the city center are located in old buildings, but you’ll often find that the apartment has been renovated. If you are more into new buildings, then know that your options are quite limited in this part of the city as there are strict regulations that protect old buildings from being replaced with new ones. Most new buildings can be found on the outskirts of the city, but if you head out into the outer parts of the VIII, IX, and XI, you can find many modern builds. For something contemporary, you might want to look at the apartments to let in Corvin Sétany (VIII District) or around Kopaszi dam (XI District). 

The demand for apartments for rent in Budapest city center is always high and is driven by both locals and expatriates that are in large numbers, not to mention the vacation rental boom thanks to Airbnb, which has also taken over the city center and pushed rental prices up.

Apartment scouting in Budapest

Image of a renovated Budapest apartment with a gallery extension
Image of a renovated Budapest apartment with a gallery extension

Looking for an apartment in Budapest is pretty much the same as in other European countries. You can start by browsing the local papers, but you need to know Hungarian for that. So, if you want to try to find an apartment that way, you’d need someone who speaks Hungarian to help you there. 

However, another, more popular alternative is the internet, so find a good spot for Wi-Fi in Budapest, and get searching. Most local real estate agencies have websites in English and other European languages. That makes scouting the listings much easier and faster. Ingatlan.com is one of the most popular sites where you can find rentals listed. Some apartments are privately listed, and others go through a rental agency.  

You can also join a few apartment rental Facebook groups. You can even find groups like this specifically catering to expats, so listings are in English. However, you may end up paying more if you deal with landlords in English. If you do have a Hungarian friend who can help, they may be able to find a better price for you. 

Once you found an apartment you like, the next step is to contact the agency or the owner. That way, you can arrange to visit the apartment and check it out before committing to renting it or not.

Types of available apartments for rent in Budapest

Interior of a downtown Budapest apartment with high ceilings
Interior of a downtown Budapest apartment with high ceilings

You can find apartments catering to all lifestyles and budgets in Budapest. Typically, they come as part of a larger apartment complex. In most cases, they are old and situated within the city center.

If you want to rent in the city center, then you’ll find a wide selection of fully furnished, serviced apartments that include services such as free Wi-Fi, room service, laundry, private terraces, and so on. Serviced apartments are great, as many even include access to a gym, a pool, and other high-end amenities. However, they also come with an upmarket price tag.

Apart-hotels are also quite popular as many of them are also clustered around the city center, and they offer apartments, where you can be independent, but you’ll still get room services and pretty much anything that you get from a standard hotel. These types of accommodation are popular due to demand from tourists looking for authenticity and independence. They don’t want to feel like tourists and instead want to experience how the locals live in Budapest, at least to some extent.

Rent terms and the contract

The terms of the contract can be negotiated between the landlord and the renter. If it is a short stay, most contracts are standard and identical to those in all over Europe. Often a deposit of one or two months is required when you sign the contract. 

Some landlords have a strict no pet policy, while others are flexible on this issue. Then there is smoking and partying in the apartment, which is something that you need to ask before signing the contract. If you break some of the contract rules, then you may easily lose your deposit.

Also, if your rental includes bills like heating or water in the price, keep in mind that rent is typically higher in winter months because of the cost of heating.

In conclusion

Renting an apartment in Budapest is not particularly complicated or anything like that. Don’t be fooled by the old-fashioned buildings, as the interior is excellent in most cases. The only real challenge is finding the one that matches your preferences. That is why you need to be fast and vigilant. The moment you spot an opening and make sure you act fast.

Q&A

How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Budapest?
Depending on the size and the location, an apartment in Budapest will usually fall in the range between 460€ and 1,000 €.
Who can rent an apartment in Budapest?
Providing you’re over 18, anyone can rent an apartment.
How can you find an apartment in Budapest?
Try the websites ingatlan.com or alberlet.hu, you can also join some English language apartment rental groups in Budapest on Facebook.
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