Hungary’s 2025 cost surge: What’s getting more expensive?

The beginning of the year saw significant price rises in Hungary, with price hikes being felt in public services, transport and financial transactions. Administrative procedures have become more expensive, passports and driving licences have cost more, postal services have increased and the cost of banking transactions has risen.

The KSH statistics forecast that inflation could fall in the first few months of 2025, but the rise in the cost of the state’s own services is bucking this trend. While official data show inflation at around 4.5% in 2024, some state services have become 8-50% more expensive. This shows that, in many cases, the rate of public tariff increases is far above inflation and could pose increasing financial challenges for the population.

HUF 20000 Hungarian banknote forint
Photo: depositphotos.com

How did the prices change in Hungary?

Rising administrative fees

From January 2025, significant changes in the cost of issuing public documents have come into force. According to Hírklikk, personal documents that used to be free or at a reduced rate are now more expensive. The basic fee for an identity card has risen to HUF 5,000 (EUR 12), a passport costs HUF 20,000 (EUR 49) and a driving licence costs HUF 6,980 (EUR 17). For older people, in particular, the fee for a driving licence has risen from HUF 1,500 (EUR 3) to HUF 3,000 (EUR 7) for people over retirement age. These changes represent an increase of 10-15% compared to previous years.

Postal charges

Not only has the cost of documents gone up, but you also have to dig deeper into your wallet for their postal delivery. As of the 1st of February, the state has introduced an additional “convenience fee” of HUF 2,000 (EUR 4) to receive official documents at your home address. This means that the total cost of a driving licence, for example, can now rise to HUF 8,900 (EUR 21). Furthermore, if someone wants to settle the amount by postal cheque, they will have to pay a separate transaction fee, which will impose an additional burden on customers.

The Hungarian Post has also implemented significant price increases. The cost of sending a domestic priority letter has risen from HUF 365 (EUR 0.90) to HUF 390 (EUR 0.96), an increase of 6.8%. For non-priority mail, the price rose from HUF 255 (EUR 0.63) to HUF 270 (EUR 0.66), also an increase of almost 6%. The price of registered mail has increased by 10%, while the increase for registered letter services is up to 15%.

Passport prices

The cost of applying for a passport has also increased significantly. Previously, a five-year passport cost HUF 7,500 (EUR 18) and a ten-year passport HUF 14,000 (EUR 34), but now the single passport will cost HUF 17,000 (EUR 41), while the former five- and ten-year categories will be abolished. There will also be an extra fee for mailing the document, which will add another HUF 2,000 (EUR 4) to the final amount. In addition, the new documents will no longer be free of charge for people aged 65 and over or for those who request a change of family status. There will also be new costs in the event of lost or stolen passports, increasing the burden of administrative fees for citizens.

Banking expenses

Several banks in Hungary have also increased their charges for transfers. For example, OTP has increased its charges for transfers inside and outside the bank by 50%, citing the government’s increase in the financial transaction tax as the reason for the move. This means that banks are passing on the increased costs to customers in full, which could mean an increasing burden for the public in the long run.

Fuel, taxes, inspection and motorway stickers

Fuel prices have risen by around HUF 20 (0.05 EUR) in just a few weeks due to a tax on petrol prices. Increases in VAT and excise duty have made it more expensive for motorists to fill up, making everyday transport more expensive.

The price of motorway stickers has also increased since February. The annual sticker for passenger cars has risen from HUF 57,260 (EUR 140) to HUF 59,210 (EUR 145), an increase of 5%. The price of a monthly sticker has also risen, from HUF 6,660 (EUR 16) to HUF 6,890 (EUR 16), an increase of 7%. In addition, the technical inspection fees for vehicles have also increased, with an average increase of 8% for cars and up to 10% for trucks and buses.

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Featured image: depositphotos.com

5 Comments

  1. This is all because of “Soros!”, “The War!”, “Global Elites!”.

    Couldn´t possibly have anything to do with our Politicians, right?

  2. DOES – Orban and the Fidesz Government, do they REALLY think millions upon millions of Hungarians, permanent residents, residents under status of a residency permit, do they REALLY think people – in all the mentioned population categories, are that DUM, we don’t know – in past years, post Covid, and to NOW, not HELPED by the humongous FAILINGS of Price Fixing by the Orban – Fidesz Government, post Covid, that factually was a FEED into WORSENING the cost of living in Hungary, that ABSOLUTLEY nothing – NOTHING – is going to get CHEAPER in Hungary.
    WHO really are the DUNCES ???
    The DUM of the population of Hungary.
    Appalling.

  3. FACT.
    Why at our Public Markets, the on-going closure of Traders stalls ?
    Why besides closure the drastically reduced days per week of stalls ?
    Wednesday to Saturday at our District Public Markets – which we USE and have done for years – this GROWING closure & shortened trading days ?
    I have ANSWERS but invite “other” commentators to give COMMENT.
    ALL in the WASH up of things – for the reason(s) why this TREND is occurring comes back to ;
    that NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING is getting CHEAPER in Hungary.
    HOW is Inflation “steaming “along – INCREASING ???
    Don’t believe the figures arising out of the Central Bureau of Statistics.
    Do your OWN costings and in ALL probability – nothing is getting CHEAPER in Hungary.
    ABOMINATION.

  4. My Electric bill went up from 11,000 ft to 155000 for the month of January and the heating was only on full for a few days.

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