Moving to Hungary: tax, residence and real costs (2026)
Hungary: worldwide at 15% flat · 9% company tax (EU's lowest). The cheapest route to residence is white Card (EUR 3k/month remote income) or EU registration; Guest Investor needs EUR 250k: about USD 300 in fees doing it yourself, with no investment, with about USD 3,300 a month of income shown, in about 2 months. Living costs about USD 1,600 a month for one person in Budapest, USD 850 in Nyiregyhaza, and around USD 810 on a bare-minimum budget.
Key facts
| Tax in one line | worldwide at 15% flat · 9% company tax (EU's lowest) |
| Foreign income | worldwide |
| Gains · dividends | 15% · 15% + social tax |
| Wealth · inheritance tax | none · 0% direct line |
| Cheapest residence | White Card (EUR 3k/month remote income) or EU registration; Guest Investor needs EUR 250k |
| Money needed | About USD 300 in fees doing it yourself, with no investment |
| Time | about 2 months |
| Doable yourself? | Yes, with a checklist |
| Days you must spend there | 183 |
| Citizenship | 8 years |
| Online business | 22% effective, about USD 2,500 a year to run: Kft 9% + 15% dividends + social contribution ~22% |
| Living (one person a month) | Budapest ~USD 1,600; bare minimum ~USD 810; family of four ~USD 3,100 |
| Good for | 9% company tax; KIVA small-business tax; guest-investor residence through a property fund |
| Common set-up | a Hungarian Kft at 9% or KIVA |
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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Programmes
| Programme | All-in, one person | Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guest Investor programme | USD 300k | 4 | EUR 250k in a property fund (5 years) or EUR 500k property or EUR 1 M donation; 10-year permit. |
Questions
- How much does residence in Hungary cost?
- White Card (EUR 3k/month remote income) or EU registration; Guest Investor needs EUR 250k: about USD 300 in fees doing it yourself, with no investment, about 2 months.
- Does Hungary tax foreign income?
- Worldwide. In one line: worldwide at 15% flat · 9% company tax (EU's lowest).
- What does it cost to live in Hungary?
- Living costs about USD 1,600 a month for one person in Budapest, USD 850 in Nyiregyhaza, and around USD 810 on a bare-minimum budget (based on livingcost.org, 2026).
- Can I run an online business from Hungary?
- Effective tax about 22% with the cheapest legal set-up, which costs about USD 2,500 a year: Kft 9% + 15% dividends + social contribution ~22%.
- What is the catch in Hungary?
- Political friction with the EU; Local business tax ~2%
- What residence or citizenship programmes does Hungary have?
- Guest Investor programme: about USD 300k all-in for one person, ~4 months
Compare
- Monaco: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income (French citizens excepted)
- Andorra: 10% on foreign income (credit for tax paid abroad) · 10% on local income · 10% top
- Switzerland (lump-sum taxation): lump-sum: a yearly fixed tax on living costs instead of tax on income (foreign income and gains included)
- Italy (flat tax for new residents): EUR 300k a year flat on all foreign income and gains, whatever the amount · 43% on Italian income
- Greece (non-dom): EUR 100k a year flat on all foreign income (+EUR 20k per family member) · up to 44% on Greek income
- Cyprus (non-dom): 0% on dividends and interest (non-dom, 17 years) · 20-35% on work income · 0% on securities gains
- Malta: foreign income: 0% unless brought to Malta (min. tax EUR 5k) · 35% top on Maltese income
- Portugal (IFICI): 0% on most foreign income (IFICI, 10 years) · 20% flat on qualifying Portuguese work income · 48% otherwise
Compare all 53 places with your own income and budget →
Sources
- https://nav.gov.hu
- Living costs: based on livingcost.org (livingcost.org, June 2026), rounded