Hungary's university students weigh housing costs and post‑admission point rules

In the first quarter of 2026 the average monthly rent for a student apartment in Budapest was 273,000 HUF, while rents in northern Hungary were around 149,000 HUF. Buying a 40 m² flat at 1.3 million HUF per square metre would cost about 52 million HUF; with a 20 % down‑payment a 41.6 million HUF loan at current rates would require monthly repayments of 304–318 kHUF. The Otthon Start Program offers a subsidised 3 % loan for the same amount, lowering monthly payments to roughly 228–231 kHUF, making purchase cheaper than renting from the first month.

Separately, the 2026 Hungarian university post‑admission (pótfelvételi) process cannot lower the point threshold set in the general admission round. Applicants who missed the general round must apply by 7 August, can select only one programme, and face the same minimum points as the original cut‑off (e.g., a programme requiring 310 points cannot be entered with 293 points). Nearly 400 programmes are offered across 36 universities, including state‑funded scholarship tracks.