Budapest, a city that isn’t exactly world renown, became my new home last week. I have to say that so far it is my favourite city in the world (yes even more so than Hong Kong). Aside from being super cheap, very modern and having awesome architecture all around, a few points really stand out for me.
The first is that Budapest is far more cosmopolitan than I had imagined. People from all over come here to work and to study. Additionally, most young people speak great English and you can get by very easily without knowing Hungarian.
Super fast internet is another. My landlord barely uses the internet but the basic package he bought is faster than the fastest connection you can get in the UK. This is great news for me as I spend most of the day working online.
At night time, Budapest holds a truly epic secret. I talked a bit about drinking in the streets of Hong Kong last month. Well Budapest has one up on Hong Kong: Introducing Ruin Pubs. This concept is basically a bar in a derelict or ruined building. It’s very quirky, very cheap, very good for meeting people and you can draw on the walls! Some of these are so popular that the Germans have taken the concept to Berlin. Others are literally hidden and unless someone shows you where it is then you won’t have a clue!
I found a room in an apartment on Craigslist a few weeks before I arrived. My landlord asked for no deposit, and I can pay the rent any time I want. I live 5 minutes from the city center, 2 minutes from Tesco (supermarket), have a big room with double bed, have a desk so I can work at and the entire apartment has been renovated in the last couple of years so is all very modern. Including all bills, internet and heating this costs me a sum total of €280 per month (about £230).
When I arrived, I literally knew nobody. Part of the reason I chose to share an apartment with others was to meet other people. I don’t like living on my own either and have always had flatmates before. On the second night I was here, I saw that there was a “pizza and drinks” event organised through CouchSurfing. Since I’d had a positive experience using CouchSurfing to stay with someone in Hong Kong, I decided to check it out.
Fast forward to 6am, and me and this guy called Mike (someone in his hotel dragged him along to the meetup) were lost in Budapest having gone completely the opposite way we were supposed to. We didn’t really mind the 90 minute walking tour since we were both, every so slightly, tipsy! I had also met a whole host of interesting people who were actually pretty cool. I also met fellow blogger Benny from Fluent in 3 Months so had a lot to chat about there.
Overall the night was great and I’ve been to a few more of these nights since then. It’s a great way to meet people when you are new in town. I made a special point to tell everyone I didn’t know anyone and that seemed to result in me being invited out to a bunch of other things. The Hungarians I’ve met when I have been out in town have all been super friendly and helpful towards me. One couldn’t speak English so went away only to return five minutes later with her friend who did speak English!
Oh yeah, did I mention half a litre of beer costs 400-500 Forints (about £1.20 – £1.50) and that’s in “nice” bars as well. No real dress codes either which means I can wear my comfy trainers out at night.
This past weekend I went to a Bavarian Oktoberfest style celebration at the local German speaking university. My flatmate Juliane is German and studying at this university so she invited me along. It was pretty cool and they even had a live Bavarian band playing. One or two of the girls even dressed up in traditional Bavarian dress. Their university is very small so everyone knows everyone else. Everyone spoke perfect English as well
It’s great to be back on the continent and whenever I go outside this city just feels so European, I love it. I’m not sure how long I will stay here but I’m definitely keen to extend my stay for as long as possible as the city ticks all the right boxes for me!
Hey Mark, I am glad you’re having a nice time in Budapest and thank you for complimenting Hungarians several times
At the super cheap part I felt like it should be noted, though, that Budapest is only cheap as long as you make a living from outside of Hungary. (And yes, then these prices are really like Paradise) However, the average MONTHLY income for a person working in Hungary is €440, with a minimal wage of €260. To give an idea of what it is like: a fast food restaurant worker makes €1.8 an hour!, which is equal to the price of a sandwich produced in the same restaurant. And what education is worth: a doctor, having studied for 6 years at university, starts with an average of €340 a month.
So dear visitors, come and enjoy the cheap city of Budapest, but never decide to work here.
Budapest is an amazing city. We’ve visited it for 2-3 times now, not too much time to hang around, though we’re just 200 miles from it. But it’s a wonderful city. Can’t wait to visit it again.
Hey Mark,
as I already told you – great blog!
I totally agree with you…Budapest is an awesome city and since we arrived here on the same day, it is great to have somebody who I can experience this crazy city with!
But the price of the beer – well, as you experienced last weekend – you can get a nice beer for 260 Forint as well!
sorry Mark, but i have to disagree with you. Budapest IS a beautiful city, but the working conditions, the number of homeless people, and other bad stuff arent good.
@smone
I agree that the homeless situation is a big problem that needs to be fixed. I think the current government promised to do something about it. I’m not really sure about the working conditions or anything like that. What I do know is that everyone I have met here is really cool and there are few cities where I can say the same.
Could you give me directions to any of these RUIN PUB? I’M heading to Budapest next month on holidays and would love to go to one!
Thanks!
V.
Hi Mark,
Nice to read about Budapest from your eyes. I lived there for a year and had lovely experience.I did fell in love with that city. I sure would love to visit again and hence keep reading about people’s visit to that city. Unfortunately I couldn’t learn their language.Beside Kosonom I returned with two other words ‘Korhaz’ and ‘Gyomberg’!!!
Debanjana