Ice cream in Budapest can be astonishingly pricey
As summer reaches its peak, ice cream lovers in Budapest encounter a wide range of prices for their favourite treat. The cost difference between the most expensive and cheapest scoops can be substantial. From artisanal creations in the city centre to budget-friendly options on the outskirts, Budapest’s ice cream scene is diverse, with prices and quality varying greatly.
Index has compiled a list of the price range for a scoop of ice cream in Budapest during the peak summer season. According to their findings, the price difference between the most expensive and cheapest options is HUF 1,800 (EUR 4.56). However, they note that comparing prices can be tricky since some places sell it by the scoop while others sell it by weight.
What is clear is that prices in Budapest vary widely, and they do not always reflect quality. The list includes both central and more remote locations. One ice cream shop owner attributed the price increases to rising commodity prices, especially for cocoa, and said that cocoa prices might rise even more in the future.
Eating ice cream around the capital
One of the most famous ice cream parlours in Budapest, Gelarto Rosa, is located on the corner of Szent István tér, a short walk from the Basilica. Here, the icy treat is sold by weight: a 75-gram two-flavoured serving costs HUF 1,600 (EUR 4), a 100-gram three-flavoured one is HUF 1,900 (EUR 4.8), and a 125-gram four-flavoured one is HUF 2,200 (EUR 5.5). The manager explained that their pistachio ice cream is made from Sicilian pistachios, the hazelnuts are from Italy, the vanilla from Madagascar, and the mango from India.
Punto Gelato, with four outlets in Budapest, follows Rosa in price, with a scoop costing HUF 850 (EUR 2.15). Ducksy, located on Zrínyi Street, sells a scoop for HUF 690 (EUR 1.77). The prices at these shops reflect their proximity to the city centre and the Basilica, popular stops for tourists in Hungary.
Ruszwurm, a traditional Hungarian confectionery located in Buda Castle, offers a scoop for HUF 700 (EUR 1.8), with the bonus of a beautiful panorama. At the Szamos Café and Chocolate Museum near Parliament on Kossuth Lajos Square, it costs HUF 650 (EUR 1.65).
Further from the city centre, ice cream prices range from EUR 1 to 1.5. Daubner Confectionery on Szépvölgyi Street is well-known and loved, offering good quality ice cream for HUF 400 (EUR 1), relatively unaffected by inflation. Erdős és fiai Confectionery near Etele Square sells a scoop for 500 forints, using natural ingredients.
Fazekas Cukrászda Cake and Dessert Shop, located at the end of Csömöri Road just outside the city, is notable despite its distance. Ice cream maker Ádám Fazekas won the 2019 European championship and the 2021 world championship with their salted pistachio with tonka bean raspberry ice cream. This year, as we previously reported, he was named the world’s best. Here, ice cream costs around HUF 500 (EUR 1.27) per scoop.
.This list shows that the beloved frozen dessert tends to be more expensive in the city centre and tourist areas, but quality ice cream made with natural ingredients can often be found at lower prices outside the city centre.
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NOTHING, absolutely nothing – is getting CHEAPER in Hungary.
If you THINK from the desk of the Minister of Finance – Mihaly Varga, a “pressurized” Orban – Fidesz Party Minister – under performed, to the Central Bank of Hungary – then the BIG picture of the Economic & Financial “landscape” of Hungary, the increasing pressure on the Hungarian currency, it ALL paints a GLOOMY downward trendy worsening OUTLOOK.
Sustainability – the ability of the Hungarian Economy to FIND a level of STABILIZATION, the vastness of factors, that present themselves, that will NOT allow the Hungarian Economy to stay STABILIZED and “succumb” to pressures and DECLINE will bring about the WORSENING of the state of Hungary – economically & “other” inclusive of LIFE quality(s) to Hungarians.
Inflation in Hungary – uncontrollable.
That’s FACT.