Buying an apartment in Hungary in 2026
A square metre on Budapest's resale market costs about $3,980, a non-EU buyer needs a permit and the duty is 4%. Buying does not give residence; only a fund investment from €250,000 does.
A foreigner can buy an apartment in Hungary: a citizen of a non-EU country needs a permit from the government office, and the buyer pays a 4% transfer duty plus a lawyer, without whom the deal will not be registered. A square metre on Budapest's resale market costs about 1.3 million forints, about $3,980, in 2026, and about 1.8 million, about $5,510, in a new build. Buying an apartment does not give residence: that option was removed from the guest investor programme on 15 January 2025. A detailed look at the market and deal support is on our page on property in Hungary; here are short answers to the main questions.
How much does an apartment in Hungary cost in 2026
In Budapest prices keep rising after the 2025 surge, though more slowly. Districts differ a lot: central Pest and green Buda cost far more than the outskirts, and new builds cost almost half as much again as resale homes.
| Budapest | Per square metre | 50 m² apartment |
|---|---|---|
| Resale, average | about 1.3 million forints, ~$3,980 | ~$198,800 |
| New build, average | about 1.8 million forints, ~$5,510 | ~$275,300 |
| Centre, districts V, VI and VII, resale | 1.4-1.8 million forints, ~$4,290-5,510 | ~$214,200-275,300 |
| Outskirts, resale | 0.7-1 million forints, ~$2,150-3,060 | ~$107,100-153,000 |
The rate is about 327 forints to the dollar in 2026. Apartments in Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs and around Lake Balaton are noticeably cheaper than in the capital. Budapest's districts and rents are covered in our Budapest guide.
Can a foreigner buy an apartment in Hungary
Yes. EU citizens buy on the same terms as Hungarians. A citizen of a non-EU country, including Russia, buys an apartment, house or commercial property with prior permission from the government office of the capital or county where it is located. Agricultural and forest land cannot be bought this way. The bank and the lawyer check the source of funds and sanctions lists, so income documents are prepared in advance.
How to buy an apartment in Hungary: step by step
- Choosing and checking the apartment in the land registry: owner, encumbrances, debts.
- Preliminary contract and deposit, usually 10% of the price.
- Government office permit for a non-EU buyer, usually a few weeks.
- Final contract, drawn up and countersigned by a lawyer or notary as the law requires.
- Title registration in the land registry and payment of the duty on the tax authority's assessment.
What buying costs on top of the price
- Transfer duty - 4% of market value; for homes above 1 billion forints, 2% on the excess.
- Lawyer who drafts and countersigns the contract - usually 0.5-1% of the price plus 27% VAT.
- Permit and registration - small fees.
Example: a 50 m² resale apartment in Budapest for 65 million forints, about $198,800. The 4% duty is 2.6 million forints and the lawyer with VAT about 0.83 million. In total about 3.45 million forints on top of the price, or about $10,560. This excludes renovation, furniture and the annual building tax where the municipality levies one. The cost of Murblz support depends on the property and the purpose of the purchase; our manager in the chat will calculate it.
Owner taxes and renting out
Rental income is taxed at 15% personal income tax. Gains on sale are also taxed at 15%, but the tax falls with each year of ownership and reaches zero after 5 years. Short-term rental in Budapest is restricted: until 31 December 2026 no new apartments are registered for short lets, and in District VI private short-term rental has been banned since 1 January 2026. Russia suspended its double tax treaty with Hungary in 2023, so a Russian tax resident must also declare the rent in Russia without a credit. More on our page on taxes in Hungary.
If you need residence, the only working route is the guest investor investment in a real estate fund from €250,000, giving a 10-year permit. Conditions are on our page on Hungarian residence by investment.
The main risk is an apartment with debts and a rental that will not be registered
The law does not stop you buying an apartment in Hungary on your own. But mistakes cost more than the duty: an apartment with debts or encumbrances in the land registry, a contract without a permit condition for a non-EU buyer, counting on short lets where new apartments are no longer registered. We check the property in the registry, obtain the government office permit, handle the deal through to title registration and find a route to residence through a fund if you need one. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process, and in most cases a result on the first application.
The cost of support depends on the property and the purpose of the purchase; our manager in the chat will calculate it.
How we help
The law does not stop you buying an apartment in Hungary on your own. But mistakes cost more than the duty: an apartment with debts or encumbrances, a contract without a permit condition for a non-EU buyer, counting on short lets where they are no longer registered. We check the property in the land registry, obtain the permit, handle the deal through to title registration and find a route to residence if you need one.
Property in Hungary
Choosing and checking the apartment, the purchase permit and deal support.
Learn more →Hungarian residence
A 10-year guest investor permit for an investment in a real estate fund.
Learn more →Account in Hungary
A bank account to pay for the apartment, rent and utilities.
Learn more →FAQ
How much does an apartment in Budapest cost in 2026?
Can a non-EU citizen buy an apartment in Hungary?
Does buying an apartment give residence in Hungary?
What taxes does an apartment buyer pay in Hungary?
Don’t want to figure this out alone?
We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.
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