Is Budapest a good place for ex-pats?

Have you recently considered moving into Budapest for some time, and you wonder if it is a friendly place for ex-pats? Well, no need to worry anymore since Budapest is the up-and-coming ex-pat hot spot in Eastern Europe, and we have prepared an article with the essential information you’d like to know about the capital before you set off.

Budapest is quite an underestimated ex-pat destination, and still, more and more foreigners discover that moving into Budapest is a beautiful choice for their adventures abroad or work opportunities. Among the many reasons, ex-pats choose Budapest as the place to settle in concerns the reasonable cost of living and its historical background, which many foreigners find very interesting.

The capital city belongs to the administrative county of Pest, and it consists of 23 districts. It is intertwined by the Danube River, which gives the town the name by dividing it into Pest, the flat east bank known as working/business side, and Buda, the hilly west bank where most ex-pats, especially with children, choose to live.

Budapest is not only famous for its rich history but also the unique cave system beneath the city. In addition, moving to Budapest gives you the chance to enjoy several thermal spas, which are said to have healing effects on your body and the soul and the spirit.

To 16 million people, Hungarian may be the mother language. Still, it is pretty incomprehensible for a large majority of foreigners, especially as many ex-pats are relatively short-term residents and do not have enough time to absorb it. This Finno-Ugric language is very complex, but mostly it is very different from most European languages.

Not being able even remotely to understand what someone is saying can be as frustrating as intimidating. Although some brave ex-pats do take on this language and study relentlessly, many give up along the way simply because it is so difficult to learn. Unfortunately, this can create a considerable barrier ever totally to give into life in this beautiful city.

Expatriates, in general, do have a great time in Budapest, but there is always a feeling that they are on the outside and not connected with true Hungarians and their culture.

For many Hungarians, the Communist years have left a legacy of distrust of foreigners. Together with the complex language, this has meant that many ex-pats remain within their community there. Depending on your personality, this has its advantages and its disadvantages.