Hungary
Data verified August 2026 · Sources
Hungary's PPP-adjusted average wage surges to $39,145 in 2025, a series record driven by catch-up growth that lifted pay nearly 48% in a decade, though consumer prices remain deeply below the US at 45.1.
Hungary at a Glance
1Y Change
+3.4%
5Y Change
+18.8%
10Y Change
+48.3%
Historical Peak
$39,145 2025
Change From Peak
At the historical peak
Overall Price Level
45.1
Hungary’s Wage Story
Follow how PPP-adjusted average annual wages have changed in Hungary using constant-price OECD data.
USD PPP, constant prices · missing years shown as gaps, never interpolated
Ten Years Ago
$26,390 (2015)
Historical Peak
$39,145 2025
Latest Wage
$39,145 2025
Data Coverage
Wage history: 1995–2025
Reported observations: 31
Missing wage years: None
Latest price data: 2024 · 8 of 8 categories available
The Steepest Climb in This Set
The Hungarian wage series is the steepest climber in this set: +48.3% over ten years, +18.8% across five, and +3.4% in the latest year. At $39,145 for 2025 the figure tops the available record, and the extraordinary decade pace reflects rapid convergence from a low base. From $26,390 in 2015, the level has nearly doubled in real terms inside a single decade. No other economy in this dataset comes close to that combination of speed and duration.
Why the Constant-Price Basis Matters Here
Strong catch-up can mask episodes where inflation temporarily reverses real gains, so the constant-price basis matters more for Hungary than for economies with steadier histories. The +3.4% one-year move at a peak indicates the convergence engine has not stalled, even after such a long run of double-digit five-year growth. The +18.8% five-year figure is itself the strongest in this set, not just the decade number. Sustained real growth of this scale inevitably slows as the base rises, which makes the current pace the figure to watch.
A Wide Price Discount
Hungary's 2024 overall consumer price level is 45.1 — 54.9 index points beneath the US reference, a wide margin even among the convergence economies. The figure is a comparative index position, not a forint amount, and it accompanies the steep wage climb as separate evidence. Hungary's wage record begins in 1995 with 31 reported years.
Hungary’s Everyday Price Profile
Compare eight consumer price categories in Hungary with the United States reference value of 100.
Overall
Food
Clothing
Housing
Health
Transport
Recreation
Restaurants & Accommodation
What Stands Out
Highest: Transport
Transport has the highest relative price level of the 8 reported categories in 2024, at 84.4 against the United States reference of 100. That is −15.6 index points from the benchmark and 2.8 points ahead of the next category, Food at 81.6.
Lowest: Health
Health is the lowest of the reported categories in 2024 at 19.2, −80.8 index points against the United States benchmark of 100. The spread between the highest and lowest reported categories is 65.2 index points, which shows how uneven the 2024 price profile is across categories.
Overall vs United States
The overall price level for 2024 is 45.1, below the United States benchmark (−54.9 index points). Looking across the profile, all 8 reported categories read below 100, so the overall figure summarizes a spread of category positions rather than a uniform level.
Compare Hungary
Choose another OECD economy to compare wages, historical changes and all eight consumer price categories.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hungary
What is the average annual wage in Hungary?
Hungary's 2025 average wage is $39,145. The 2025 figure also stands as the series high.
How has the average wage changed in Hungary?
Over a decade the wage rose +48.3%, one of the strongest convergence rates in the OECD. Five-year growth is +18.8% and the latest-year change +3.4%. Every horizon uses its exact target year for the comparison.
What are consumer price levels like in Hungary?
Hungary's overall consumer price index is 45.1 for 2024, below the US at 100. That is a relative index standing, not a dollar amount or inflation rate.
Is Hungary's wage at a record high?
Yes. The 2025 figure of $39,145 is Hungary's peak in the available series. The +48.3% decade change reflects extraordinary catch-up from a lower base.