Spanish Expat Here – Should I Move to Budapest for a Job Opportunity?
Posted by theredxiv14@reddit | budapest | View on Reddit | 33 comments
Hello everyone!
I’m considering moving to Budapest for a job opportunity with HAL (2001 reference). I’m from Spain and wanted to ask what life is really like there. I’ve visited as a tourist, and it was amazing, but I know living somewhere is different than just visiting, haha.
If anyone has experience living in Budapest or advice for someone about to potentially move there, I’d love to hear it! Any tips, or things to know before making the jump, would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
Kind regards!
baronessmavet@reddit
Sorry, no expats are allowed /s
Really, don't move here, we're in serious shit right now.
theredxiv14@reddit (OP)
Sorry to hear that. We're facing some issues in Spain too; the right-wing is taking advantage of the government's ineptitude and the crisis in Valencia.
Claymore98@reddit
al final os habéis mudado a Budapest? me interesa saber ya que yo tal vez me mude ahí porque tengo un trabajo remoto y me es más fácil vivir ahí, por lo menos en términos de pasta.
bb250517@reddit
I would definetly wait at least 2 years, if Peter Magyar actually wins the next election and Fidesz is not longer in power, maybe then you should consider, but even then the country will need a lot of "healing". If he doesn't win, don't even consider visiting the country to be honest.
gftl13@reddit
Lol, the current or any government has very limited effect on an expat's life...
bb250517@reddit
What about quality of life? Taxes, not just personal income tax? Grocery prices? The forint takes a deep dive every single time Szíjártó speaks publickly. They still have to use the country's infrastructure and Fidesz very much has effects on that
Mastermind6425@reddit
Why do you think that Peter Magyar would lower taxes? Has he ever said anything of that sort? I never found his stance on taxes, in fact I can't seem to find a single political stance of this guy or his party, apart from him disliking Fidesz xD
gftl13@reddit
They are only here for a few years, if they are a proper expats that means that their salaries are in eur/usd, their housing/cars/education is covered by the company.
theredxiv14@reddit (OP)
It can have some impact on expats, subtle but it happens. When I was in the UK around 2019, it wasn't just Brexit; the political situation was also hitting locals hard, and almost no one wanted to rent a house to a foreigner. Some government policies used foreigners as scapegoats for their poor management. In Spain, we are experiencing this too. Yes, we have immigration issues, but much of the problem stems from how poorly the government manages them.
But it hit softer that the locals of course. All my support to clean the shit of the gov.
Edo00013@reddit
Groceries, health care, mental health of peole, mentality, public safety, transport and the condition of its infrastrucure. It think all of them affects people who are staying in Hungary for at least a couple of months.
theredxiv14@reddit (OP)
Sounds that Fidesz is really dangerous.
bb250517@reddit
Yeah, they basically run the whole country into the ground, while the people at the top, aka Orban, Meszaros, Rogan and every other family get richer with every government project, with every EU support, with every purchase from other countries, the average people get fucked over, shitty education, shitty healthcare, shitty train system, I think the only government thing that actually works is the public transport system in Budapest, but then again, that is up to the major, who is also against Fidesz
theredxiv14@reddit (OP)
Wow, I’ve been looking into Orbán, and I’m wondering how he’s managed to hold on to power for so long. I can only guess it’s due to his anti-socialism stance and his appeal to ultracatholic sentiments. But even so…
I suppose if I move there I will be a no welcome person at first instance
adv0catus@reddit
Do you have specific questions or do you just want us to tell you absoltuely everything about everything?
theredxiv14@reddit (OP)
just a few pros and cons that could came to mind. Also, the stress expressed by some users is useful input.
VszVszVsz@reddit
if you are getting paid in forints then you may have less than you think because ever since the ruling party has been in power they've kept the forint weak against stronger currencies. you could have a lot less saved than when you are finished with hungary because it could be worse and inflation continues as many things imported here is paid in euro and retail business have to factor in that the forint is trending weaker, that means they have to raise their prices to protect their margins.
Mastermind6425@reddit
It is cheaper and considerably more safe than pretty much every other European capital, those are the two most important factors for me. The question is where you live right now in Spain: If you're in Madrid, Budapest's cost of living will make a day and night difference for you. According to numbeo, rent is more than twice as expensive in Madrid compared to Budapest, and groceries in Madrid are 30% more expensive than in Budapest. However, if you come from a small Spanish village, Budapest might be more expensive. I really recommend comparing the exact prices on numbeo, they were pretty accurate for both my hometown and Budapest.
