Despite appearances, Budapest taxi drivers struggle to make ends meet
The income of Budapest taxi drivers has long been the subject of speculation. Now, thanks to comprehensive data collection, we have a clearer picture of what honest, rule-abiding drivers actually take home each month. While gross revenues may appear to exceed HUF one million at first glance, real income is much more modest once all obligations are met.
Taxi drivers often inspire envy—they appear to roam the city freely, chat with passengers, and work seemingly flexible hours. But the reality is more complex: their earnings fluctuate widely, they can wait a long time for fares, and to have a truly profitable day, they often need to work night shifts.
Over the past year, Hungary’s taxi market has undergone significant changes, with new tech-driven players entering the scene, fare hikes, and regulatory shifts all affecting operations and income levels. Expansions into rural areas and the growth of digital services are prompting traditional taxi providers to adapt. In 2024, Uber returned to Budapest after a seven-year absence, partnering with Főtaxi. Operating legally under fixed rates and as yellow cabs in compliance with local regulations, Uber functions more as a tech platform rather than competing through prices—a potential new source of passengers for drivers. App-based provider Bolt remains a major player in Budapest, attracting drivers with its competitive commission system. Traditional companies like Főtaxi also hold strong positions—the combined revenues of Bolt and Főtaxi amount to half the market. In the spring of 2025, Főtaxi began expanding into rural areas, launching its digital service in Szolnok to broaden its national presence.
Fares unchanged — proposals for increases rejected
The city and taxi industry representatives recently held talks about raising fares, but city officials rejected the proposals, so current pricing remains in effect:
- HUF 1,100 base fare,
HUF 440/km distance-based fare,
HUF 110/minute waiting time charge.
According to a Telex report, law-abiding, taxpaying taxi drivers are increasingly under pressure. Their costs continue to rise, while revenues are stagnant or even declining due to market oversaturation and competition from unlicensed operators.
Costs and earnings
A driver who plays by the rules faces substantial expenses, including dispatcher fees, car rental, maintenance, fuel, and taxes. According to Telex estimates, earning a monthly net income of HUF 650,000 requires about 250 hours of work—that’s 25 shifts of 10 hours each. While gross daily earnings of HUF 50,000 to 70,000 are a realistic target, much less remains after expenses. Some drivers set daily income goals and only end their shift once they reach them—regardless of how long it takes.
Oversupply in the market, uncertain future?
According to Telex sources, 7,500–8,000 taxi drivers currently hold valid licenses in Budapest. Industry representatives are calling for this number to be reduced to around 6,500 to ease market pressure and improve living conditions.
The Taxi Drivers’ Interest Protection Organization held a protest on 15 January at Heroes’ Square—without support from the National Taxi Association—which drew around 200 drivers. Their goal was to highlight that although gross monthly earnings can hit one million forints, very little is left after expenses. According to participants, vehicle maintenance, fuel, and other costs can consume up to 80 percent of their income.
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SATURATED Market – PLUS – Uber.
REMEMBER – they want to ISSUE more licences.
The main problem appears to be too many slack periods and too much travelling time & distance between jobs, an underlying reason for this is a lack of demand from the local population for whom taxis have become too expensive. In turn, the issue is not that taxis are charging an excessive price accounting for the their costs, but that people have too little disposable income to countenance taking a cab. The number of drivers that can make a living is inherently limited by the baseline of (low) year-round demand from locals, yet during the summer tourist season, the relatively small number of drivers can barely keep up with demand from visitors while also having to reject requests from locals in the outskirts as they’re overloaded with tourist demand in the centre. The system is broken.
Londonsteve.
Concur over-all in your commentary.
Post Covid, and we reside in District V, within 5 minutes walk of the Marriot Hotel, articles in DNH post Covid, have identified, which we have observed, vast number of increase in taxi numbers.
Its a competitive profession and the “grid” layout of Budapest especially in the Central Districts, the increasing motor traffic vehicle numbers are “other” factors, that could be considered for inclusion to your commentary.
Tourists like “locals” if you do your home-work, the Public Services of Metro, Trams, Buses and Trolleybuses in Budapest, the “need” to be a constant taxi/uber user through the Public Transport Services have a massive impact on the taxi/uber profession.
This is not helped as referred in your commentary, by the “slickly” state of the “down-wards” trend of the Hungarian Economy and not forgetting INFLATION in Hungary, which is NOT under control, the disposable in-come factor, and that NOTHING is getting cheaper in Hungary.
The “ebbs and flow” through seasonal pattern, that if a taxi spends long time(S) on a taxi rank, the meter ain’t working and is DEAD time – not at all in-come earning.
I will state it, that without tourism in the summer months – life of being a taxi driver / uber, in the central down-town Districts of Budapest would be living life on the “smell of an oily rag”.
Without tourists most cab drivers would be idle most of the time. More than once I’ve taken a cab from the airport in the late evening and the driver has told me he hasn’t had a single Hungarian passenger the whole day.