Budapest Remains the Most Livable in Hungary

Overall, Budapest and the western part of the country offer better opportunities in education, culture, shopping and the labor market, while in Eastern Hungary, it is easier to get a home, according to the Takarék Index Livability Survey, conducted by Takarék Jelzálogbank [‘Savings Mortgage Bank’], a Magyar Bankholding member, on education, healthcare, culture, crime, the labor market, shopping opportunities and housing affordability.

The experts have compiled a ranking of the comparative livability of the county's county seats, which is again topped by the capital. Here too, the gap in scores between the cities following Budapest is relatively strong. Veszprém came second with 78.9 points and Győr third with 68.9. Debrecen, in fourth place with 60.4 points, was 12th last year. The top ten also includes Székesfehérvár (60.3 points), Szekszárd (59.9), Pécs (58.9), Szombathely (58.4), Zalaegerszeg (57.2) and Kaposvár (55.3). At the bottom of the list are Kecskemét, Salgótarján and Békéscsaba, with less than half the points of Budapest: 42.1, 41.6 and 39.2 points respectively.

"From education to health care and labor market opportunities to housing affordability, many factors can influence our decision to buy a home. Our research gives a comprehensive picture of what different parts of the country offer not only to those living there, but also to those considering buying a home. Taking into account personal circumstances, buying a home in a turbulent economy can also serve investment purposes and be a way of preserving wealth," according to Péter Somogyi, Managing Director of Retail Business Development at Magyar Bankholding.