Something that you definitely should take into consideration is the weather. I have never been to Spain, but I would assume that it's colder in Hungary.
If possible, try to convince your employer to pay you in Euro instead of Forint. It's a relatively weak currency. Also, if I saw correctly, income tax in Spain starts at 19%, so no matter how high or low your income is you will pay less in Hungary, where it's a 15% flat tax.
theredxiv14@reddit (OP)
There’s a reason your nickname is Mastermind. Right now, I’m in Seville, and compared to Numbeo, it seems the numbers are legit. The cost of living there is about 11% cheaper, though when it comes to beers, they’re pretty basic where I live—but my liver would appreciate the break, haha!
Thank God it's cooler. Southern Spain is infernal when summer hits.
And yes, being paid in Forint would be a dealbreaker for me unless there are some serious perks to make up for it. I’ve heard there’s a transition to the Euro coming, and while inflation is low, it’s pretty constant.
Thanks so much for your input!
Szurix90@reddit
LolLlllollll. There will be never Euro while Fidesz is in power. The smallest obstacle is that the country no longer qualifies for the Eurozone economic requirements. With Euro you can't downgrade your currency, and you can't rely on inflation as much to melt your state deficit. You also can't really sell your Euro reserves for forint when it suits you and you practically abolish your central bank in favor of the common central bank.
Recheck inflation numbers on a five year scale. Yearly numbers are down as the base numbers increased along the way also.
theredxiv14@reddit (OP)
I found the information on the Hungary Today website, though I'm aware it could be an unreliable source.
Yes, I checked it, and there was some inflation up until 2010, but after that, it started to accelerate. It was Orbán’s second election, and while I’m not blaming him—since the economy is a complex issue—it’s curious how he’s managed to stay in power."
Szurix90@reddit
Stupid people and imaginary enemies. That's how he stayed in power. Propaganda got really supercharged. Check the food inflation graph: https://www.portfolio.hu/en/economy/20240318/hungarys-inflation-remains-in-top-third-of-eu-ranking-675437
And never forget, a decreasing inflation does not mean lower prices, it means a lower rate of price increase.
Treestars23@reddit
Sounds like the USA now- heading in that direction. I was wanting to move to Hungary to get away from the US and back to my family heritage. Sad to hear no one seems to like living there or has good things to say aside from gov’t issues.
theredxiv14@reddit (OP)
Yeah, the U.S. seems to be following the path of old Europe, and Spain is heading in that direction too, with right-wing conservative liberals—a rather contradictory situation.
Chirpy73@reddit
Seriously you shouldn't move to hungary, it sucks here
theredxiv14@reddit (OP)
In which way it sucks?
Chirpy73@reddit
Shit populist govrenment that has been in power for 14 years
csini_fasZsZopo@reddit
What do you want to work?
theredxiv14@reddit (OP)
HAL is pomoting some cybersecurity roles and I'm starting the conversation with recruiting but it's not clear yet. I really want to move, but I think it's a good idea to do some research first and ask the locals for their perspective.
Reading the comments has given me some context about the politics and issues in the country.
csini_fasZsZopo@reddit
It's budapest, it's not so cheaper than spain. If you have a decent job and more than net 700.000 HUF salary, you can afford a decent lifestyle in budapest.
theredxiv14@reddit (OP)
This is helpful indeed. I have used some cost-of-living online calculators, and when contrasting them with my city, they were bullshit.
viszlat@reddit
There is an active hungarian expats group on facebook, try there. Here it’s mostly locals and people who don’t read the FAQ
baronessmavet@reddit
I just deeply hate how people are trying to act better calling themselves "expat" instead of immigrants. They move here, and start complaining about how expensive it gets. I see posts here like every week from now on, and feels a little bitter to me.
Colonial times are pretty much over, and maybe people should stop treating Hungary like a 3rd world country paradise.
(context: expat is used for exiles who fled to colonized countries, like French moving to Louisiana, or the Caribbean)
theredxiv14@reddit (OP)
Expat literally means a person who lives outside their original country without the explicit intention of staying permanently. Also, it would be naive to think that Spaniards are colonizing in modern times we are not the best EU Country rn.
But I can empathize with you. In my city, there are issues with foreigners coming in, buying houses cheaply, and starting speculation. Let me clarify: that's not my case. I just want to spend some time outside my country, explore new places, and gain experiences that will make life more worthwhile, you know?.