The city center of Budapest is the beating heart of this magnificent city. Most of the center area is spread over District V but teher are so many apartments for rent in Budapest as well.

The inner city is covered with numerous art nouveau, neo-classical, and baroque buildings. In terms of architecture, it is one of the most interesting neighborhoods in the city

But it is not just the architecture that captures the mind of expatriates; the friendly locals are there, too. There is also the exquisite nightlife, the various restaurants, the shopping, and so on. In addition to the many excellent Hungarian bistros, there are Greek and Italian restaurants on practically every corner.

Apart from that, there are extremely popular “ruin bars” which are always packed with both locals and expatriates. For some time, many think of Budapest as the capital of ruin bars. There are quite a few of them within the inner city.

But, whether you are staying there for a short period or you are up for a longer stay, renting an apartment is one of the first things to do.

Apartments for rent in Budapest 101

Contrary to what many people believe, 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. The average apartment rent is cheaper only compared to European metropoles like Paris, Berlin, Vienna, and Madrid.

For example, a three-bedroom apartment in the city of Budapest can cost around 750 euros (240,000 HUF).

Most of the apartments available for rent within the city center are in old buildings, but whose interiors have been refurbished.

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 outskirt of the city.

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.

Apartment Scouting in Budapest

Apartment scouting in Budapest is pretty much the same as in other European countries. You can start browsing the local papers, but you need to be versed in Hungarian for that. Otherwise, you should have at least have someone to help you with that.

Another and a more popular alternative is the internet. Most local real estate agencies have websites that are also in English and other European languages. That makes scouting the listings much easier and faster.

Once you identify 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 personally before deciding whether you will rent it out or not.

Types of available apartments  for rent in Budapest

There are apartments for rent catering to all lifestyles and budgets. Typically, they come as part of a larger apartment complex. In most cases, they are old and situated within the city center.

The city center offers a wide selection of mainly fully furnished, serviced apartments that include services 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. The thing with apart-hotels is that they offer independent like apartments, but with room services and pretty much anything that you get from a standard hotel.

Their rise is due to the demand of tourists that seek 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 & 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 are identical to the ones all over Europe.

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.

In case you break some of the rules in the contract, then you may easily lose your deposit.

Also, keep in mind that rent is typically higher in winter months because of the cost of heating the apartment.

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.