Economy, jobs and prices in Budapest, Hungary: official figures
GDP per person was 67,200 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2024, 168% of the EU average; the highest of 8 regions in Hungary. PPS adjust for price differences between countries.
How big is the economy of Budapest?
The regional economy produced €80.2 billion of output (GDP at market prices) in 2024, 38.9% of Hungary's GDP.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Budapest?
The unemployment rate (age 15 to 74) was 3.2% in 2025, against 4.4% for Hungary and 6.0% across the EU; 5th highest of 8 regions in Hungary.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is youth unemployment in Budapest?
Youth unemployment (age 15 to 24) was 13.0% in 2025, against 13.9% for Hungary; 6th highest of 7 regions in Hungary.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow much does Budapest spend on research and development?
Spending on research and development came to 2.21% of GDP in 2024 (1.31% nationally).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the average salary in the Budapest region?
In 2024 the average gross monthly wage for full-time work in the Budapest region was 782,459 forints, against 646,635 forints for Hungary as a whole; that ranks the highest of 8 regions.
Source: Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) · saved copyWhat is the average net salary in the Budapest region?
The average net monthly wage in the Budapest region rose from 209,277 forints in 2015 to 536,323 forints in 2024, an increase of 156%; the Hungarian average was 444,938 forints.
Source: Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) · saved copyHow many unemployed people are there in the Budapest region?
20,694 registered jobseekers were on the books in the Budapest region in December 2024, 2.2 per 100 people in the labour force against 4.5 nationally, which ranks the lowest of 8 regions.
Source: Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) · saved copyHow many people in Budapest are long-term unemployed?
Long-term unemployment (people out of work for a year or more) stood at 0.7% of the labour force in 2025, compared with 1.5% nationally and 1.9% in the EU; 2nd lowest of 8 statistical regions in Hungary. In 2015 it was 2.6%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Budapest?
The unemployment rate for women in Budapest was 3.1% in 2025, compared with 4.3% nationally and 6.2% in the EU; 3rd lowest of 8 statistical regions in Hungary. In 2015 it was 5.5%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many women in Budapest are in work?
82.0% of women aged 20 to 64 were in work in 2025, compared with 77.0% nationally and 71.3% in the EU; the highest of 8 statistical regions in Hungary. In 2015 it was 66.0%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs the economy of Budapest growing?
Output (gross value added, after inflation) changed by 2.1% in 2024 (Hungary: 0.2%); the highest of 8 statistical regions in Hungary. In 2014 it was 6.2%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many cars are there in Budapest?
Residents of Budapest owned 429 cars per 1,000 people in 2024 (Hungary: 447); 3rd lowest of 8 statistical regions in Hungary. In 2016 it was 354.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Budapest?
Average compensation per employee (pay plus employer social contributions) was €11,942 in 2023, against €11,296 across Hungary; the highest of 8 statistical regions in Hungary.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Budapest?
Visitors spent 11.7 million nights in tourist accommodation in 2025, 84% of them by visitors from abroad.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Budapest?
The largest part of the economy of Budapest in 2024 was finance, property and business services, at 36.7% of gross value added, followed by trade, transport, hospitality and communications (29.2%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Budapest?
Factories, mines and energy produced 12.1% of the value added in Budapest in 2024, against 21.7% for Hungary.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Budapest growing?
Gross value added rose from €34.3 billion in 2015 to €68.9 billion in 2024 in current prices, an increase of 101% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Budapest?
Of the 1,668,320 jobs located in Budapest in 2024, 27% in public services, education, health and other services, 8% in industry and 0.2% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Budapest?
