The Real Cost of Buying Property in Hungary: Every Fee (2026)

You've found the flat and agreed the price — but the price isn't the bill. Between the duty, your lawyer and a handful of smaller fees, buying a home in Hungary adds a few percent on top, and a mortgage adds a bit more. None of it is hidden, but it's easy to underbudget — and the biggest piece doesn't even arrive until weeks after completion. Here's every cost, line by line, so nothing surprises you at the finish.

This is the money side of the purchase. For the steps themselves, see how to buy property in Hungary; for what the property itself should cost, the Budapest price index and our district price guide.

The costs every buyer pays

Whoever you are and however you pay, these show up on essentially every purchase:

• Transfer duty — 4% of the price (2% on any part above 1 billion HUF). It's the largest cost after the property, and you pay it after completion, when the tax office bills you. Reliefs exist for under-35 first-timers, new-builds and home swaps — the full detail is in our guide to the transfer tax.
• Your lawyer — by law a Hungarian attorney must draft and countersign the contract. Budget around 1% of the price plus 27% VAT, often with a minimum fee. Use your own lawyer, not the seller's.
• Land-registry fee — a flat administrative fee of about 6,600 HUF per property to register you as the owner. Small, but it's there.
• Acquisition permit (non-EU buyers only) — citizens from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland pay roughly 50,000 HUF for the permit. Who needs it is covered in can foreigners buy in Hungary.

Extra costs if you take a mortgage

Financing the purchase adds a layer of one-off costs on top:

• Bank valuation — the lender values the property before approving the loan (around 30,000–50,000 HUF).
• Notarial deed — Hungarian mortgages are usually signed as a notarised deed (közjegyzői okirat), which the notary charges for on a sliding scale tied to the loan size.
• Mortgage registration and bank fees — a second land-registry entry for the lender's charge (~6,600 HUF) plus the bank's own disbursement and admin fees, which vary by lender.
• A bigger deposit — not a fee, but plan for it: banks typically lend up to 70–80% for residents, often less for non-residents, so you'll put down 20–40% upfront.

Many expat buyers, especially for lower-priced flats, simply pay cash and skip all of this.

Easy-to-forget costs

• Translation or interpreting — if you don't speak Hungarian, your lawyer may need a sworn translation of the contract or an interpreter at signing (tens of thousands of forint).
• Currency exchange — moving money from another currency, the spread and transfer fees can quietly cost more than you'd expect; a specialist FX service usually beats the bank.
• A technical or legal check — optional, but a survey of an older flat, or extra due diligence on the building, can save far more than it costs.
• Moving and setting up — removals, any immediate repairs, and connecting the utilities.

The cost you don't pay: the agent

Worth saying plainly, because it surprises people coming from the UK or US: in Hungary the estate agent's commission (typically 3–5% plus VAT) is paid by the seller, not the buyer. As a buyer you can use agents to find and view properties without owing them a fee. The energy certificate is the seller's responsibility too.

Worked example: what it adds up to

Take a 90 million HUF flat — around the Budapest median — and here's the all-in cost on top of the price (rough euro figures at about 395 HUF to the euro):

• Transfer duty (4%) → 3,600,000 HUF
• Lawyer (~1% + VAT) → about 1,140,000 HUF
• Land registry → ~6,600 HUF
• Total for an EU cash buyer → about 4,750,000 HUF (~€12,000), roughly 5.3% on top of the price
• Non-EU buyer → add the ~50,000 HUF permit
• With a mortgage → add roughly 250,000–450,000 HUF for the valuation, notary and bank fees

Ongoing costs once you own

Buying is one-off; owning has a monthly side worth knowing before you commit:

• Common charges (közös költség) — in a condominium you pay a monthly building charge for shared upkeep, cleaning, the lift and reserves. It varies widely by building, from roughly 10,000 to 40,000+ HUF a month for a typical flat. It's the cost buyers most often overlook.
• Utilities — gas, electricity, water and internet, billed on usage.
• Local building tax — some municipalities levy a building tax (építményadó), often on second homes or larger properties; many primary residences pay little or nothing. Check the rate for the district.
• Home insurance — modest, well worth having, and usually required if you have a mortgage.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to buy property in Hungary, besides the price?

Budget roughly 5–7% of the price in extra costs. The bulk is the 4% transfer duty; the rest is your lawyer (~1% plus VAT), a small land-registry fee, and — for non-EU buyers — a ~50,000 HUF permit. A mortgage adds valuation, notary and bank fees on top.

Does the buyer or the seller pay the estate agent in Hungary?

The seller. Agent commission — typically 3–5% plus VAT — is the seller's cost, so as a buyer you don't pay it. The seller also provides the energy certificate.

How much are lawyer fees when buying property in Hungary?

Usually around 1% of the purchase price plus 27% VAT, often subject to a minimum fee. A Hungarian attorney is legally required to draft and countersign the contract — and it should be your own lawyer, not the seller's.

What extra costs come with a mortgage in Hungary?

Expect a bank valuation fee, a notarised loan deed (charged on a sliding scale), a mortgage registration fee, and the bank's own admin fees — together commonly a few hundred thousand forint. You'll also need a larger deposit, often 20–40%.

Are there ongoing costs after buying?

Yes: monthly common charges (közös költség) in a condominium, utilities, possibly a local building tax depending on the municipality, and home insurance. The common charge is the one buyers most often forget to budget for.

Is buying property in Hungary cheaper than in Western Europe?

Generally yes — both the property prices and the transaction costs are lower than in much of Western Europe, which is a big part of why Budapest draws foreign buyers. Our monthly price index tracks where Budapest sits right now.

Start your search

Pricing out a purchase? Get a free valuation to anchor the duty and your budget, compare areas in the Budapest price index, and browse apartments for sale in Budapest or homes across the city. For the rest of the picture, see how to buy as a foreigner, who's allowed to buy, and the transfer tax in detail.