With heating season coming up, I wanted to point out an often-ignored limit that can quietly double or even triple your utility bills... and you won't notice month to month.
So I am not talking about an extra €10 but about a scary €600 bill slapped into your inbox on a random Tuesday.
See, Hungary gives you discounted gas and electricity, but only up to a limit. Go over it, and you automatically switch to much higher, market-based prices.
Why your bills can double without a single sign
You can't see in your monthly rent if you have gone over the limit because the extra cost only shows up in your final annual bill.
That's when your actual usage is compared to the limit. If you've gone over this limit, the additional cost can be hundreds of euros.
Here are the limits you shouldn't cross if you want low utilities
I'll make it simple for you: You get cheap gas up to 1,729 m³/year (or ~144 m³/month).
If you use more than that, you pay full market price for the extra.
This can happen easily in large apartments or older buildings with outdated heating. That's why renting energy-efficient homes in Budapest is important.
Same goes for Electricity Pricing. You get cheap electricity up to 2,523 kWh/year, or about 7 kWh per day. Then you pay full market rates (which costs 7.5 times more).
The exact limits can vary slightly based on your address and electricity provider. If you want, we can explain it to you in any depth you like when viewing a property.
In Case You Skimmed: The Key Takeaways
- Gas under 1,729 m³ is cheap; above is expensive
- Same goes for Electricity, which stays cheap under 2,523 kWh
- Energy-efficient homes help you stay under the limits
If you're moving to Budapest and want to avoid high utility bills, then check out our handpicked, energy-efficient listings here.
Now you know better than some locals.
Have a nice day, and thanks for choosing us.
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