The number of people working in Budapest rose by 14.9% between 2015 and 2024, to 1,668,320.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- Gross earnings in the Budapest region grew 12.4% between 2023 and 2024, compared with 13.2% nationally. Source: Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) · saved copy
- By sector, the best-paid full-time jobs in the Budapest region in 2024 were in financial and insurance activities at 1,122,469 forints gross a month, and the lowest-paid in accommodation and food service activities at 471,735 forints. Source: Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) · saved copy
- Manual workers in the Budapest region earned an average of 526,456 forints gross a month in 2024, against 921,809 forints for white-collar (intellectual) staff. Source: Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) · saved copy
- There were 1,373,695 employees on average at organisations headquartered in the Budapest region in 2024, of whom 1,138,801 worked full-time; the number was up 40.0% compared with 2015. Source: Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) · saved copy
- 30% of registered jobseekers in the Budapest region had been looking for work for more than a year in December 2024, and 21% had at most a primary-school education. Source: Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) · saved copy
- Employers in the Budapest region reported 20,698 unfilled job vacancies on average in 2024, about 15.1 per 1,000 employees. Source: Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) · saved copy
How Budapest compares with other statistical regions
Average monthly gross earnings of full-time employees (HUF) (2024)
Budapest ranks 1 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average monthly gross earnings of full-time employees (HUF) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Budapest | 782,459 forints |
| 2 | Nyugat-Dunántúl | 624,259 forints |
| 3 | Közép-Dunántúl | 619,418 forints |
| 4 | Pest | 590,879 forints |
| 5 | Dél-Dunántúl | 554,138 forints |
| 6 | Dél-Alföld | 541,626 forints |
| 7 | Észak-Magyarország | 540,061 forints |
Growth in average gross earnings, 2015 to 2024 (2024)
Budapest ranks 8 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Growth in average gross earnings, 2015 to 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Észak-Magyarország | 172.1% |
| 3 | Dél-Alföld | 169.7% |
| 4 | Dél-Dunántúl | 167.1% |
| 5 | Közép-Dunántúl | 166.5% |
| 6 | Nyugat-Dunántúl | 166.1% |
| 7 | Pest | 161.3% |
| 8 | Budapest | 144.9% |
Registered jobseekers per 100 economically active people, December 2024 (2024)
Budapest ranks 8 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Registered jobseekers per 100 economically active people, December 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Észak-Alföld | 6.8 |
| 3 | Dél-Dunántúl | 6.4 |
| 4 | Dél-Alföld | 4.1 |
| 5 | Közép-Dunántúl | 3.3 |
| 6 | Nyugat-Dunántúl | 2.8 |
| 7 | Pest | 2.6 |
| 8 | Budapest | 2.2 |
Job vacancies per 1,000 employees (2024)
Budapest ranks 1 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Job vacancies per 1,000 employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Budapest | 15.1 |
| 2 | Közép-Dunántúl | 13.5 |
| 3 | Pest | 12.2 |
| 4 | Nyugat-Dunántúl | 9.2 |
| 5 | Észak-Alföld | 7.7 |
| 6 | Dél-Dunántúl | 7.2 |
| 7 | Dél-Alföld | 6.7 |
Long-term unemployment (% of labour force) (2025)
Budapest ranks 7 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Long-term unemployment (% of labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Észak-Alföld | 2.4% |
| 3 | Dél-Dunántúl | 2.2% |
| 4 | Dél-Alföld | 2.0% |
| 5 | Pest | 0.9% |
| 6 | Közép-Dunántúl | 0.9% |
| 7 | Budapest | 0.7% |
| 8 | Nyugat-Dunántúl | 0.6% |
Unemployment rate, women (2025)
Budapest ranks 6 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, women |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Dél-Dunántúl | 6.2% |
| 3 | Észak-Alföld | 6.0% |
| 4 | Dél-Alföld | 4.3% |
| 5 | Közép-Dunántúl | 3.3% |
| 6 | Budapest | 3.1% |
| 7 | Nyugat-Dunántúl | 3.0% |
| 8 | Pest | 2.8% |
Employment rate, women aged 20-64 (2025)
Budapest ranks 1 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, women aged 20-64 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Budapest | 82.0% |
| 2 | Pest | 80.3% |
| 3 | Dél-Alföld | 78.5% |
| 4 | Nyugat-Dunántúl | 78.0% |
| 5 | Közép-Dunántúl | 77.8% |
| 6 | Dél-Dunántúl | 73.2% |
| 7 | Észak-Alföld | 72.3% |
Real growth in gross value added (2024)
Budapest ranks 1 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real growth in gross value added |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Budapest | 2.1% |
| 2 | Dél-Dunántúl | 0.0% |
| 3 | Észak-Alföld | -0.1% |
| 4 | Pest | -0.3% |
| 5 | Közép-Dunántúl | -1.0% |
| 6 | Nyugat-Dunántúl | -1.1% |
| 7 | Észak-Magyarország | -1.7% |
Passenger cars per 1,000 people (2024)
