In recent years, Hungary has been recognized for its liberalimmigrantsPolicies, lower cost of living and high quality European education resources, attracted many foreigners to migrate. However, immigration is not always smooth sailing, some people are full of harvest, while some regret. So.Immigration to HungaryIs it the right choice or not? This article will take you through the experiences of real immigrants to understand the advantages and disadvantages of immigrating to Hungary and help you make a more informed decision.
I. The main attractions of emigration to Hungary
1. Low cost of living, suitable for long-term residence
One of the reasons why many immigrants choose Hungary is its lower cost of living. Compared to Western European countries, Hungary is relatively inexpensive in terms of housing prices, food, transportation and healthcare costs. Example:
✅ rent for a room or house: Rent of a one-bedroom apartment in the center of Budapest is about €500-€800Suburban areas are as low as €300-€500, much lower than in Germany, France, etc.
✅ commodity prices: Daily necessities and supermarket food are affordable, and eating out is relatively affordable.
✅ mass transit: The metro, bus and train are reasonably priced, and the Budapest monthly pass is just €30 around, and student tickets are even cheaper.
2. Facilitation of European identity and unimpeded access to the Schengen area
After obtaining a long-term residence (Lakcímkártya) in Hungary, the migrant can travel freely throughout the Schengen area without an additional visa. This is a great convenience for people who travel frequently for business, tourism or want to conduct business in Europe.
3. Quality education resources for children's development
Hungary has world-class universities, such as **Semmelweis University (Medicine), Covenius University (Business), Budapest University of Technology and Economics (Engineering)**, etc. The tuition fees are relatively inexpensive and a variety of English-medium programs are available, making it suitable for immigrant families with children.
4. Friendly investment and entrepreneurial environment
Hungary's tax policy is friendly to foreign investors, with corporate income tax only 9%, which is one of the lowest in Europe. At the same time, the process of registering a company is simple and many immigrants choose to obtain a residence permit through investment or entrepreneurship.
Second, immigrants in Hungary regret the real experience
Although Hungary has advantages in terms of cost of living, education and investment, there are many challenges after immigration, and the following are the real feelings of several immigrants:
1. Language barriers and living difficulties
@Alex (UK immigration(IT Engineer)
"When I first came to Hungary, I thought English would be enough, but the reality was far from that. Many government departments, hospitals, and bank staff don't speak English, and supermarket clerks and cab drivers even basically speak only Hungarian. I had to start learning Hungarian, but the language is really hard!"
📌 Recommendation: If you plan to stay for a long period of time, it is recommended to learn basic Hungarian in advance or use translation software to aid communication.
2. Limited employment opportunities and low salaries
@Lily (Chinese immigrant, Marketing Manager)
"When I was looking for a job in Budapest, I found that local businesses preferred to hire Hungarian speakers unless they were multinational companies. Also, I was a bit disappointed that the same position in Hungary pays less 30%-50% compared to places like Germany and the UK."
📌 Recommendation: Recommended for those who wish to obtain a well-paying jobHigh-demand industries such as IT, healthcare, and financeor considertelework, for a better income.
3. Complexity of the health-care system and long waiting times
@Mark(United States Immigration(retirees)
"The Hungarian healthcare system is really cheap, but really inefficient. I once booked an appointment at a public hospital for a checkup for back pain and was told I had to wait two months! Then I had to go to a private hospital and pay a few hundred euros out of pocket for the checkup."
📌 Recommendation: Recommended PurchasePrivate medical insurance, enjoying quicker access to health care. For long-term residents, NEAK public healthcare is free but has a longer waiting time.

4. Political and social issues
@Anna (Russian immigrant, artist)
"Government policies in Hungary sometimes change more rapidly and immigration policies are not stable. Also, social acceptance of foreign immigrants varies from region to region, and in some smaller cities, where there are fewer foreigners, there may be a certain cultural divide."
📌 Recommendation: It is recommended to choose a cosmopolitan city such as Budapest to live in, which is more accepting and easy to live in.
Third, who is suitable for immigration to Hungary?
✅ Good for the crowd:
- Want to get Schengen statusand enjoy the freedom to travel in Europe.
- Investors or entrepreneurs, wanting to take advantage of the low tax policy for their business.
- International students or families with childrenThe Government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) is a member of the National People's Congress (NPC).
- Remote workers or digital nomads, a lower cost of living leads to a higher quality of life.
❌ Not for the crowd:

- Reluctance to learn Hungarian, or those who are totally dependent on the English language for their lives.
- Professionals seeking high paying jobs, unless in a multinational corporation or in the technology industry.
- High demand for public services, such as healthcare, government efficiency, etc.
Fourth, the conclusion: migrate to Hungary in the end regret?
Immigration to Hungaryis a decision full of opportunities but also accompanied by challenges. Hungary is undoubtedly a good choice for those who want to enjoy low-cost living, European status, quality education and investment opportunities. However, language barriers, job market restrictions and public service efficiency issues have also caused some migrants to regret their decision.
If you have clear goals and are up to the challenge of an adjustment period, then Hungary is still an immigration destination worth considering. However, if you value a well-paying job, easy access to public services, or an unwillingness to learn a new language more than anything else, it may be necessary to reassess the suitability of settling in Hungary on a long-term basis.