Budapest ranks 6 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Passenger cars per 1,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Pest | 497 |
| 3 | Közép-Dunántúl | 473 |
| 4 | Dél-Dunántúl | 453 |
| 5 | Dél-Alföld | 446 |
| 6 | Budapest | 429 |
| 7 | Észak-Magyarország | 400 |
| 8 | Észak-Alföld | 395 |
Compensation per employee (euros) (2023)
Budapest ranks 1 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Compensation per employee (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Budapest | €11,942 |
| 2 | Nyugat-Dunántúl | €11,411 |
| 3 | Közép-Dunántúl | €11,126 |
| 4 | Észak-Magyarország | €11,049 |
| 5 | Dél-Alföld | €10,890 |
| 6 | Dél-Dunántúl | €10,799 |
| 7 | Észak-Alföld | €10,680 |
Nights spent in tourist accommodation (2025)
Budapest ranks 1 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Nights spent in tourist accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Budapest | 11.7 million |
| 2 | Nyugat-Dunántúl | 5.7 million |
| 3 | Közép-Dunántúl | 3.9 million |
| 4 | Dél-Dunántúl | 2.9 million |
| 5 | Észak-Magyarország | 2.7 million |
| 6 | Észak-Alföld | 2.5 million |
| 7 | Dél-Alföld | 2.1 million |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2024)
Budapest ranks 8 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Nyugat-Dunántúl | 32.7% |
| 3 | Észak-Magyarország | 32.0% |
| 4 | Észak-Alföld | 24.8% |
| 5 | Pest | 24.0% |
| 6 | Dél-Dunántúl | 22.2% |
| 7 | Dél-Alföld | 21.8% |
| 8 | Budapest | 12.1% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2024)
Budapest ranks 1 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Budapest | 36.7% |
| 2 | Pest | 27.6% |
| 3 | Nyugat-Dunántúl | 20.2% |
| 4 | Közép-Dunántúl | 19.9% |
| 5 | Dél-Dunántúl | 19.5% |
| 6 | Dél-Alföld | 18.3% |
| 7 | Észak-Magyarország | 17.5% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2024)
Budapest ranks 6 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Észak-Alföld | 25.3% |
| 3 | Észak-Magyarország | 24.6% |
| 4 | Dél-Alföld | 24.4% |
| 5 | Nyugat-Dunántúl | 19.0% |
| 6 | Budapest | 18.2% |
| 7 | Közép-Dunántúl | 16.5% |
| 8 | Pest | 11.3% |
More on Budapest: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government and politics · Hungary
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gdp: GDP per person (purchasing power standards), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c21f724d14a6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gdp: GDP per person (euros), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 537f99167955…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gdp: GDP (million euros), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e3677c4e6d67…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu3rt: Unemployment rate (age 15-74), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 13f5037ce93a…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu3rt: Youth unemployment rate (age 15-24), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 83bb1aebc10b…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfe2emprt: Employment rate (age 20-64), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 03191283bf5f…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset rd_e_gerdreg: Research and development spending (% of GDP), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 36a9132b2284…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu3rt: Unemployment rates by sex, age, educational attainment level and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ac151d8a46d5…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfe2emprt: Employment rates by sex, age and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 51bfca80dc8b…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset tran_r_vehst: Stock of vehicles by category and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5adf37bcb393…)
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- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment (thousand persons) by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 222a97c302d3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gva: Gross value added at basic prices by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c656e8563bdf…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2coe: Compensation of employees by NUTS 2 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 895d7cc9e826…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset tour_occ_nin2: Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 06f6a82909c0…)
- Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH): Regional Statistical Yearbook of Hungary, 2024: chapter 3.1 Labour (tables by county, capital and region), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d973255c0375…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu2ltu: Long-term unemployment (12 months and more) by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3d5d17a32863…)
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